Epidural and catheter

Bonnesetter27

So I was thinking about this ladies and wondering if you get an epidural do you have to get a catheter? I mean it makes sense, seeing as you can't walk to the bathroom but I have never heard of anyone saying they got a catheter. Do they take it out before you deliver? TIA

dawnski

my catheter was not taken out when i delivered.  i think it really depends.

cfranklin1

It's pretty common to cath you, because 1) you can't feel when your bladder is full when you're numb - this could actually cause some problems if it gets too full.  2) you can't get up to go to the bathroom to empty your bladder because you're numb.

As far as I know, they leave it in while you're pushing, but I could be wrong.  

ljones1025

They took it out after I delivered with both....it takes a little while for the epidural to wear off, and you can't tell when you need to go or walk until the epi starts to wear off.

Jade1230

Do they give you the Epidural before getting the cath? I'm almost more afraid for the cath than I am the birth or epi for some reason

starlily313

They put it in after I got the epi and took it out when I started pushing.

Hyfagal

I got mine after the catheter kicked in and it came out 24 hours later when they got me out of bed for the first time. I ended up with a csection though so I doubt vaginal deliveries keep them in that long.

kabarbanel

ljones1025:

They took it out after I delivered with both....it takes a little while for the epidural to wear off, and you can't tell when you need to go or walk until the epi starts to wear off.

This. I got mine after I got the epidural, so I couldn't feel them putting it in.

kapowski23

starlily313:

They put it in after I got the epi and took it out when I started pushing.

This 

FutureMrsCaesar

It goes in after the epidural and comes out before it wears off (assuming everything goes smoothly)...so you don't even know it's there.  I had some soreness from mine for a few weeks after delivery, but other than that I'd have never even known it was there.

luvdv8

FutureMrsCaesar:

It goes in after the epidural and comes out before it wears off (assuming everything goes smoothly)...so you don't even know it's there.  I had some soreness from mine for a few weeks after delivery, but other than that I'd have never even known it was there.

All of this- even the after pain. I couldn't move to recovery until I could get up to pee by myself so, once I could feel my legs a little again it came out and it took a little while longer before I was ready to walk again.

lisajoe42404

Put in after epidural and taken out during delivery - usually take out by my doc early in pushing but mine was stuck between my pelvis and the baby...so she waited until my daughter was out.

mamababyrn

It depends on your hospital policy. At my hospital they generally prefer to straight cath (just do a quick in and out catheter every few hours) rather than putting in an indwelling catheter because there is a decreased chance of infection. However, if they think you will still be in a labor for a lot longer they will put in the indwelling and take it out when you start pushing.

00tedsgirl

They put mine in after the epi and took it out when I was ready to get out of bed.

Incognito2009

racheleo:

It depends on your hospital policy. At my hospital they generally prefer to straight cath (just do a quick in and out catheter every few hours) rather than putting in an indwelling catheter because there is a decreased chance of infection. However, if they think you will still be in a labor for a lot longer they will put in the indwelling and take it out when you start pushing.

This is what my hospital did too.  

nopegoat

I had a catheter, and they took it out right when I started pushing. 

Brittanie_1987

racheleo:

It depends on your hospital policy. At my hospital they generally prefer to straight cath (just do a quick in and out catheter every few hours) rather than putting in an indwelling catheter because there is a decreased chance of infection. However, if they think you will still be in a labor for a lot longer they will put in the indwelling and take it out when you start pushing.

This is what I had.  I was nervous about it too, but really was not a big deal at all! 

katlor9

My boyfriend said they left it in until the last three pushes, then took it out.  I did not notice it in at all.  If I wouldn't have had it in I would have peed everywhere.  I was peeing and didn't even know I was until I saw it going through the tube. 

Mrs.Saxy

my catheter was put in after my epidural.  They took the catheter out later that day and they made me walk.  I had a c/s so they took it out several hours after I delivered.  I'm trying to remember, but maybe it was the next day they took the catheter out.  i was sad.

mchupie

I got a cath after the epidural had kicked in and they took it out right before I got out of bed.  Good thing they didn't take it out before I started pushing, since I ended up pushing for 4 hours

Niffer666

My hospital was the same way. They did a straight cath twice during labor, then my doc did one before I started pushing (before they turned off the epidural)

ckolak:-)

I had one with my epidural, it was taken out after delivery.

bootsie08

I had one with my epi and it was taken out before I started pushing. 

My doula said it will be the same at the hospital I will be delivering at this time.  She has delivered at several different hospitals in my area and said she's never seen it left in during the pushing phase.  

I do remember that they told me if I didn't pee within a certain time frame after delivery, they would have to reinsert one.  

mallorijoe

I'm lurking.. but I didn't get a catheter after the epidural.  I could feel when I had to pee, and used a bedpan, one time I wasn't able to go on the bedpan, and they put a catheter in for a minute, then took it right out.  It depends on your hospital policy.