Why did nobody tell me?!

christinemurray91

I was just reading a blog and just found out that everybody who gets an epidural also gets a catheter... I realize this may not be a big deal to some, but I was already shaky on getting an epidural and now I have to get a catheter too?! Why didn't anybody, in all my questioning of coworkers, friends and family about labour and delivery not tell me this?!

Ha. I'm not meaning to sound so shocked... But is this just common knowledge that I wasn't privy to or is there a reason nobody shares this info?

I'm kind of freaked out now.

 

grace_smith03

I swear to you, the catheter is no big deal. (like a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10) You can't get out of bed due to the epidural, and most people can't feel their bladder...hence reason for the catheter.  I promise, the catheter is the least evil thing that happens...lol

ladybugpjb

I didn't know until I read it in a pregnancy book. Now I tend to notice them when I watch A Baby Story. Ew.

kathymarie

Yep! That's because once you get the epi, you have to stay in your bed, since you can't feel your legs. You won't be able to feel when you have to pee either. Fun!

Kvitale87

Oh wow... I didn't know that until you just told me. Well its that or natural and I don't know if I can handle that either!

jchickiem

I had my baby last Wednesday and had a spinal for a c-section delivery. And yes, I had a catheter.  The main thing I can say is, you can't really feel it.  It's weird and slightly uncomfortable, but there are so many other things going on, that it was really no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Don't freak out.

julygal

Nobody in my circle of friends and family mentioned it me either, but it came up in my birthing class that I took for #1.  With #2 I had to meet with an anesthesiologist as part of my hospital pre-registration, and he went over it when he discussed the epidural and had me sign the consent form (our hospital likes to do this when you are not in the middle of labor and pain).  

I agree with PP though that it is really is minor with everything else going on at the time.   In fact, I am sure I have neglected to bring it up when discussing my epidural with others.  

edited for clarification 

jesstellina

In addition to the reasons everyone else said for needing a catheter, it's also really important to keep an empty bladder as you get closer to delivery - it allows more space for the baby to make its way down!!

KBLT

I actually don't even remember getting one with DD.  I had an epidural, so I know I had a catheter, but it was such a minor thing at the time that I don't even remember it. Maybe the did it after my epidural was in so I couldn't feel it?  

beekernbaby

They put it in after the epi right?

julygal

beekernbaby:

They put it in after the epi right?

Yes, they put it in after they do the epi.  They also take it out right before you begin to push. 

memali26

It honestly would never occur to me to tell people about the catheter when talking about the epi. It was such a minor, insignificant thing in the midst of it all that I barely noticed it. It's seriously not a big deal at all. 

mabma80

Oh yeah I forgot you get a catheter.  I've had epidurals before and when people ask me about it, honestly, I completely forget about mentioning the catheter.  This is why you should take those birthing classes. I remember them mentioning it during that part of the class.

But seriously, it's not a big deal AT ALL. I didn't even know they put one in when I had DS1, until DH noticed the bag.  : ) 

heatherchampe

I never even felt mine, at all. Its better than you think!

Annabelle81

I didn't even realize I had one in. It's a little uncomfortable to have taken out, but after labor, really not a big deal. 

AnnaRedhead

julygal:

beekernbaby:

They put it in after the epi right?

Yes, they put it in after they do the epi.  They also take it out right before you begin to push. 

So you don't feel anything right?? I'm so squeemish about this as well! Like I think this freaks me out way more than getting an epidural!

As long as I'm numb down there and can't feel anything I'm good though!!

Ombligo1

You guys are about to push a baby out of your vagina.  You can't handle a tiny tube in your urethra?

christinemurray91

I really do understand how ridiculous it is for that to bug me, but I have a HUGE fear of needles, so I was already having difficulty accepting the idea of an epidural.

It's just hard to realize everything we're going to have to handle... on top of pushing a baby out of our vaginas.

 

6-21-08Bride

Ditto everyone else. I did not even know I had one until i realized the nurse was emptying it! No big deal, chances are you will not feel it or if you do it won't matter after everything else you have felt.

wolverine8

christinemurray91:

I really do understand how ridiculous it is for that to bug me, but I have a HUGE fear of needles, so I was already having difficulty accepting the idea of an epidural.

It's just hard to realize everything we're going to have to handle... on top of pushing a baby out of our vaginas.

 

Oh yeah. No big deal. But I think someone should tell you that regardless if you get an epi and cath or not (aka going natural) you will be next to incontenant for a few weeks. Not so much so that you have NO control BUT that is why you practice your keagles. No one really told me this so here's the heads up. lol

Humor Me

I didn't think about this before I was in the hospital and they hooked me up to one.  It made sense because with the epidural you can't walk to the bathroom (I couldn't really move my right leg but could wiggle my toes and move my left leg)...  it was actually kind of nice to have since I usually have to pee alot, it was taken care of already.  I don't remember feeling anything when it was in.

BobbiJanay07

kathymarie:

Yep! That's because once you get the epi, you have to stay in your bed, since you can't feel your legs. You won't be able to feel when you have to pee either. Fun!

This and they put it in after your number and before you start pushing.

Jessynlove

ha... You know , I was about to post that this wasnt a fact. But, my husband heard me talking to myself then informed me that I had a catheter too.

I seriously had no idea. No one told me. The nurse just kept telling me that I wont have to pee. I was in to much pain to try to reason with her ha.

but, when your pushing you are pretty unaware to anything else but that great amount of pressure.

in fact, the doctor did an episiotomy without telling me either. Kyle said that I kept saying"owwww" when he was doing it... but I still didnt associate the pain with anything but the pain of the pressure I was feeling.

So, even though it sucks to have... your completely unaware of it or at least I was.

 

Lissa832

They don't cath you until AFTER the epidural is in place.  You don't even know it is there.  My cath. was removed after delivery.  No big deal.  However, it had to be reinserted (a little painful) because I so was swollen.  I LOVED having a cath. lol.  It was the first time in almost a year that I could lay in bed all night without having to pee.  DH still laughs at me because of it.  It was just so nice to be able to sleep without waking up to pee, lol.

futuremrsmcnichols

They don't put the catheter in until the epidural meds have kicked in. They are going to load you with IV fluids, and the epidural makes you numb from the waist down, so 1. you won't be getting out of bed and 2. your bladder wont be able to let your brain know its full, so the catheter will continuously drain urine. Trust me, within the whole scope of your labor and delivery experience, the catheter will be the one thing thats really not a big deal. It will be out before your epidural wears off, so you won't feel a thing!

Stellasmom

I didn't get the catheter until my epidural had taken, so I didn't feel it.  Honestly, after having to pee every 30 minutes for the last month I LOVED my 12 hours with that catheter.

davonnagreen

They put mine in before the epidural, and took it out before i pushed

rpm22

I just asked my SO about it, and apparently I DID have one after my epi.  I honestly don't remember it at all.  No recollection of it going in, or coming out.  I would have sworn that I never had one!!!

 

Really no big deal, in the grand scheme of things.

ohfour

The nurse definitely cathed me and it hurt like HELL, but then again I had a failed epi. Maybe she wasn't very gentle about it because she didn't think I would feel it?

T&HLove

I had no idea... but now that I do, it makes perfect sense! If you can't feel the lower half of your body, you can't walk to the bathroom

mooninlv

memali26:

It honestly would never occur to me to tell people about the catheter when talking about the epi. It was such a minor, insignificant thing in the midst of it all that I barely noticed it. It's seriously not a big deal at all. 

this.

kathleen02

I'm lurking here and I ended up with an epidural...I was freaked out about this too and you know what? I hardly felt it! It really won't be on your mind when you're in the middle of it. The discomfort you get from the contractions kind of makes most other things (IV, etc.) not a big deal. I just wanted to let you know you don't have to worry about this part at all!

ShannonSky

Stellasmom:

I didn't get the catheter until my epidural had taken, so I didn't feel it.  Honestly, after having to pee every 30 minutes for the last month I LOVED my 12 hours with that catheter.

lol this is exactly what I was going to say! DD's birth was kind of traumatic, and I had an emergency C-section, so once I got to recovery and had a chance to breathe and realize I had the catheter, I remember thinking...ooh, I don't have to pee! How nice! lol 

airforcewife331

Even if you aren't numb from the epi before they put it in...it's seriously not that big of a deal.  I've had numerous caths put in and they seriously aren't that big of a deal in the first place...I have a feeling by the time labor is in full swing and you have the epi nothing else will really matter anyway lol

beedale862003

McRib:

not true. I did not have a catheter. Wow, it looks like I'm the only one that didn't so maybe it is uncommon. The nurse emptied my bladder after a certain amount of time but no catheter. Maybe you could check to see what the procedure is in your L and D.

I didn't either, I got my epi really late though (I didn't realize how late it was or I would not have gotten it).  I was pushing right after I got it, and I was in so much pain from the pitocin that I did not care about needles in my back. And I would not have cared if they had told me they had to put a jack hammer up my urethra.  

lisamoe

The hospital where I will deliver only puts a catheter in to drain your bladder and then takes it out, it doesnt stay in.  And they do it after the epi is placed, so you feel nada.

lisamoe

The hospital where I will deliver only puts a catheter in to drain your bladder and then takes it out, it doesnt stay in.  And they do it after the epi is placed, so you feel nada.

LJR 84

With my c/s, I had it inserted before. In all honesty, it was more uncomfortable than any other part of the procedure!

Obviously everyone has different experiences, but that was mine. After the first 20 minutes or so of it being in there it was fine...

Amya

I felt zero pain with the catheter.  Believe me, you will not want to be getting out of bed after birth to use the restroom.  You will be thankful for that catheter. 

J&MsMom

I had to have a catheter put in last summer when I was hospitalized.  No pain meds or anything and it was fine.  Really. I would say it's the same discomfort as an internal.