If you got an epi, I have a question.

cndmexbaby · October 2010

I have 5 weeks left until my due date. I would like to avoid pain meds but realistically, I may want the epidural. I am not scared of the needle - I am scared of the urinary catheter! My childbirth class teacher said we wouldn't feel anything but I'd like someone to explain how it works, please and thank you!

kellyfromcali · October 2010

Well, I dont know how it works, but I know that I didn't feel a thing. Once I had the epi there was no feeling anything!

MrsSR · October 2010

I couldn't feel it at all, so I have no clue how it works.

madhatter2003 · October 2010

I never had one with DS....but with DD they put it in about an hour later (after the epi), and I never felt anything at all.

With DS he was born so quickly they never had time to give me one...or for the epi to work for that matter.

MeganS313 · October 2010

I didn't have a cath the entire time. They cath'd me after they checked me each time or if I thought I felt an urge to go. With the epidural, I only felt a little tiny pinch? type sensation but nothing else when they put the catheter in. I really didn't feel much and I'm personally glad I had one!

Hope this helps!

ilovetolaugh · October 2010

I didn't feel the cath at all! They emptied my bladder every 3 hours, so it wasn't in the whole time, only a few minutes at a time! Totally not a big deal

)

MrsMucker · October 2010

even without the epi, a catheter doesn't hurt. she only cathed me once after they broke my water. although my labor was super fast.

wearenutts · October 2010

I got an epi and didn't feel the catheter at all. You still could feel that things were going on down there though but it's not painful.

I had to have another catheter placed after birth though because I could not empty by bladder by myself. It hurt alot because the first nurse did not place it correctly and had to have another nurse do it. I complained and changed nurses after this. She told me, after she screwed up, that she doesn't ever do catheters. Really? Then why didn't you have someone else do it in the first place?

Vonita · October 2010

I ended up having a c/s. Cath was in for about 14 hours. I didn't feel a thing when it was placed. It was a little uncomfortable when the nurse took it out but not horrble.

cndmexbaby · October 2010

Hmmm, that doesn't sound too bad. I just have bad memories of a urinary cath because my Grandpa had to get one when I visited him at the hospital before he passed and I know it was really embarrassing and painful for him. So maybe this is more an emotional thing. Thanks for sharing ladies!

mommabird77 · October 2010

Once you get the epi you can't feel the cath. I felt nothing when they put it in.

mlc92404 · October 2010

I had one with DS #1 and they put it in after the epi and I didnt feel a thing. I didnt have one with DS #2 when I got the epi.

LuvBeingMrsH · October 2010

Didn't feel a thing...

princess_shelly · October 2010

The catheter is harmless. It is like a rubber straw with a hole near the point where it is inserted and a little balloon to hold it in place, at the other end is a collection bag.

So the catheter is inserted in to the urethra, it is advance until urine flows into the collection bag, then 5-10 ml of water are injected into the port to inflate the little balloon which holds the catheter inside the bladder.

When it is removed the balloon is deflated the same way it was inflated and it just slides out.

It should be painless, especially if you have an epidural.

bondedana · October 2010

once I had my epi I couldn't feel a thing (best decision ever by the way!) and besides that in comparison to the feeling of contractions you could have done anything to me and I probably wouldn't have even noticed! lol

mollylila · October 2010

Cassie730:
I was actually pissed when they REMOVED the cath. cause that meant I had to actually get up to go pee which was WAY more painful! Trust me...the Epi and Cath. are nothing, IMO.

this!! i was SO scared of the catheter, but I didn't feel it at all. I was really scared for them to take it out as well, but didn't feel that part either!

It was much harder going pee for the first time on my own lol.

jubillee · October 2010

Hi there, I delivered my first child 4 weeks ago and had an epi. As for the catheter, if you do have an epi, you are completely numb so do not feel a thing. The nurse just inserts a very small tube in to your blatter to empty the urine. For me, the nurse did not leave the catherter in - rather she just inserted it long enough to empty my bladder, and then removed it. It is really a painless, quick process.

snansley · October 2010

The cath was no big deal. I did feel it when they cathed me after delivery. I got up and walked to the bathroom but things were still waking up so I couldn't pee on my own. It burned just a little when the nurse did it, but nothing I couldn't handle. Peeing after a vaginal delivery with a tear isn't very comfortable so I missed the catheter when I was having to haul myself out of bed once in my room.

katemcgT · October 2010

I had an epidural done at about 6-7cm & only labored for another 2hrs so I didnt get a catheter that stayed in, just an in&out to empty my bladder quickly. I didn`t feel a thing. I delivered Cole at 0145 & was up to the washroom with help from my nurse at 0400 to pee on my own, no problems at all. It was good to get up even though I was tender, it helped my swelling go down quicker being mobile within reason I think. I haven`t had any issues with control or urgency either.

Goodluck!

cndmexbaby · October 2010

Thanks for your answers everyone, you've eased my fears a lot.

ezbakejess · October 2010

Cassie730:
I was actually pissed when they REMOVED the cath. cause that meant I had to actually get up to go pee which was WAY more painful! Trust me...the Epi and Cath. are nothing, IMO.

This. I hated having to get up and go to the bathroom while having contractions. It was such a relief to have it in and just be able to stay in bed.

I never felt any part of it. If they didn't tell me, I would have never known it was there.

orangedaisy85 · October 2010

I can't explain how it works exactly. But I was in your boat, I didn't want pain meds and I REALLY didn't want the epi. But due to docs kinda screwing things up, things really didn't go as planned and I opted for the epi. Once they finally got the epi in, and it kicked in, they did the catheter and I didn't feel a thing. By that time I was so tired, in so much pain, I really didn't care either.

EricaElizabeth · October 2010

I guess I am an exception- my epidural failed and I felt every bit of the catheter going in and it friggin killed! Not to scare you AT ALL, but make sure it is working before they give it to you...then you shouldn't feel it at all. Once the initial pain of them putting it in passed, I couldn't feeI it in place and taking it out wasn't that bad. I had it in place for 3 days. I have been on meds since I left the hospital 2 weeks ago for a urinary tract infection from it, though. It's the only thing that was really painful with my labor. I'm sure you'll be fine as long as your anesthesiologist ensures you're feeling pain free! GL

daisycook · October 2010

I had an epi and didn't have a urinary catheter that stayed in me. They just used it once and took it out. You will be numb due to the epi so you won't feel the catheter at all. After I had my baby I used a bedpan the first time I had to go pee, no big deal.

crollin · October 2010

No clue how it works but I did not feel a thing.

wendy_garland · October 2010

After the epi you cannot feel it. To be honest you really cvould care less at that point. I was feeling Awesome after the epi. Although my catheter was only in for like 20 minutes until I started pushing...they take it out at that point, so if you progress nicely you won't have it in very long. GL!

hollowstar · October 2010

I didn't even have one. They didn't get around to putting it in and then decided it was too late. I know I peed all over the place but I couldn't feel it. Going pee after wasn't even the big deal I thought it'd be.

jgal84 · October 2010

It was uncomfortable and little painful, but NOTHING compared to the contractions I was having! I loved it and would like to get it for any other future deliveries.

jshu610 · October 2010

as someone that has had a catheter without any pain meds in the past, trust me, its a piece of cake with an epi.

MattysGirl81 · October 2010

I have no idea how it works, but I didn't feel anything. Like you, I was really nervous about it, but I truly didn't even know they were putting it in. Same with taking it out - had no idea that was happening either.

Parrot_momma · October 2010

Mine was in for 15.5 hours with no issues at all. It felt a little irritating but not a big deal.

breakwatershores · October 2010

I did not have an epi or pain meds, but I did have a urinary catheter (when my doc realized I had a superfull bladder and could not relax to go on my own).and it was certainly not painful. I guess imagine putting a very soft tube into a hole that is the same diameter as the tube; no pain. Maybe a little feeling of pressure. GL!

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