The best part about the epidural...

elemar · December 2010

(besides the pain relief) is the CATHETER! Seriously, it was so awesome not to have to get out of bed to use the toilet. I wish I had one right now, because I freaking hate going to the bathroom all the damn time.

grace_smith03 · December 2010

bwahaha! Too true. Lots of people say the catheter is uncomfy; it never bothered me.

eisenberg0814 · December 2010

I have never looked into epidural, but a catheder freaks me out.

woolgathered · December 2010

I loved that thing, I wish they had put it in when they admitted me!

JustOne · December 2010

eisenberg0814:
I have never looked into epidural, but a catheder freaks me out.

They honestly are not that bad. I had to have one after a surgery a couple of years ago, and I honestly forgot that it was there. Until they went to take it out. Now that was weird feeling, but only for a second.

MegGriff1n · December 2010

I loved the Catheter! Totally the best part. I was sad when they had to take it out.

My water broke and I felt like I had to pee every 5 minutes. Try going to bathroom, half dressed, leaking, bloody with tubes and monitors hooked up to you. The catheter was such a relief. I also had a c-section so when they took out the catheter it was pretty hard getting up and going to the bathroom.

ilovejud · December 2010

ewwww.... sorry disagree... hate them... 1st time they gave me one...without an epi.... it was painful and i bled for days...

6fsn · December 2010

Blech, I hated the catheter. I've had one twice and never liked it. I begged to get it out ASAP.

kabarbanel · December 2010

grace_smith03:
bwahaha! Too true. Lots of people say the catheter is uncomfy; it never bothered me.

This. So many people I know say the catheter is one of the reasons why they don't want an epidural. Didn't bother me!

JennDave+1 · December 2010

6fsn:
Blech, I hated the catheter. I've had one twice and never liked it. I begged to get it out ASAP.

I begged to have mine taken out as well. I had a emergency c-section so it was left in for 24 hours.

luvdv8 · December 2010

kabarbanel:
grace_smith03:
bwahaha! Too true. Lots of people say the catheter is uncomfy; it never bothered me.

This. So many people I know say the catheter is one of the reasons why they don't want an epidural. Didn't bother me!

Really? That's insane! I'd probably let them cut of my little toe if it meant getting an epidural.

august06mom · December 2010

I hated that, and it gave me a raging UTI.

sbmp10 · December 2010

I have to strongly disagree I am actually seriously considering no epidural this time because I hated the catheter so much!!!

KatieRL1979 · December 2010

Let's see, the fun things about an epi.... having to turn over constantly, not being able to move around on your own, having a tube shoved where it's not meant to be while everyone in the room can see a bag of pee hanging by your bedside. Oh yeah and don't forget about the fun little twinge I felt in my back for like 2 weeks afterward.

Sorry, just because I had an epi the first time around does not mean I was happy about it, nor does it mean I'm planning to get one this time either. If I end up with one anyway then fine but the goal this time is to do whatever I can to avoid it at all costs.

Bakes4u · December 2010

haha I absolutely hated the catheder! I am cringing now just thinking about that part of the epi.

shaysmom05 · December 2010

I didn't even know I had a catheter in after I got my epidural. (I was young and naive. lol) I was wondering why I didn't have to go pee. lol

My only problem with the epi was I ran out of medication around the time I started pushing. I guess it was a good thing, though. I was at least able to feel everything to push her out quicker. Everything else was a breeze after the meds.

I don't hate on anyone who does it med free, though. In fact, I give you all the props in the world for it. I'm just a pansy when it comes to pain, so I know I'll be getting another one.

Lisa Frank · December 2010

I had one for almost the entire 4 days I was in the hospital after my c/section. It never bothered me and quite frankly, after the surgery it was nice not to have to get out of bed to pee all the time.

mari_gold · December 2010

Huh. I didn't hate the catheter but it never bothered me having to get up to go pee. That was actually the worst part of the epi -- not being able to move around. I'd like to put off the epi as long as possible so I'm not stuck in bed the whole time again.

susanlovestexas · December 2010

I love everything about the epi. I would have never known I had a catheter if they hadn't told me. I never felt it go in or come out. Quite pleasant!

When they first gave me my last epi, my blood pressure tanked completely. They had to put something in my iv to raise my blood pressure and put me on oxygen. Still, I have absolutely no regrets. I'm with pp's who would sacrifice a little toe for the epi!

AmyfromMI · December 2010

I was so scared at first to have one put in, but mine was put in after the epidural was put in so I didn't feel a thing. When they took it out I was fine too. I agree it was nice not having to get up every 10 - 15 mins to go to the bathroom, especially with that dumb gown on and the IV cords all over the place.

m0132 · December 2010

Haha! I was so happy I didn't have to get up, unplug all the monitors and walk my IV stand into the bathroom with me every 5 seconds but I didn't really enjoy the catheter. Our friends came to see me (unannounced, because we had another friend who had her baby right down the hall from me) and I had my little bag of pee hanging off the side of the bed for everyone to see when they came in lol.

ToBeMrsC6907 · December 2010

Ugh, I wish...I was receiving Pitocin so they made me use a bed pan! Not fun!

MrsTotty · December 2010

I didn't mind the catheter at first ... but after 3 days of not being able to get up and shower I was done with it. It didn't hurt or annoy me though.

PinkBackPack · December 2010

I didn't want an epi because of the catheter. When I got the epi, I didn't even know they put in a catheter or that they took it out. After I delivered I told DH that I was so happy I didn't have a catheter. He informed me that I did.

jl_nc · December 2010

I agree it was nice. I was peeing about every 30 minutes it seemed when I was in labor with DD from the fluids etc. Being catheterized was not that bad the first time, but it paralyzed my bladder (or something from my C section) and was not able to pee on my own for a day or so after and had to be re-cathed a few times to be able to empty my bladder. Seriously though,when you have to pee that bad you don't care how it gets done as long as it gets done. One of the worst feelings for me so far...not being ABLE to go to the bathroom.

me&mymonkey · December 2010

I didn't mind the cath, it didn't hurt going in or coming out. I did forget how to pee on my own after having it in for only 24 hours. The nurse came in my room at one point and asked me if I needed help getting to the bathroom. I was confused for a minute about why I would need to get out of bed if I could just pee in a bag. As long as it doesn't hurt this time, I won't mind getting another one.

Lucky_Dragonfly · December 2010

LOL!!! I never felt mine. I was however in total shock when they showed me how much fluid was in my bladder after DS came out. almost 900cc! which is just shy of a liter. I never knew that it could hold that much!