C-Section / Urinary Catheter

mfv1204 · October 2011

I'm going to be scheduled for a c-section due to a bladder medical issue (doctors advising it would probably be in my best interest to go the c-section route to keep my bladder in tack). I have a few questions that have been keeping me up all night:

1 - I've only had a urinary catheter twice (once for a cysto and a second time to have urinary testing done - although I think they might have messed up the second time). Each time I had unbearable burning every time I had to pee for the next day, day and a half. Anyone experience this with the urinary catheter for a c-section or will I have enough pain meds that it won't be so bad?

2 - Recovery. How long does it take until you can get up and move around in the hospital? A few hours, overnight? How bad will I feel pain wise?

Thanks!

moonfaerie · October 2011

For me, the catheter stings for a second while they insert it (which literally takes like one second), and then I feel fine. I personally love having a catheter. It's great after frequent urinating for months on end to not have to get up and go to the bathroom every 15 minutes, regardless of the pain of the c/s.

At my hospital, they have you get up to move around the morning after the c/s. I had the first c/s of the day both times, so I didn't get up for almost 24 hours. Which was fine by me. No one can tell you how bad you will feel pain-wise, because everyone is different, but I can tell you that recovering from a c/s was nothing compared to recovering from female surgery. Right before I conceived my oldest, I had a laparotomy that turned into surgery to remove a Fallopian tube and ovary, and that recovery was so much worse than the c/s. I was pleasantly surprised by the pain level after my first c/s. I was still in pain, don't get me wrong, but much less than I expected to be in.

Stay on top of your meds at the hospital, don't wait until you are in a lot of pain to take the next dose. For me, I take the pain meds non-stop for about a week. My friend who had two c/s took them for only 3-4 days with each of her kids. A scheduled c/s is much easier on your body than an emergency, so you are getting the better end of the deal if you ahve to have a c/s.

Switzerland · October 2011

I never felt the catheter placement as I was already numb from chest down. I never had a burning sensation after it was removed. For me, I could not get up to walk around till the catheter was removed and that was about 24 hrs after my c-section. I had a friend who was up after 3-4 hrs of her c-section walking around (I think with the catheter still in, but not sure). I know they say the sooner you get up to walk around post c-section the better recovery from gas pains, etc.

pepomntpat · October 2011

I was up and around about 12 hours post c/s. I think it really depends on the timing of the c/s. I had Ro around 8 PM and was up after breakfast the next day. Had I not had her at night they probably would have gotten me out of bed even sooner.

I didn't have any trouble with burning after the catheter removal either.

iris427 · October 2011

Can I ask what your medical condition is? I have interstitial cystitis so I'm curious.

Anyway I wouldn't worry too much about the catheter. You'll have good pain meds. I didn't have any issues with my catheter after my c/s.

I had my c/s at 5:40 in the evening so I think I got up for the first time the next day. Everyone's recovery is different but I never was in pain as long as I kept up on my pain meds. I stopped needing the meds 5 days postpartum and aside from being very tired, I was fine after that.

GL

l_elizabeth · October 2011

I was numb when they did the catheter, so it was no biggie. I did feel like it was hard to pee after it was removed, like I needed to but couldn't. It was very annoying. It took a little while, a few hours, and things were back to normal. My catheter was removed within hours after my surgery, maybe 3-4 hours.

And the #1 piece of advice I have is to walk as soon as possible after your surgery. Make the request known to anyone who will listen-- it's the best way to recover quickly. My nurse told me this, which I was already planning on, and when I asked my night nurse she told me it wasn't necessary. I went along with it (because, well, I didn't know better), but it made me mad because it was important to me. The next morning I mentioned to my new nurse that I had wanted to, they said I didn't need to, and could I walk now (this was probably 20 hours after my surgery). The head of labor and delivery came in and apologized, it was a BIG deal. Anyway, walking is key to recovery for c-sections. Once I got home (on day 4), my on-call nurse told me I needed to be walking at least 20 minutes every day from then on. I had an amazing recovery, and I credit it to walking.

scuba2011 · October 2011

I had a terrible experience getting the catheter placed after 4 tries and me being VERY unhappy with the nursing staff I insisted that my doctor come in and check out what the heck was going on. My husband is a doc and was also very irritated with the nursing staff at that point. My OB had me wait another hour until they were ready for the epidural and she got it the first time. I am not sure (the doc didn't know either) why it was so difficult for the nurses but once it was in it was fine. I was on a magnesium drip for very high blood pressure and had to stay in bed for 24 hours post c/s so I also kept the catheter that whole time. I didn't have any problems getting or going to the bathroom after it was removed.

jax63081 · October 2011

When I got my catheter put in, I already had my epidural(dialted fully but DS didn't want to come down so C-section it was). I didn't feel anything. They took it out when i tried pushing and then put it back in when they took me to the operating room. I don't remember it hurting when they took it out which was the day after DS was born. And afterwards, I had no pain. Good luck!!

shouldbworkin · October 2011

I had a catheter for both. No burning but my bladder is tender afterward for a good week. I was up and walking 12 hours after each c/s. It was slow going but gets better with time. Definitely not unbearable.

Kpercyman · October 2011

iris427:
Can I ask what your medical condition is? I have interstitial cystitis so I'm curious.
Anyway I wouldn't worry too much about the catheter. You'll have good pain meds. I didn't have any issues with my catheter after my c/s.
I had my c/s at 5:40 in the evening so I think I got up for the first time the next day. Everyone's recovery is different but I never was in pain as long as I kept up on my pain meds. I stopped needing the meds 5 days postpartum and aside from being very tired, I was fine after that.
GL

How was your recovery with i.c.? I have it and this is my first pregnancy. I am having bladder spasms and horrible cramps. I am on modified bed rest already until I see my doctor. I am having a planned c/s due to the i.c. because I didn't want anymore complications due to a vaginal delivery.

mfv1204 · October 2011

Same here, I have IC and have had a terrible last trimester with the pressure on my bladder. My Uro said sometimes after childbirth the IC can go into remission or symptoms lighten up a bit. Did you notice anything different?

iris427 · October 2011

Kpercyman:
iris427:
Can I ask what your medical condition is? I have interstitial cystitis so I'm curious.
Anyway I wouldn't worry too much about the catheter. You'll have good pain meds. I didn't have any issues with my catheter after my c/s.
I had my c/s at 5:40 in the evening so I think I got up for the first time the next day. Everyone's recovery is different but I never was in pain as long as I kept up on my pain meds. I stopped needing the meds 5 days postpartum and aside from being very tired, I was fine after that.
GL

How was your recovery with i.c.? I have it and this is my first pregnancy. I am having bladder spasms and horrible cramps. I am on modified bed rest already until I see my doctor. I am having a planned c/s due to the i.c. because I didn't want anymore complications due to a vaginal delivery.

mfv1204:
Same here, I have IC and have had a terrible last trimester with the pressure on my bladder. My Uro said sometimes after childbirth the IC can go into remission or symptoms lighten up a bit. Did you notice anything different?

Sorry to hear that you ladies have it too. My IC is milder than most cases so I don't know if my experiences have been typical. I did have some minor pain issues during pregnancy and sex became pretty much impossible once I was pregnant because of the pain. My OB during my first pregnancy said I could try taking pyridium as needed but I hate that stuff.

I do think my IC has improved since I had my first kid, so maybe giving birth did help. I've had one c/s and one vaginal delivery and I don't think either one impacted my IC more--but I'm only 5 months pp from my vaginal birth, so we'll see how my symptoms are in the months to come. It's a sucky disease.

GL to both of you!

emma&katiesmom · October 2011

I have had two c-sections and both times I did not get the catheter placed until after I had my spinal. I never felt it go in and it really didn't bother me at all to have it removed the next morning. Honestly, I'm looking forward to being catheterized again (in 4 weeks - YAY!) so I can have one night of not having to pee constantly - LOL! I do remember it taking a while to get the pee coming on its own the next morning and the nurses at my hospital gave me a bottle of water (a peribottle I think) to shoot some water where the catheter was placed to try to stimulate the stream on my own...

I hope your medical condition doesn't cause you any trouble with all of this. Good luck!

katieh1017 · October 2011

Kpercyman:
iris427:

Can I ask what your medical condition is? I have interstitial cystitis so I'm curious.

Anyway I wouldn't worry too much about the catheter. You'll have good pain meds. I didn't have any issues with my catheter after my c/s.

I had my c/s at 5:40 in the evening so I think I got up for the first time the next day. Everyone's recovery is different but I never was in pain as long as I kept up on my pain meds. I stopped needing the meds 5 days postpartum and aside from being very tired, I was fine after that.

GL

How was your recovery with i.c.? I have it and this is my first pregnancy. I am having bladder spasms and horrible cramps. I am on modified bed rest already until I see my doctor. I am having a planned c/s due to the i.c. because I didn't want anymore complications due to a vaginal delivery.

I have IC too and it's my first baby and I am in my first tri too. I was wondering if I would see anyone else on here with IC. I was going to visit my urologist after I got through the first tri to see what he recommended from patient experience with births. I have been seriously thinking of a c-section because although I consider my IC mild, whenever I have a pap or these transvaginal u/s I get a flare. Just knowing that is making me very scared about having a vaginal birth.

I am interested in PM'ing with anyone with IC!

sabrina69barnes · October 2011

They don't put it in until you are numb and it didn't hurt when the took it out. Mine was in for around 20hrs with each c-section. I didn't feel any different after it was out. There was some burning but I have a bladder disease so that's normal for me.

ChiTown Bridget · October 2011

Switzerland:
I never felt the catheter placement as I was already numb from chest down. I never had a burning sensation after it was removed. For me, I could not get up to walk around till the catheter was removed and that was about 24 hrs after my c-section. I had a friend who was up after 3-4 hrs of her c-section walking around (I think with the catheter still in, but not sure). I know they say the sooner you get up to walk around post c-section the better recovery from gas pains, etc.

This exactly!

iris427 · October 2011

katieh1017:
Kpercyman:
iris427:

Can I ask what your medical condition is? I have interstitial cystitis so I'm curious.

Anyway I wouldn't worry too much about the catheter. You'll have good pain meds. I didn't have any issues with my catheter after my c/s.

I had my c/s at 5:40 in the evening so I think I got up for the first time the next day. Everyone's recovery is different but I never was in pain as long as I kept up on my pain meds. I stopped needing the meds 5 days postpartum and aside from being very tired, I was fine after that.

GL

How was your recovery with i.c.? I have it and this is my first pregnancy. I am having bladder spasms and horrible cramps. I am on modified bed rest already until I see my doctor. I am having a planned c/s due to the i.c. because I didn't want anymore complications due to a vaginal delivery.

I have IC too and it's my first baby and I am in my first tri too. I was wondering if I would see anyone else on here with IC. I was going to visit my urologist after I got through the first tri to see what he recommended from patient experience with births. I have been seriously thinking of a c-section because although I consider my IC mild, whenever I have a pap or these transvaginal u/s I get a flare. Just knowing that is making me very scared about having a vaginal birth.

I am interested in PM'ing with anyone with IC!

Like I said, my IC is milder than normal but you are welcome to PM me. Just make sure to page me here so I know to check my PMs. I've had a c/s and a vaginal birth.

TanyaKM · October 2011

They placed the catheter after I had the spinal, so I didn't feel a thing. I also didn't have any burning or issues after they removed it. I had my c-section at 7:30 a.m. and they removed the catheter and had me get up out of bed at 10 p.m. that night. I felt remarkably good considering this is major surgery. Just take it slow and easy when moving around those first few days.

ETA: Actually I take that back. They didn't remove my catheter until the next morning -- I forgot that I had to carry the urine bag while I was walking around that night. But I was only walking for about 5 minutes to it was no big deal.

gmc222 · October 2011

They inserted my catheter after I already had the spinal, so it didn't hurt at all. It did sting when I peed the first few times after it was removed (about 20 hours after surgery), but it was completely fine.

My surgery was at 8am and they had me standing up at about 5 or 6pm that evening. the next morning at 5am they had me walk to the bathroom, and since I was able to do that they removed the cath.

Please don't worry, it will all be fine

ghdst1 · October 2011

I didn't have any pain with the catheter going in or out. Nor did I have burning while peeing afterwards. But that just might be me.

I had to stay in bed for 24 hours after c/s because I had to stay on a magnesium drip for pre-eclampsia. After that the catheter was taken out and I was allowed to get up.

babymomma623 · October 2011

I was more afraid to have a catheter put in than for the c-section. I asked the docs to insert it after I was numb and they did. Also, it did burn a bit to pee when it came out, but it wasnt too bad at all. I was not up until the next day because I was on a magnesium drip for pre-e. The pain meds are good, just don't over do it.

JG362009 · October 2011

I just want to be honest with you -- the catheter was one of the worst parts of it for me because I ended up getting a terrible UTI after my c-section so it really magnified the pain for me. Getting it out hurt a lot and I couldn't void urine without tons of pain for days. But I'm sure if you're not infected, it will be fine.

I had my c-section at 3:30 in the morning and I think I got my IV and catheter out about 12 hours later. I think I at that point I was walking around but I felt pretty immobile until the IV and catheter were out because you can't really walk around. My recovery was tough and I was in a lot of pain, but I've heard scheduled c-sections are easier to recover from.

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