Catheters?

nelson117 · December 2011

Do you have to get a catheter when you are at the hospital? I am getting induced Wed night with cervidil, and then starting pitocin the next morning. My friend just had an all natural birth and said she had to get one..im planning on an epidural. Anyone know?

KeyLime81 · December 2011

It might depend on your hospital's policy. Here's my experience...

1. Induction: No catheter.

2. Epi: No permanent catheter, but they'd occasionally empty my bladder (just put a catheter in for a few seconds...)

3. Ended up with C/S: Catheter in place for surgery and the next 24 hours.

PecanSam · December 2011

Yes, you will need one. Once u have an epidural you can't get out of bed. You don't feel it going in or out. They don't take it out till they take out your epidural line.

WifeyMommy2011 · December 2011

If you get an epidural you have to. I had a natural birth and they still had to drain my bladder via catheter right before I started pushing just because everything happened so fast.

MrsT2008 · December 2011

I got an epidural and had a catheter since I wasn't allowed out of bed. They didn't remove it until almost 24 hours post-delivery. I was actually scared once they took it out because before that, I didn't have to worry about getting out of bed!

mirandagc91 · December 2011

At my hospital if you go natural you don't have to get one but once they broke my water I was not allowed to get up an go I had to use a bed pan. This was a precaution so that the umbilical cord didn't start descending before baby. Once I got the epidural I had a "permanent" on put in and taken out when it was time to push, by time I got out of L&D I had my epidural line removed for about an hour and could somewhat walk with help and they said the first time I use the bathroom to call a nurse for help walking so I didn't fall. With C-Sections they put one in after the spinal/epidural and leave it in for up to 24 hours after depending on if you had a spinal (which last much longer) or an epidural (which wears off much quicker). I have had them done with and without an epidural and neither way hurt for me just a bit of pressure without the epidural.

HisKonstantine · December 2011

They didn't give me one until I got my epidural.

greenqueen11 · December 2011

I didn't get one this time with an epi because everything happened so fast (was pushing within an hour of getting the epi). Last time after an hour or so of having the epi I had one in only to drain my bladder every few hours.

kylayton · December 2011

I had a one placed once I was given the epidural. They took it out right after delivery.

scprincessrn · December 2011

Natural delivery. No catheter. I did end up peeing when I first started pushing.

ContactDanielle · December 2011

I had an epi and they inserted a catheter right away. When the nurse called my dr. he said to remove it and just insert it to drain once eery 3-4 hours. I think they only drained once until I was pushing!

lageorgiapaperie · December 2011

I was put on mag sulfate b/c of my BP issues/threatened pre-e. With mag sulfate you have to have it for 24 hr. after you give birth as well and aren't allowed out of bed. So, I got a catheter b/c of that. They started putting it in before the epi and OMG it was so painful! So they decided to give me the epi first and then insert the catheter. Epi didn't work in that region and holy cow I felt the whole damn thing go in, ouch!!

If you plan an epi, I suggest you get one before you get the catheter, and hopefully you won't feel anything!

Taking it out though was a breeze.

beka0404 · December 2011

I got mine about an hour after my epidural. It's been fabulous thus far.

TiffJ21 · December 2011

About an hour after I got the epi they drained my bladder with one and never had to do it again since I started pushing about an hour later. I never had to get a permanent one. Like PP said though you should make sure to have them place the epi first then have the catheter placed.

OurJellybean · December 2011

I had a epidural and they put in a Cath as I couldn't get out of bed. They removed it for pushing then put another one in after delivery cuz I was so swollen from forceps. I had it removed the next day. I felt nothing. I'm a nurse and put them in all the time, they are a bit uncomfortable but should not hurt if done right

beezja · December 2011

I just had an epi Monday but no catheter. I asked the nurse before hand what the plan was for that and she said they typically use bed pans or commodes pulled up next to the bed that you can slide over on to if you are able to bear any weight on your legs. I however couldn't move my legs at all.

lijuan09 · December 2011

I got one before they even wheeled me back to the OR for my c/s. It was before the spinal, but it didn't really hurt. I felt it, but it was more comfortable than an internal check for me. They took it out about 24 hours post-surgery.

Raelara3 · December 2011

I went most of my labor without the epi, so I was up walking and moving around to work through the contractions. At that point I just went to the bathroom as needed. I caved and got the epi right as I was starting to go through transition. I was so close that they didn't worry about it at that point. They cathed me before they started stitching me up, and then again when they were finished. After that they told me to get some rest and when I felt like I needed to go to page the nurse.

Lexie Marie · December 2011

I had a catheter but I also got a epidural. So if you plan of getting a epidural I'm pretty sure a catheter is mandatory with it.

I also had to get another catheter 5 hours after labor because my nerves were so "tramatized" that I couldn't go pee on my own.

cutcopypaste · December 2011

MrsT2008:
I got an epidural and had a catheter since I wasn't allowed out of bed. They didn't remove it until almost 24 hours post-delivery. I was actually scared once they took it out because before that, I didn't have to worry about getting out of bed!

For me they were trying to stop labor with magnesium sulfate which has horrible side effects so you are not allowed out of bed. That's when I got my epidural but I ended up needing it anyways for the c-section. I too was so afraid when they took it out because it meant getting up to go to the bathroom.

juepnunes · December 2011

My advice on the topic is if you get one, make sure you get up of bed and go pee after the catheter is removed. I had a c/s and had the catheter on for 24hrs. After that, I totally forgot I had to pee on my own, and I guess it was because there was no more pressure on my bladder, due to LO being outside, I forgot I had to pee. Big mistake! I hurt like hell when I tried to get up and go pee on my own, my belly was so full!!!

uncharch7 · December 2011

i had one with my epi. good thing because my bladder was so full there was no way DS was going to drop any. before that, because of his position, i couldn't feel the need to pee.

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