STMs - catheters after spinal? why not?

SouthernMom70 · December 2012

OK, with my first, I remember they stuck a catheter in me, and then wheeled me into the delivery room for my spinal prior to my C-section. (this was a scheduled C-section, non-emergency, I was 42 weeks, baby hadn't dropped, I wasn't dilated, just for background)

The catheterization HURT like holy h*ll. It was seriously the most painful experience of the whole surgery. I don't know if the nurse didn't know what she was doing or what, but really...it was horrible.

So, I'm wondering, since they're going to numb me from the chest down anyway, why can't they catheterize AFTER they do the spinal this time, instead of before?

I'm going to ask my OB at a future appt, but just wondering if anybody had any insight on this.

lil_jen051708 · December 2012

I got my cath after my spinal.

katiereimer · December 2012

Same here, I got mine after the spinal. That is the one thing I did not want is a catheter, and it ended up being the very least of my worries lol

UberBiz · December 2012

Hrm. I didn't go in expecting a c-section, but I got a catheter way before I even got the friggin epidural. I can't remember how it felt. They pretty much confined me to the bed as soon as I was admitted. Boo on them

newly_naugler · December 2012

I think my midwife mentioned that the OB prefers to have the cathedar in place before the spinal. I'm unsure why, you think it would be easier on everyone to already be numb.

Mama-Bear · December 2012

Mine was placed after my spinal. I did have one when I was on hospital BR because my OB wouldn't let me up for the first 48 hours. It wasn't comfortable, but I don't remember it being painful, to me it was just intense pressure (I assume because something was being shoved the wrong way up my urethra).

Potatertot · December 2012

I was concerned about this before my scheduled c-section, but thankfully the policy at my hospital is cath after spinal. I felt nothing at all and it was amazing. I would definitely ask about getting it done after instead of before.

HarrietNJMommy · December 2012

I've had 4 c/s and only this last one did they do the cath AFTER the spinal. My first 3 were done before the spinal. It wasn't bad at all and didn't hurt for me. The hospital changed its policy and now it's after.

I would ask. GL!

HopeNotLost · December 2012

Ouch!! My catheter was inserted after my spinal. I would have freaked if they mentioned doing it prior.

tawillers · December 2012

My catheter was placed after the epidural/spinal with both my c/s.

thehauffamily · December 2012

ya both mine were placed afterwards, not that yo umention this since we are delivering at a diff hospital I will be asking about it.

SouthernMom70 · December 2012

Thanks ladies! I'm definitely going to insist on having the cath put in *after* the spinal this time. I'm not really concerned with the doctor's convenience - I'm more concerned about my lack of pain. :-)

NicoleWI · December 2012

They told me that they will do mine AFTER the spinal.

DawnJM25 · December 2012

With C-section #1 they inserted the catheter after my epidural, but I had also been in labor with failure to make progress which ended up resulting in a C-section. With C-section #2 they inserted the catheter before the spinal because it was a planned surgery, but it actually didn't hurt as bad as I thought. Just a little discomfort when it was inserted and a weird/uncomfortable urge to go until I had the spinal. Honestly I expected it to hurt a lot more than it did!

sabrina69barnes · December 2012

I hard heard stories about getting them before the spinal so I asked my nurse when we got there. She gave me a strange look and said they always do them after you are numb. She said to do it before would be "cruel".

This may be standard at your hospital but you don't have to accept standard. Demand they do it after.

mamastich · December 2012

I had 2 catheters during my delivery and both were not painful and ive had one since from an injury (i was tied to a board) and had no pain from that either. I blame your nurse - other than a little pinch you shouldnt feel anything.

mandapie · December 2012

My OB was totally fine with it. He said that some old school nurses will try to do it before sometimes, but if someone came at me with one before to just ask to wait. They did it after and I could feel her touching me to clean me and my legs up but it was very faint and it didn't hurt going in. By the time it went in I was totally numb.