Catheter

[Msfoxyangel84]

Do you have to get a catheter when giving birth? The idea just makes me cringe.

[chelseaneddie]

With epidural usually you wont feel the cath but they are known to cause some nasty uti's and bladder infections.

[Lesley27]

With my epideral i was able to walk but not pee... so i did get an epideral for that reason... at first they straight cathed me where it goes in and empties the bladder and comes out right after, then later i tried to pee some more and couldnt so they just put a regular catheter in and when i was ready to deliver they would take it out but as of then i wasnt progressing so they said if i did need a csection then it would already be in so anyway i did need a csection in the end so regardless i would have needed one... i put catheters in a lot at work so its not a big deal to me, plus with the epideral i didnt feel anything anyway...

[chelseaneddie]

With my first daughter I had an epidural and did not need to be cathed. She said to me you have to get up to use the rest room or I have to give u a cath and I jumped right up and went. U don't always need one with a epidural

[kerriekab]

When i had an epidural they didnt put a catheter in and keep it in there but every few hours they would insert a small one just to empty my bladder then take it right out. this was in England so not sure if this is different in diff countries etc.

[Factorymomma]

Lucky duck, I always feel like I have to go with a catheter in! I had to have one for a while this past weekend again.... Had the urge the whole time ha ha

[joolschic]

I had one and didn't even realise I had it until they took it out...was wondering why I didn't have to pee :-)

[Msfoxyangel84]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I've been extremely worried but I feel alot better now...

[Factorymomma]

I've had a catheter a couple times now (knee surgery, csection) and as long as they do it quick and correctly (i worked as a patient care tech in a hospital for years, I've put hundreds of catheters in people lol) it should not hurt.  You'll just feel like you have to pee lol.  Make sure if you do get one they put a catheter strap on you, or tape it to your leg with some slack.  Nothing like having someone bump it on accident and tug on it! Woo!

[lilpollywog]

If you have an epidural, they do it after it takes effect.  So you dont even feel it.  And they took mine out before it completely wore off.  So I never would've known I had one if they didnt tell me.

[jblanton]

They do it when you have an epi because you may not be able to walk (your legs may be too numb). They'll wait until you can't feel anything. It's so great because you won't have to get up to pee. They should be able to take it out after the birth and you'll never know it was there.

[lilbit_17]

I'm glad you asked this! The thought of something being shoved up my pee hole freaks me out too....worse than birth LoL! Hopefully they will do it after the epidural!

[JGF25]

Agreed...it didn't even hurt and it is not always necessary.  

[Dewhitt]

The docs put one in me after I gave birth since I had  a few tears and had to keep it for the 3days I was there, honestly its not bad at all you forget its there. Its actually nice because after long labor you will be too tired to even get up to pee lol

[trying43]

No not always.  I did with my first because I had an epidural and my labor was so long.  My second and third didn't have one at all.