Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

When do they put the catheter in for a VB?
And when for a C/S?

When do they take it out for both births?

Do you feel it being put in and taking it out?
Does it hurt?

When its left in after birth and you are no longer numb do you feel it inside?
Are you able to walk around with it in? Is there any pain?

So sorry for all my weird posts ladies, I'm trying to get myself prepared here. I'm a freaken mess I want to know a head of time everything so there isn't so many surprises

Thank you so much for all the replies!!!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had a c-section with DS.

Catheter came in after the spinal tap. It was about 3pm on a Friday. I felt NOTHING.

It was removed the next morning around 10am. It started bothering me at 8am. I could not imagine hurting so bad trying to pee again without it. I cried in PAIN for 2 hours until I was able to pee again. I had pain from it for a good 1.5 months after PP. My case was not typical though.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

When do they put the catheter in for a VB?
- After I got an epidural I got the catheter

When do they take it out for both births?
- I think right before I started pushing

Do you feel it being put in and taking it out?
- Not being put in, but taking it out I felt it a little. I was dealing with contractions though so I didn't notice.

Does it hurt?
- Nah

When its left in after birth and you are no longer numb do you feel it inside?
Are you able to walk around with it in? Is there any pain?
- I had it taken out before pushing. I did not feel it inside even when the epidural wore off. I was feeling contraction pain. You'll be fine. And honestly, the catheter is the LEAST of your worries pain-wise. That's what epidurals are for!

Message edited 7/2/2009 8:20:06 PM.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Posted by MrsS518

When do they put the catheter in for a VB?
And when for a C/S?
I had an emergency c/s for DS. They gave me the spinal block at 10 pm Wednesday and put the catheter in almost immediately after. I did not feel it at all.

When do they take it out for both births?
The nurse took it out late Friday - so it was in for almost 2 full days. It felt like a big tug but I was fine.

Do you feel it being put in and taking it out?
Does it hurt?
For going in no, for coming out yes.

When its left in after birth and you are no longer numb do you feel it inside? Not for me.

Are you able to walk around with it in? Is there any pain?
I was on bed rest before my c/s and had muscle atrophy combined with an allergic reaction to the tape used for the c/s so walking was really difficult for me and they did not ask me to walk until Thursday night because I needed some PT to walk. I am sure that is not the case for people who are not on strict left side only bed rest.

So sorry for all my weird posts ladies, I'm trying to get myself prepared here. I'm a freaken mess I want to know a head of time everything so there isn't so many surprises

Thank you so much for all the replies!!!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Oh trust me, you won't even notice the catheter by comparison to everything else

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had two c-sections: one emergency and one planned. I did not feel the catheter going in AT ALL--had the epidural/spinal done first. But beware...my girlfriend's nurse put hers in before she had the spinal and she described it as the worst part of the childbirth experience. Don't let them do that to you.

I had it in for 24 hours? I think? I don't remember walking around with it. I didn't feel it in there at all, but what a weird situation...it's like you never feel yourself peeing, but you look at the bag and there it is! Tried to hide that with a sheet when visitors came in.

No pain coming out.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

honestly the catheter is no biggie.. i had to have one when i was in the hospital the last time and i felt it all.. dont get me wrong its not pleasent but its not painful! i thought it was more uncomfy coming out then going in. you dont feel it once its in. its actually a nice vacation from the bathroom in my opinion i HATE having to roll my arse outta bed every 20 min to pee!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

i got mine after the epidural and they took it out after birth. didn't feel a thing because of the epi!

but i have had one in other circumstances, and it doesn't hurt at all. it's a touch uncomfortable going in, but then it's fine. you forget it's even there.

you will be just fine

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had a scheduled c-section. They put it in after the epidural was in so I felt nothing. They took it out the next morning, no big deal at all.

It was kind of nice not having to worry about getting up to go to the bathroom at all that first night!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I got the catheter in the OR before my c/s. At the point they put it in I already had my spinal so I felt nothing. It was in for 24 hrs. and it didn't hurt at all when the took it out. I'm SO happy I had the catheter........I cannot imagine if I had to actually get out of bed that first day!!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Posted by Bxgell2

Oh trust me, you won't even notice the catheter by comparison to everything else

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Posted by Bxgell2

Oh trust me, you won't even notice the catheter by comparison to everything else

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

it seems my hosptial did things differently.

I had a vaginal birth.

Before I got the epidural, they had me empty my bladder.

I did not have a catherter in the entire time. Before I was ready to push, they put the catheter in to empty my bladder and after delivering DD and before they transferred me to my room, they put the catheter in again and emptied my bladder (although there wasn't much there).

ETA: I did not feel a thing

Message edited 7/2/2009 10:55:17 PM.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Tara - if you search on my name - i have a post about how scared i was about this.... I have had surgeries before and every single time - i have FREAKED out in recovery - wanting to tear the catheter out (i'm not joking - i almost pulled it out myself once).

When do they put the catheter in for a VB?
And when for a C/S? - i had a c/s - I didn't feel them putting it in me - they did it in the OR during the c-section - once i was numb.

When do they take it out for both births? the second day - the first day - they kept me in bed because of my BP. I appreciated not having to get up to pee every 10 seconds to be honest.

Do you feel it being put in and taking it out? Felt NOTHING going in. Coming out - i felt slight pressure - but it was QUICK - like 10 seconds of hmmmm - and done.
Does it hurt? - see above.

When its left in after birth and you are no longer numb do you feel it inside? No - and i can't tell you how worried i was about this...

Are you able to walk around with it in? Is there any pain? No - i was not allowed to walk around with it - it needs to stay lower than your bladder - so they attached it to the bottom of the bed. NO PAIN at all - and to be honest - i had no idea i was peeing at all - i just saw the bag...

I think they keep it in because they have to measure how much you're going and make sure there's not too much blood, etc.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had a total of 3! One after my epidural then they took it out when I started pushing, the second was after they stitched me up because they had to numb me up again after delivery since I had such a bad tear and then the 3rd time I had to be cathed was because I couldn't pee on my own probably because I was still a little numb. I remember the last time I felt such relief because my bladder was so full that I don't remember if it was uncomfy or not!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Posted by Hofstra26

I got the catheter in the OR before my c/s. At the point they put it in I already had my spinal so I felt nothing. It was in for 24 hrs. and it didn't hurt at all when the took it out. I'm SO happy I had the catheter........I cannot imagine if I had to actually get out of bed that first day!!

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

for VB they put it in after the epi.... it felt a little odd... i think cause it was touching my leg... just like the iv aggitated me cause it was next to my hand keeping me in place...

it wasnt put in durring my first night there and i was getting up to pee like every hour or so... so you might want one so you can rest up

Message edited 7/3/2009 8:30:11 AM.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had a c-section after a failed induction. I had a catheter inserted after my epidural. It felt uncomfortable going in, but it didn't bother me at all coming out. The nurse took it out a few hours after my c-section when she had me get up and walk to the bathroom.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Got the epi and catheter at the same time. I never even noticed it there. They took it out right when I was about to push. It didn't hurt during or afterwards. I was peeing just fine after they took it out.

I was not allowed to walk around with it in.

Message edited 7/4/2009 12:23:06 PM.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Hmmm...I didn't get a catheter and I had a v-birth - I guess maybe b/c I didn't have an epidural?

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had a CS. They put the catheter on for me in the OR. I acted like a chicken and kept saying how scared I was of them putting in the catheter so they gave me the spinal first then put the catheter in. I didn't feel a thing. My sister also had a CS but they didn't give her a spinal before putting in the catheter and she said it was very uncomfortable and the worst part of her CS.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I can answer for both since I had a section & then a VBAC

When do they put the catheter in for a VB?
-I had mine in after I got the epi.

-And when for a C/S?
I had an emergency CS & got the cath put in while I was being prepped for the section.

When do they take it out for both births?
-With the VBAC, it came out before I started pushing.

With the section it was about 24 hours later.

Do you feel it being put in and taking it out?
-I don't remember with my first (the section), but with my VBAC I had it in after the epi so I didn't feel it.

Does it hurt?
-It pinched a little

When its left in after birth and you are no longer numb do you feel it inside?
-I do remember feeling it after my section. I kept begging them to take it out. With the VBAC it was out before I pushed so this wasn't an issue.

Are you able to walk around with it in?
-Yes, but you usually don't.

Is there any pain?
-Honestly, I remember feeling very uncomfortable for a couple of days after my VBAC from the cath. The first time I had to pee after both births was pretty awful too.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

I had it done 3 times first 2x when I went into early labor and the 3rd time for C/S. first 2 times it hurt like he!! putting in and taking it out.
3rd time I didn't feel a thing going in or taking it out.(they put it in before they took me to the operating room= before the spinal and took it out the next morning) I also had to walk around with for few hours first 2 times. It was no big deal once it was in. OH and try to pee asap once thy take it out. It will burn a little when you first do, but it will get better.

Re: Catheter question for vaginal and c-section births

The idea of the catheter freaks me out sooo much. It's basically because 3 years ago I was in the hospital & shared a room with an older woman & I heard her yelling while they inserted her catheter. Hearing everyone say that they felt nothing puts my mind at ease a little.