Epidurals -

My plan is to go naturally. But I have a question about Epidurals anyway.....

Is it true you always have a catheter inserted if you have an epidural

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I had a vaginal birth with an epidural and no cath.

but i think if your going to have a c-section then you have to have the cath.

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I had an epidural & a cath...they didn't ask if I wanted it, they just put it in (as if I had no choice). I didn't mind it though, rather that than peeing all over yourself...it didn't hurt, I didn't feel anything when they put it in or took it out.

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I was told with DD#1 the difference between the epi and a spinal is that you have a cath. with an epi so they can give you more meds during labor and when you have a spinal with a c-section you just get a spinal needle no cath. because it is only needed for a limited amount of time.

Re: Epidurals -

Posted by sunflowerjesss

My plan is to go naturally. But I have a question about Epidurals anyway.....

Is it true you always have a catheter inserted if you have an epidural

Re: Epidurals -

Yah, it's pretty standard that it goes in when you have the epi.

I felt nothing on it going in.... I was pretty numb at that point, but when it came out - holy weird sensation! It's a bubble that they insert saline or air into to keep it in place, and they deflate it, and it pops right out!

Don't worry honey!

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OMG, the epidural was heaven! You need a catheder if you get one cause your pretty numb so you can't get up to go to the bathroom. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have the epi. Probably jump out the window...I had all back labor and it was excruciating! In fact after dd was born, they had to put the catheder back in cause my bladder was so full, I couldn't pee. It really isn't that bad. Hurts for like a second.

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You wont feel it at all.

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I had an Epi with DD and no cath.

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I have absolutely no idea if I had a catheter with my epi....if I did it didnt hurt at all!

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Epidural anaesthesia can be used as sole anaesthetic for procedures involving the lower limbs, pelvis, perineum and lower abdomen. It is possible to perform upper abdominal and thoracic procedures under epidural anaesthesia alone, but the height of block required, with its attendant side effects, make it difficult to avoid significant patient discomfort and risk. The advantage of epidural over spinal anaesthesia is the ability to maintain continuous anaesthesia after placement of an epidural catheter, thus making it suitable for procedures of long duration. This feature also enables the use of this technique into the postoperative period for analgesia, using lower concentrations of local anaesthetic drugs or in combination with different agents.
I found this online, Hope it helps!!!!!!!

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I had a catheter with the epi and then it led to a c-section. The catheter stayed in. I was glad because for hours after the c-section there was no way I was able to get up and go to the bathroom. They actually left it in until the next day.

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I had a c-section too with a spinal and a catheter. They insert the catheter after they give you the meds, so you don't feel anything. Mine was in until the next morning (almost 24 hrs) and I didn't feel it when the nurse took it out either.

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I had the Epi and the Catheder. It actually wasn't that bad at all and made it easier to not have to worry about peeing all the time. Plus once the Epi is in you can't really feel your legs so you have no choice.

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For both deliveries I had both, however with this one the drip was never turned on, there was not enough time for that. just got the bolus shot of the spinal. good luck going natural I felt it 70% of this delivery and I would never want to do that again