A bit freaked out about a catheter :/

[MeaganMackenz]

So I was totally not giving a rats behind about my third labour in 1-2 months, until now.
I went natural with dd1 and had an epi with dd2. I was planning an epi this time around but the idea of a catheter hit me.

See if I remember correctly, (because I was in labour at 130am, fully epiduraled around 3 and slept until 730.. So either half asleep or actually asleep) I didn't have a catheter. I remember asking the nurse around 8am to put one in because I felt like I had to pee. When she went to put one in I was good to go and my daughter was born at 902am.
So I *think* she may have emptied it before the pushing started but I didn't have it in for any length of time. The epidural was already wearing off by the time I went to push because I felt everything down below, but not the contractions. I was up and walking to clean myself up between 10 and 1030.

Does that even sound possible to anyone? From what I understood you're not suppose to feel your bladder under an epidural? Would an epidural be wearing off after 6-7 hrs of it being in or did I miss a bunch of things (like them stopping the drip or something) lol.

Now I'm freaking out about it, I'm prone to utis, I don't want one after but I don't want to feel labour unless it's moving at lightening speeds lol.

 

[orangedaisy]

Not sure if you can feel the urge to pee while under a working epi or not. With my last two they put the catheter in right after the epi took effect. Though with those dang fluids hooked up, I was thankful to not have to get up and pee every 15 minutes anymore.

 

[lisaalove]

With my first they put in the catheter right after the epidural took effect. I don't remember it going in or them taking it out. I don't remember feeling the urge to pee at all either... though it was almost 5 years ago, I feel like I would remember if I had the urge to pee. Though my epidural was great for me.... I was pretty out of it when they first started it talking nonsense and all after about an hour it turned into just pain relief.

 

[CassieSims]

My epidural was spotty, it numbed everything except my right hip, which it dulled. So I felt my contractions slightly through that (and looking back now I'm thankful I could feel a little bit because it made pushing easier) but the catheter was the least of my worries, I remember having the slight urge to pee, but I was catheterized very quickly. And then they re-inserted it after she got here because my urethra was SO swollen I couldnt pee at all. My epidural had worn off by then and the insertion + removal of the catheter 24 hours later was painless. Don't stress over it! It's really quick and just feels strange!

 

[babifever]

To hate those things. Had it during a surgery. It doesn't hurt, but feel very awkward.

 

[Perplexed]

I don't remember mine at all and don't even remember it being removed. The midwife told me she was putting it in after I had the epidural. That's the only reason I know I had one. I still wondered why there were tape marks on my leg later. I gave birth at around 1.30 pm and stayed in bed with baby till 5.30-6...and then got up to shower and clean up. I don't think I at any point felt bladder pressure or the need to pee even before the epidural.

 

[babifever]

I don't remember mine at all and don't even remember it being removed. The midwife told me she was putting it in after I had the epidural. That's the only reason I know I had one. I still wondered why there were tape marks on my leg later. I gave birth at around 1.30 pm and stayed in bed with baby till 5.30-6...and then got up to shower and clean up. I don't think I at any point felt bladder pressure or the need to pee even before the epidural.

I dont think you feel any pressure with the cathedral.

 

[DebbieF]

I freaked out when they told me they were going to insert one when I was in labor with my daughter. I tried so hard to refuse it, but they didn't give me a choice. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting and I had no problems because of it.

 

[babifever]

They gave me one of those pans when I had my son vaginally in 2005.

 

[luz]

mine was placed after the epidural (so i was numb and didn't feel a thing) and was removed before i started pushing. I was a little bit sore from it after the birth for a few months, but it didn't really cause any problems. As others have said, i was just glad to not have to get up to pee every 30 minutes!

 

[mummytobe_93]

I had a catheter because my bladder was so full that the babies head couldnt xome out. I only had gas and air and didn't feel bothered by the catheter at all. It irritated my bladder a bit afterwards but because so much is going on down there it's not an issue at all. I wouldn't worry about it x