Catheters...

[Connah'sMommy]

This may sound silly but im soooo scared of having one during labour!

Its unlikely for me but i still cant help but think about it...

Can anyone tell me what happens? what they do? does it hurt etc?

thanks

 

[x Michelle x]

hi
I had one put in for my section and didn't feel a thing! Absolutely nothing!
And for the rest of the day, you don't even feel you need to pee! you expect you will, but you really don't at all!
I was worried about feeling it being removed, but again nothing!

My only paranoia was that someone would accidentally catch the bag as they walked past me so i kept it tucked well out the way!

Sorry, don't know if i'm much help!

 

[RiverSong]

I had a section, therefore a cathater. It was painless to put in as the epidural numbed everything. The only thing i will say is that i didnt get a chance to wash before it was removed so it did 'snag' a bit on some dried blood. Other than that it was fine. Just a bit awkward to get about with x

 

[x Michelle x]

I had my section at 8:30 on the Wednesday and made them remove it 24hrs later as i was determined to be home in 3 days - i would've been if LO didn't get rushed to NICU, little monkey!
that meant i didn't actually have to move anywhere with it attached tho so that was a bonus!

 

[kanga]

I have an induction with epidural and therefore also a catheter. It was absolutely fine, didnt hurt at all when they took it out. Didnt feel it going in due to epi. Its just a bit inconvenient to carry round after labour but thats only for a day. Honestly, when it comes to it, a catheter will be the least of your worries!

 

[moomin_troll]

i had a vaginal birth and needed stitches. so before she did them the mw put a catheter in which didnt feel great and then the bitch pushed on my stomach which hurt. then she took it out.

it wasnt the best thing to have done but i really wouldnt worry about it

 

[Eternal]

Ive had one in labour and one for another hospital admission. I didnt really notice the one in labour, I had a vaginal birth so it was just put in as I hadnt passed urine and she wanted my bladder empty before i started pushing. So it was just in and out, didnt really bother me, i was a bit nervous but it honestly didnt hurt at all.

The other one I had when i was poorly in hospital with pancreatitis (while 17 weeks pregnant with these twins), It was a little sore and very strange, and then as it was left in it was an odd feeling but it got better after awhile. I did keep asking for it to come out, lol, and was happy when it did, i did find it uncomfy. But i didnt hurt really, was uncomfy and a bit sore and weird going in.

As for coming out, it was quick, a bit uncofy but they asked me to cough and then it was oit so nothing to really worry about.

Fingers crossed you wont need one, but if you do i wouldnt worry, it will be fine. x

 

[callyd]

I had one too - my csection was a crash section where I was going to be totally knocked out due to complications so when they put mine in I was on the operating table, and had had zero pain relief up to that point of my labour (they had not administered the general anesthetic yet). I felt everything, and honestly it is not that bad even if you DO feel it go in. It is not pleasant (lol) but does not hurt. More like a very odd sensation of uncomfortable and then nothing. And coming out literally felt like nothing at all. Good luck!

 

[we can't wait]

You should only need a catheter if you have a c-section or an epidraul... either way, you'll most likely be numb before they administer it. I didn't require a catheter, so I can't be much help other than that; but I know friends and my sisters who've all had one (I was scared of getting one, so I asked around) & they all said nothing to worry about.

 

[goddess25]

I had one with my first birth as I was prepped for theatre... i never felt it going in cos I had a spinal at that point. It was a bit uncomfortable and sore when it was in but I am allergic to all sorts of platics. I never felt it coming out.
Try not to worry about it. I am sure that you wont need it, but if you do its a routine procedure. I am a RN and have put in hundreds of catheters and its not painful.

 

[kmumtobe]

I had an 'in out' one done during labour as I was desperate to wee in between every contraction but couldn't and size of my bladder was hampering my progress so they effectively drained me, this did hurt the few seconds they put it up but I was only on has and air.. to be honest tho the pain of the contractions it wasn't worse and was over quick, taking it out didn't hurt at all. I then got a proper one when I had my spinal for ventouse, this was one of many things they did to me I had no awareness of at all, by the time you're in proper labour you're so zoned out and just wanting that bubba things you worry about before you just don care. After the birth it was in for prob 15 hours till I was encouraged to get mobile, never noticed it was there, felt like heaven not to have to wee every hour after pregnancy and labour and was quite gutted to have it out as I wasn't very steady or confident being up and about, plus first wee is scary after episiotomy tho ill add to that I actually was impressed it didn't sting at all just felt weird x

 

[katy1310]

I had one for my emergency section but had already had the epidural or spinal (not sure which I had!) and I didn't feel a thing. I was scared about what it would feel like coming out but it was just similar to the way it feels when taking a tampon out. x

 

[lynnikins]

i hated it when they gave me one to empty my bladder before ds1 was born , i told them it wasnt my bladder caus i knew i had peed that he just had a bloody big head lol but they didnt believe me

 

[Nimbus]

I had one for our birth, and in truth I don't recall the feeling at all. I was in established labour with back to back and persistent pain between contractions, so perhaps that explains why i didn't feel it. The idea of it freaks me out, but when needs must...

 

[teal]

I had to have emergency forceps delivery and they had to empty my bladder before for that. It didn't really hurt, just uncomfortable - but was also uncomfortable from the contractions so was least of my worries. xx

 

[momof2babies]

I had a catheter at 8cm with DD cause I couldn't pee didn't hurt just the sensation of having to pee and then nothing but I was in labor with no pain relief as I had a bad experience with epidural

 

[Black_Rose]

I was scared of the cathetor too but honestly it wasn't as bad as i thought. I had an unmedicated birth and because i pushed for so long (6 hrs baby was OP) i was VERY swelled down below i had to pee sooo bad afterwords and i just couldn't no matter how hard i tried so they straight cathed me. The ony time it hurt was bc my urniary tract was swelled due to a small graze i had (a peri urtheral one-ouch), so it hurt when she initially put it in (since she had to kind of reopen the opening) but after that it was a HIGE relief! it actually felt really good to get the urine out! so not as bad as it may seem

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I had an 'in and out' during labour with Ruby and I didn't feel it at all - like a PP said happened to them, I couldn't go and then that was stopping things happening! It was fine, and I detest being 'fiddled with', so I wouldn't worry if you do need one.

 

[indy and lara]

I had to have the in and out type twice first time round. My bladder had become so badly stretched that they were concerned that I may end up with permanent damage. It was fine. I had one in for 3 days after an op when I was 23. Again fine but took me a while to be able to go on my own afterwards as it had been in so long.

 

[Fergie]

I had one and didn't feel it going in or coming out. It did feel slightly odd when they were inflating the baloon, but as Black Rose said the relief was immeasurable .