Did you have a catheter after c section and how long for if you did?

[andiem]

Just wondering about this.......

[Marmite]

Just for the first night. Took it out first thing in the morning.

[Nearlyemptynest]

taken out before going onto ward and tbh didn't notice - was too engrossed in you know who!

[Hulababy]

I had my c section at 8:45pm and it was removed first thing the next morning.

[janinlondon]

Yes. Removed the following morning when I wanted to start walking.

[Marina]

Next morning
I hated the idea of this aspect of c sections but I promise you there is so much else going on you really don't have time to focus on the yuck factor

[ProfYaffle]

I'm a bit fuzzy on timings with dd1 but I know I got forgotton about and had it for longer than I should have done. With dd2 I had her 10.30am on the Friday and it was removed about 6am Saturday morning.

[ProfYaffle]

It didn't hurt btw, just felt a bit odd when they took it out.

[Marmite]

Are you worried about it or just curious?

[aquababe]

wow it was only this thread that reminded me I'd had one.
admittedly was quite drugged up but I think I'd so much more to worry about it was even remotely an issue.

[MegaLegs]

Had DS4 at 12.30pm on Thurs they took it out the following morning. Was worried but it didn't hurt at all.

I was on the drip for along time (saline?)as they'd forgotten to switch it on, so I was headachey and dehydrated before they realised.

[DaisyMOO]

Yes, I had it in until the next morning when I was able to get up to the toilet. It was bloody lovely not having to get up to the toilet all night after months of constant weeing every couple of hours They don't put it in until you've had the spinal anaesthetic so you probably won't know a thing about it.

[Rochwen]

I think they took it out after 24 hours. I thoght I would hate it but I actually quite liked being ultra lazy and it didn't hurt at all. Only problem was tha tafterwards it took a whikle for me to feel the urge to pee, so I had to force myself to go every hour or so.

[ghosty]

Just reading Sally's post - how is it possible to have a c-section and NOT have a catheter?
Sorry if I am being dim but if you have spinal block you have hours of not feeling your legs and nether regions ... wouldn't you just dribble wee every where if you couldn't feel down there?

DD was born at 3.30pm and I was allowed up the next morning, so they took it out then.

[3andnomore]

I had a Spinal Block for my C-section and did have a Catheter for roughly 24 h.
Didn't fully get the feeling in my legs and toes back until late in the evening, and they obvioulsy didn't want to mobilise me that late.

[ShrinkingViolet]

I had one with DDs1 and 2, but not with DD3, but was up and about a couple of hours after she was born (and managed a poo next morning [proud emoticon] which impressed the midwives no end).
A tip with catheters - they take them out quicker if you can fill the bag up quite quickly so drink loads. But make sure the tube isn't kinked underneath you, otherwise the staff start encouraging you to drink more because the bag isn't filling up, and you're getting more and more uncomfortable, and when it's eventually sorted out, everyone is amazed at your bladder capacity .

[Highlander]

24 hours. With DS1 I was really reluctant to have one, but the thought of urinary retention and having to have one inserted without anaesthesia tipped the balance for me!

TBH, I didn't mind it as it means you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to pee. Although, with both boys I was up and about within 3 hours anyway.

[Grrrr]

And if you really go for it with the drinking water thing you can watch yourself peeing absolutely clear urine (freaked me out, I couldn't understand why there was no urine in the tube as I was drinking like a fish)

[dressedupnowheretogo]

yes and had my c section about 1 45 and was taken out i think about 10 pm same day i add i think i was on strong pain killers

[alicet]

I ahd one - it was put in after my spinal so didn't realise it was going in. Just felt like having a wee when it came out the following am (ds was born about 4pm) - not uncomfortable at all.

If you have a spinal and don't have a catheter firstly you are at risk of going into urinary retention (where you can't wee) and would need one put in then. Also there is a chance they could damage your bladder doing the section if you had a full bladder at the time. If you were having an elective section you could go for a wee before they put the spinal in which would virtually prevent this but obviously this might not be practical for an emergency.

Bottom line - its really not that bad. I would have one again if I needed to. If you don't you might need one later anyway, risk more complications with your section and if you have had a spinal you won't be able to get up and wee anyway - bedpans are much more degrading than a catheter!