Catheter before or after the spinal in a C section?

[slippeddisc]

To all you ladies who have experienced the positives and negatives of inserting a catheter before/after a spinal in a CS.....

I read on MN on somebodies suggested birth plan for a C section to ask to have the catheter inserted after the spinal, as you wont feel it. I was happy to do this and thought it made perfect sense!

Just come back from my pre op appointment (I go in tomorrow for my CS) and the midwife told me their policy has now changed and the catheter is inserted before the spinal. This, apparently, is largely due to there being less risk of infection, but also because women had voiced a preference to it being done beforehand as it could be carried out by one midwife on the ward before entering surgery and therefore more dignified as less people around staring at your bits etc.
I then discussed the hospitals new approach with my Anaesthetist who told me that she thought it was a stupid idea and if it was her she would insist it was done after the spinal.
I have never had a catheter inserted, so dont know how much discomfort is involved. Any comments welcome please ladies, do I comply with hospital proceedures, and have it done on the ward or voice my preference for insertion in theatre after the spinal?

[LiegeAndLief]

I had mine put in after the spinal. Lots of people staring at your bits is surely going to happen anyway and don't really understand why there would be less risk of infection. Sorry can't tell you what it would feel like with no anaesthetic but it was a bit uncomfortable coming out.

[needmorecoffee]

didn't have a catheter with my last c-section, just had a wee beforehand and they didn't bother. Much better than waking up with one.

[AlistairSim]

I've had both of mine after the spinal/epidural and to be honest, couldn't have cared less.

They are going to see your insides, so who cares if they see your lady-bits as well?

[NotEvenHopingForAWhiteXmas]

I had the spinal first and they waited until I was numb before putting in the catheter. Can't see the argument about people looking at your bits.. one person does it in the theatre so what's the difference?

Really uncomfortable when it came out...

[PestohohohoMonster]

Catheter after spinal, definitely.

[slippeddisc]

Thanks all, much appreciated! Catheter after spinal it is then, and all present welcome to have a good old glare at me bits whilst they're out on show

[SHEENA1]

defo after spinal i am due to have a section in febuary and what u have been told now scares the living daylights out of me i had a section with my dd and it was put in after spinal

[Highlander]

After!!! It's a nurse/midwife that does it - everyone else is too busy to notice.

[JodieG1]

I had a catheter put it briefly during my last birth as they thought my bladder could be full and stopping me from giving birth (it wasn't) it only stung when they first put it in and pulling it out, the rest was fine.

[inthegutter]

I had mine inserted before the epidural for my csection. It DOES hurt - not immensely, but still not nice.

[fishie]

i so didn't care by that stage. i hadn't had a wee for 10 hours because midwife kept me strapped half upright on bed with induction drip and i was too scared to ask. actually on reflection it was my second favourite moment of the whole week. (first being ds of course)

disclaimer this will NOT happen to you.

[welovepumpkin]

The argument about 'less risk of infection' doesn't hold water.. The insertion of a catheter will cause small but significant amounts of bacteria to enter the bloodstream. As anaesthetic doctors, we would prefer the catheter in after the spinal so that these bacteria aren't floating about when we put the spinal needle in. This should reduce the risk of a spinal infection developing.

Also, it is nicer not to feel it going in!

[Unfitmother]

I had mine under GA, I couldn't believe it when the MW aked me if I wanted the catheter inserted after, of course I did