Catheters during labour - does it hurt?

[ParisPreMom]

Hi everyone,

I'm doing my prenatal classes at the moment at the British Hospital here in Paris where I live, and the midwife doing the class says that they empty our bladders with a catheter systematically when we arrive in the birthing room, when we get an epidural, and on a regular basis throughout the delivery (to prevent the bladder from getting in the way when baby comes out).

At an epidural information session, the anesthesiologist mentioned the same thing but said we're given a pan to try to pee in and if we CAN'T then they use a catheter.

From how they describe it, it doesn't seem to be the same kind of catheter you have for a c-section, which stays in place.

For some reason, the idea of a catheter freaks me out more than giving birth! and I was wondering if it hurt - what are people's experiences with this?
Thanks in advance!

I was like lovebeingable needed to pee but couldn't. Told my MW that I'd need a cathether don't remember it going in at all but turns out I really needed it - I went from 6 to 10cm in 20min after being 'drained'.

Oh and my contractions became much less painful once all that pee was gone!

For me the catheter was well overdue. I got up to try to pee about a dozen times and each time succceeded only in having a contraction in the bathroom without gas and air to help (oww oww oww). When they finally gave me the catheter it was evident that I should have been given one way sooner!

To be honest, for me, it was just another thing to add to the list of indignities and another thing to smile about after. (Midwife saying to student nurse, please could you get me another cardboard kidney dish QUICK!). Apparently The pantomine of all the fruiless dashes to the bathroom was also pretty funny in hindsight.

Good luck ParisPreMom, you'll be excellent!

misswingandsnaffles.blogspot.com/

They usually inset the catheter after the epidural so you won't feel it go in. I was freaked out by the idea of this too and refused. Wish I hadn't as really can't feel that you need a wee for ages after and I almost ruptutred my bladder by not realising I needed to go, mistook agonising pain for something to do with after pains of labour. I'm really squeamish but honestly trust that it's necessary and close your eyes and think of somethng else, it'll be fine :)

they catheterised me when I was pushing DD2 out as she was over 10lb, the wrong way around and rather stuck, they thought an empty bladder would help things.
It felt a bit wierd but didn't hurt and I only had a tens machine for pain relief. by that stage of labour though I think my pain threshold had gone up so much someone could've whacked me around the head with a cast iron saucepan and I wouldn't have noticed!

I had it put in with my first (natural birth - no gas and air at the point they put it in) as they thought my bladder was blocking her exit. It was an in and out one.

Didn't feel a thing, in fact I had to ask them if they'd done it!!

I was stunned at how much wee came out because I was sure I'd emptied my bladder an hour or so beforehand completely (I'd been sitting on the toilet denying I was in labour for quite some time "pushing" away..!) but I certainly felt relief afterwards :)

I had one for forceps delivery- didn't feel it going in or coming out! As far as I was concerned I was glad to have it as my stitches stung so much not erring for a while was a bonus!

Weeing*