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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

C section catheter

61 replies

Novella12 · 15/10/2022 12:42

It's looking very likely that I'll be having a c section as my little girl is stubbornly breech. I'm trying to prepare myself as much as possible for it (want it to be as calm as possible and hate the unknown) so I've been reading as much as I can about the procedure.

One thing I can't picture is the catheter. Where does it go in and how does it come out??

OP posts:

MovinOnUp · 15/10/2022 21:38

As others have said the catheter is no problem.
For pooing I took my own laxido and lactulose and had both before bed.
Had a poo as normal the next morning.

Original poster

Novella12 · 16/10/2022 09:02

Thanks all! I have ordered some lactulose to take in my hospital bag. Really appreciate you all sharing your experiences - reading them has completely got rid of my fear of the unknown and I'll be going into it much more confident now. Thank you ❤️

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 16/10/2022 09:28

Remember to buzz as much as it takes when you need help from a midwife- you won't be able to look after the baby on your own. You really are incapacitated

This is not true for everybody. I've known people incapacitated by vaginal births and fine after sections. I've had two - emergency - sections and was never incapacitated. I was up and about within 3hrs with both and didn't need any help caring for the baby. I also wasn't in any pain whatsoever. I went home 12hrs after my first.

It's a spectrum of experience and while being prepared is good, it's important to keep an open mind. We also need to acknowledge that getting up asap is key for CS recovery so telling people not to get up or that they won't be able to might inhibit healthy, expected recovery.

You need to listen to your body op. Your experience will be your own. The key thing to remember is that for any difficulty, there is help. So pain = painkillers, unable to lift baby = ring buzzer, trapped wind = ask for peppermint and so on.

Dyra · 16/10/2022 12:31

Agreed it is a spectrum of experience. I had my first poo the next day after C-section, and it was about as easy as normwal. Much different to the birthing of the poo after my vaginal birth. No stool softeners involved in either. Make sure you've eaten lots of fruit and veg in the days before the C-section.

I firmly believe that getting up and moving around (within reason and your capabilities) helps post C-section. I was up and sitting in a chair as soon as I could. There was pain yes, but keeping on top of painkillers helped a great deal. Once I was moving around, I found it much easier to lift baby as well. Only needed help while I was unable to stand.

Best of luck for your C-section! ❤

cookiecreammmpie · 16/10/2022 13:28

The pooing has always taken a while for me after each of my sections. Because you've been cut across the abdomen those muscles don't work as normal. It took me a day or two to be able to pass wind normally, so trapped wind caused me a bit of pain. It was in my shoulders and upper back, mint tea and stool softener helped.

surreygirl1987 · 16/10/2022 20:17

@ShowOfHands
This is not true for everybody. I've known people incapacitated by vaginal births and fine after sections.

Eh? I thought you literally couldn't move your legs for at least a bit... therefore incapacitated (ie I couldn't get out of the bed to get my baby out of the crib)... was that just me? Granted, I have only had one c section but was I an anomaly in that I had to wait for it to wear off post birth until I could move my legs?

Actually, I've just re-read your post and don't you say you were also unable to get up for 3 hours post section... just like me? (I was also out of hospital within a day by the way, but I was certainly incapacitated immediately post birth and needed to buzz midwives to get baby for me as my legs weren't working..!)

surreygirl1987 · 16/10/2022 20:20

We also need to acknowledge that getting up asap is key for CS recovery so telling people not to get up or that they won't be able to might inhibit healthy, expected recovery.

Well yes of course... but surely only when you are no longer physically incapacitated? Or was everyone else walking around moments after a c section..?

Irridescantshimmmer · 16/10/2022 20:32

It is a Foley catheter, it will have a balloon which us filled with sterile water, after insertion and the balloon is filled up after inserion and deflated before removal. The purpose of the balloon is to keep the catheter in place.

It will be connected to a bag which has measurenents on it so your urine output can be logged.

Catheters are inserted for edpidurals and spinals.

Chanel05 · 17/10/2022 08:19

@surreygirl1987 agreed. I had a shit show of an emergency and was attached to a drain for 3 days. I wasn't even allowed to shower until day 4 in hospital!

ladycarlotta · 17/10/2022 15:13

ShowOfHands · 15/10/2022 20:14

I had my catheter out 3hrs post surgery and was up and out of bed at the same point. Went for a shower in fact. I was only in bed to sleep. I went home the following morning (DC born late evening).

You won't necessarily be bed bound and tbh, getting up asap will aid recovery.

Show quote history

after a c-section?
A section is major abdominal surgery and it's difficult and dangerous to be getting up, turning, lifting your baby etc 3 hours after having it. That's a totally different kettle of fish to trying to be generally mobile to support recovery.

I found the raising/reclining bed a godsend after my c-section, I couldn't have sat up without help at that stage. And my catheter was in for 24 hours, same as many women's experience on here. You don't get a prize for pinging back to normal, you know.

Greybeardy · 17/10/2022 15:33

@ladycarlotta both experiences are within the normal range.

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