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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Being catherised during labour - is this usual?

18 replies

themacsmum · 05/03/2010 19:32

With DS I was induced and then during labour I was catherterised three times. It didn't particularly heard but I just have really unpleasant memories of it and recall begging the midwife not to do itbut she said it was necessary. Is this usual practice in labour or just a result of the fact that I was induced, was in labour for about 12 hours and strapped to an electronic monitor continuously so getting up to go to the loo would've been a bit tricky? I'm now 33 weeks with DD and really don't want to be catheterised if I can help it. What have others experienced? Any tips for avoiding it this time?

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liahgen66 · 05/03/2010 19:38

if you have an epidural you will be catheterised.

If you do not then you do not have to have one and the mw should have asked if it was ok. I am assuming last time that a full bladder was getting in the way of baby's descent which is common, so she may have felt the need to empty your bladder.

I am shocked you weren't consulted though.

Tangle · 05/03/2010 19:40

I think its probably one of those things that depends on the circumstances - some women find it hard to wee during labour and a full bladder doesn't make it easy for a baby to descend, and I'm sure there are other reasons as well.

Have you gone through the notes of your DS's birth with anyone? It sounds as though you don't understand fully why it was done, which makes it harder to know how to avoid it this time round.

warthog · 05/03/2010 19:42

i was induced but did not have a catheter. i believe you get one with an epidural though.

i figured out that if i could go to the loo they would switch the drip off so i went to the loo quite a lot... after a couple of times the mw must have twigged because she refused to turn off the drip after that!!

firstly, there is no reason why you would be induced this time round.

secondly, i don't believe you have to be catheterised and i'd be more difficult and insistent about it next time.

good luck

thisisyesterday · 05/03/2010 19:43

no, i don't think it's standard practice

i was catheterised with ds1 because i had an epidural

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 05/03/2010 19:48

I was induced. You do go to the toilet (in a big way) very early on (for a poop), I wasn't catheterised though. You are allowed to tell them no, they have to listen to you as this is assault if they don't.

StewieGriffinsMom · 05/03/2010 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MissHairspray · 05/03/2010 20:47

I did - I didn't have an epidural but just couldn't wee. It didn't bother me, would have done anything at that point to get the baby out quicker, but shocked that they didn't consult you at all.

gaelicsheep · 05/03/2010 20:56

I had no urge to wee at any point during labour - and I had rather too much on my mind to remember to try - and consequently my bladder got really full and the MW thought it was hindering DS's descent, as others have said. So I was catheterised and she took off sooo much urine I was really shocked as I didn't feel full at all. It didn't make any difference though. It still took well over three hours to push him out!

I don't have any bad memories about it though - it was just one of those things. Conversely, I remember the walk I was "encouraged" to take to "speed things up" with the utmost horror.

coppertop · 05/03/2010 21:01

I've been induced three times, had an epidural twice but only had a catheter once.

anotherusername · 05/03/2010 21:05

I didnt have any catheter with first birth and was on an epidural.
HAd a catheter with second birth as a last resort because my bladder was incredibly full, getting in the way and I couldn't wee as I couldnt feel anything.
Didn't feel the catheter, but was very relieved when my bladder was emptied, phew, and baby was then able to progress down a lot easier :-)

coffeeaddict · 06/03/2010 20:28

I have had three epidurals, one during an induction, and never had a catheter.

stressheaderic · 06/03/2010 22:37

I had a cathether, as se was descending too slowly, pushing stage was 2 1/2 hours...didn't bother me in the slightest and hardly felt a thing.

LittleSilver · 07/03/2010 08:05

They can't MAKE you. If your mw didn't listen to you refuse, that is assault and you are well within your rights to complain/sue.

belgo · 07/03/2010 08:28

It is very important to empty the bladder during labour. I gave birth with a full bladder and bled very heavily afterwards, and that is not something you want to happen.

If you cannot empty your bladder for any reason, then a catheter is necessary. You can refuse, but that could cause more problems for you. Remember if you have a drip your bladder will be filling up quickly and you may not realise because you are in labour, but the midwife can feel if you have a full bladder.

MrsHappy · 07/03/2010 21:56

Ideally you need to empty your bladder every hour or so during labour according to a book I read (although for me in practice this meant going when I remembered). I've been catheterised in labour when the epidural meant I couldn't pee, and you don't want your bladder getting in the baby's way.

This time, if you need or want to go to the loo, just tell the midwife you are going and ask her to unhook you. CFM does not literally mean you can't be allowed to get up for hours on end. A break of a few minutes while you pee should be no problem, it is just easier sometimes I think for the hospital staff if you stay put.

wb · 08/03/2010 00:00

I had an epidural during my first labor but wasn't catheterized. I had no urge to go (guess you don't with an epidural) and when I finally did a few hours after the birth there was so much of it I wasn't sure at first it was wee - well over a litre, more like 2. Anyway, I've been left with a damaged bladder as a result, so please if you do have an epidural or can't go to the loo during labor strongly consider catheterization. But like MrsHappy says, you can just tell them to unhook you

pandora69 · 08/03/2010 08:20

As people have said, noone can make you have a catheter. However, it can be invaluable in helping during labour. I was not able to wee for nearly 12 hours and eventually my bladder was so full it obstructed my baby's descent (it was thought my baby's head was pressing against the ureter - the tube which takes the urine from the bladder when you wee.) By the time someone thought to catheterise me it was too late and I had been pushing the baby against my bladder for nearly 4 hours. I ended up with an emergency cs.

So, however unpleasant it can be, it can also be a real help. I did not realise how much discomfort a full bladder had been causing me till it was emptied for me.

stuffedmk · 08/03/2010 12:18

I wasn't aware of having anything in my bladder until I heard it pouring out lol...So I figure it must have needed doing.

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