HELP - Can't wee after C Section, discharged with catheter

[Cacla]

Three days ago I had my baby girl by emergency C section due to fetal distress. I had already had an epidural before the C Section and then got a spinal block because it wasn't working properly.

I had a catheter put it before the section. When it was removed I drank lots of water, waited 3 hours and was desperate to wee. I got on the toilet and nothing happened, I couldn't go! I frantically searched for a midwife who after leaving me for about 45 minutes eventually drained my bladder. It felt absolutely terrifying being stuck with a full bladder and no way to relieve it.

After my bladder was drained I tried again but still couldn't go. I have now been fitted with a catheter with a valve and have been discharged today to return after a week when they will try me without the catheter again.

I am absolutely terrified the same thing is going to happen again and I am going to be stuck like this. I have searched all over online and can't find anything about this happening to anyone else which really worries me.

So I'm wondering has anyone else had this happen to them? And were they ok after a week?

I am distraught this has happened and I can't stop crying.

[beeswaxbonnie]

It took me about 3 days to wee on my own again after my C section. The more you get to walking around etc the easier it becomes. You'll be fine xxx

[MrsMidgeMaisel]

Bless you OP. I didn't have a C section but forceps delivery and had epidural as pain relief initially before a full spinal block as if forceps weren't successful I'd need a C section. The exact same happened to me; they drained a litre from my bladder! I was discharged with a catheter to go back a week later, and I had exactly the same thoughts as you; 'omg what if I'm stuck like this'. If you're anything like me I found it much more difficult to go to the toilet once I was back in that hospital environment too, so my only advice is when you go back for your trial as hard as it is do your best to relax. Also don't drink loads and loads of water; just drink a normal volume. Then take your time on the toilet and if you have to, listen to water sounds, anything that will help you to go! To manage your expectation I did have my catheter removed after a week but I still couldn't fully empty so I had to self catheterise at home (not quite as bad as it sounds as it's only intermittent) and I only needed to do it a couple of times and I was fully emptying. Like I said for me it was the pressure of going on demand at hospital that made it 10x worse. Sending lots of love, it's awful and you should be just focusing on bonding with your baby, send me a PM if you want to chat xx

[Cacla]

Thank you so much for replying. I have never heard of this happening to anyone before so it's such a relief to hear that I'm not on my own with this. Also it's amazing to hear yours resolved fairly quickly, hopefully I can at least wee a bit when I go back to the hospital. Even if I have to self catheterise for a bit at least it is some movement in the right direction and I think I will be happy with that. Did they tell you what caused it to happen? The midwives didn't really explain other than to say it is probably related to the anaesthesia xx

[Cacla]

Thank you so much for replying, that is really reassuring. Glad it didn't last too long for you x

[BooseysMom]

@Cacla

Bless you, what an ordeal. Congratulations first of all on your baby girl
I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the catheter. I was very nearly at the same point as you when I had DS. I was prepped for c-section as he was stuck but they got him out with forceps. I had god knows how many stitches! I couldn't feel anything from the waist down so I guess they fitted a catheter but i had it removed when I was discharged so i'm sorry I can't advise. But I can say that you are entitled to contact the hospital to request a call or visit from a nurse who specialises in birth experiences. (A birth afterthoughts nurse I think it's called). One came to the house and went through thoroughly what happened and answered any questions I had about the birth.
Maybe that would help you.
Good luck to you and your little girl x

[Unwavering721]

Yes I struggled too, it sounds weird but I turned the tap on and mentally visualised water flowing, and tried to block out everything else. Required massive concentration and relaxation, but it eventually worked. If you are too stressed it will be harder.

[Ducksurprise]

Congratulations on your baby.

I found I could only wee in the bath for about a week, then the shower. Took about four weeks to go back to normal.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

This happened to a friend of mine, she self catheterised for a short while and everything went back to normal.

[LouLou198]

It happened to me in hospital after c section. Even though I drank well I couldn't go. They did say if I didn't go soon they would pass another catheter, but didn't need to in the end. Keep drinking plenty, I am sure you will be fine.

[Wifflywafflywoo]

Tap running or headphones on with music, lean back slightly on the loo, think about random things, dip fingers in warm water, put peppermint oil on a tissue and lie it inside the loo on the porcelain high up not in the water or alternatively in the cardboard collection thing they ask you to wee into.

Peppermint oil and headphones did it for me. I wee'd at the absolute last minute with the midwife banging on the door demanding I come out and get re-catheterised.....

[Cacla]

Just for anyone finding this thread in future, I have been back to hospital after a week and I can wee again!! My catheter has been removed as I can completely empty my bladder now. So happy!

[LondonUnited]

That’s great news! Be aware, however, that the issue might recur if you ever have another spinal block. I had the exact same situation as you following a c section for the birth of my daughter, and it recurred again following my elective section for my last birth. On each occasion I had a catheter with valve in for a week afterwards but was fine after that.

[Summerhasbeenandgone]

After a speedy delivery of 2 hours my bladder took a bashing apparently.. All sat dressed awaiting my lift him I realised I felt unwell. Bladder was well full the mw found! Had to stay in a week then self catheterise at home for a year. Then was fine. Even had more dc with no issues at all. Although did have bladder scans during the next pregnancy but not in further ones. It wasn't as bad as I thought. Even managed camping abroad although consultant wasn't that happy with that!

[LemonSwan]

May not be the issue because I could wee but couldn’t do a full stream. I really had to push for a trickle which would stop seconds later. It was all stop and start and hugely annoying.

Finally got to the bottom of it which was urine hesitancy from a too tight pelvic floor and my straining to pee was making it worse rather than better.

I found the belly breathing excercises online somewhere and did it every time I went to the loo. Worked in a few days.

So to try to explain… don’t actively try to pee IYSWIM. As in don’t push the pee by turning on that muscle if that makes sense. Instead you need to try to pee passively by turning off the muscle which will open the floor. Allowing you to pee and poo automatically without any active muscle use. The way to open the floor is belly breathing / diaphragmatic breathing.

‘Breathe slowly through your nose and allow the air to flow from the thoracic cavity down to your abdominopelvic cavity. As you take your deep breath in, the hand on your chest should remain as still as possible, while the hand on your abdomen should rise. It’s important to note that you are not using your abdominal muscles to push out your stomach, but rather, allowing the air to fill the abdomen.‘ from pelvicpainrehab.com/low-tone-pelvic-floor-dysfunction/4427/diaphragmatic-deep-belly-breathing-pelvic-pain-pee-poop/

I hope that makes sense.

If it is that it’s a quick fix once you get the breathing right. After a couple of days you can just go normally again without thinking about it.

Goodluck 👍

[LemonSwan]

Should have rtft lol 🤦‍♀️

well hopefully that can help someone in the future 😂

Hello future person ✋

[Marmaladebear]

Hi this thread shows up when you Google postpartum catheter so I wanted to share my story in case it helps anyone. There's a happy ending and I told myself I would share once everything was sorted because I was desperate to hear good news while I had my catheter. Tl;Dr I had a catheter after birth for weeks, failed two trials without catheter and has to self catheterise for two weeks before I could wee properly again and was catheter free!

I also need a catheter after a vaginal delivery. They told me I would probably only need it for a week so when I did the wee test after a week I was absolutely distraught when they scanned my bladder and I retained 700mls so had the catheter in for another week. For my second test I prepared myself that maybe the catheter wasn't coming out and that I would need it longer so I wasn't so disappointed. So after week 2 I had another wee test and this time I was retaining 200mls. But because I'd emotionally prepared myself for this this time, when the nurse said I would need to self catheterise after each wee I took it in my stride.

Self catheterisation wasn't fun but I got used to it quickly and the best thing was I didn't have a catheter in 24/7 so I could move freely and do pelvic floor exercises - both things that help with bladder retention. I didn't have to worry about accidentally pulling on my catheter during night feeds! I did have to catheterise after wees in the night though.

By the end of the first week of self catheterisation I was retaining 50-100ml each time so the nurse asked me to wean off the catheter and only use it after every 3-4 wees to see how much I was retaining. By the time I did my wee test in the hospital I was retaining zero in my bladder.

Wanted to share my story because at some points it felt like I would never get rid of my cathete and I couldn't trust my body to wee. It got me really down and I was desperate to read about people like me who had a catheter after birth and then eventually got rid of it. So this is my story - not as straight forward as some people's but am now catheter free!! So if you can't wee now, one day you will and you'll get rid of your catheter once and for all!!

[LouiseS05]

@Marmaladebear

Hi this thread shows up when you Google postpartum catheter so I wanted to share my story in case it helps anyone. There's a happy ending and I told myself I would share once everything was sorted because I was desperate to hear good news while I had my catheter. Tl;Dr I had a catheter after birth for weeks, failed two trials without catheter and has to self catheterise for two weeks before I could wee properly again and was catheter free!

I also need a catheter after a vaginal delivery. They told me I would probably only need it for a week so when I did the wee test after a week I was absolutely distraught when they scanned my bladder and I retained 700mls so had the catheter in for another week. For my second test I prepared myself that maybe the catheter wasn't coming out and that I would need it longer so I wasn't so disappointed. So after week 2 I had another wee test and this time I was retaining 200mls. But because I'd emotionally prepared myself for this this time, when the nurse said I would need to self catheterise after each wee I took it in my stride.

Self catheterisation wasn't fun but I got used to it quickly and the best thing was I didn't have a catheter in 24/7 so I could move freely and do pelvic floor exercises - both things that help with bladder retention. I didn't have to worry about accidentally pulling on my catheter during night feeds! I did have to catheterise after wees in the night though.

By the end of the first week of self catheterisation I was retaining 50-100ml each time so the nurse asked me to wean off the catheter and only use it after every 3-4 wees to see how much I was retaining. By the time I did my wee test in the hospital I was retaining zero in my bladder.

Wanted to share my story because at some points it felt like I would never get rid of my cathete and I couldn't trust my body to wee. It got me really down and I was desperate to read about people like me who had a catheter after birth and then eventually got rid of it. So this is my story - not as straight forward as some people's but am now catheter free!! So if you can't wee now, one day you will and you'll get rid of your catheter once and for all!!

I needed to read this!! Currently home with my second catheter after failed TWOC! Thank you so much for sharing x

[MemoryLikeASieve1]

I was unable to wee after a vaginal delivery and was also sent home with a catheter for a week! I really sympathise with you as it was an absolute nightmare as the bag doesn’t hold much and then you are stuck once you attach to your night bag or have to carry it around with you😅
I was absolutely terrified I would never wee again or have some degree of incontinence, having had a bladder of steel before and all through my pregnancy.
I had my catheter removed 2 weeks ago and to my surprise and utter relief everything is now working perfectly and I have no lasting effects at all.
Sending lots of hugs as I know it is hard, especially whilst recovering and looking after a new baby!

[LouiseS05]

@MemoryLikeASieve1

I was unable to wee after a vaginal delivery and was also sent home with a catheter for a week! I really sympathise with you as it was an absolute nightmare as the bag doesn’t hold much and then you are stuck once you attach to your night bag or have to carry it around with you😅
I was absolutely terrified I would never wee again or have some degree of incontinence, having had a bladder of steel before and all through my pregnancy.
I had my catheter removed 2 weeks ago and to my surprise and utter relief everything is now working perfectly and I have no lasting effects at all.
Sending lots of hugs as I know it is hard, especially whilst recovering and looking after a new baby!

Thank you so much for sharing this! It gives me hope. Unfortunately I had an indwelling catheter for around 10 days with no joy on two twocs so I have to self catherterise twice a day (hopefully no more)!
Praying it returns to normal - I just want to enjoy this time with baby - emotions are already all over! Thank you again 🥰