urinary retention and catheter at 11 weeks

[gemstar100]

Hello fellow mums,

I am now 11 weeks pregnant and last week I started having pains and bloating around my bladder. The GP thought it was a UTI so gave me some antibiotics. I went back after those made no difference and the GP referred me to the Early Pregnancy Unit for an emergency scan. When I got there they discovered that baby was fine (phew) but that I had severe urinary retention due to a severely antiverted uterus and that I need to wear a catheter until 16 weeks when the pregnancy will 'lift' and my bladder will no longer be affected. That is four whole weeks!!! (I am saying four as I am 12 weeks in a couple of days)

The catheter is NOT comfortable obviously and I can't really move around that well. I have a 21 month old daughter who I cannot really give my best to in this situation. Luckily I have a hugely supportive partner and family who are helping out but I feel so useless and vulnerable. The Dr said there is no reason that I should not be able to live as normal and go to work BUT walking to the bus stop and going on the tube ... I feel so scared I am going to get bumped about and something will happen. On top of that it is quite difficult to get up and down and it always feels 'burny' down there which apparently is normal.

Anyway I was wondering if anybody had gone through anything similar and had any advice?

Oh I feel for you. My situation was different but I didn't want you to go unanswered. I had urinary retention & a catheter after giving birth and also had it for 4 weeks. I really sympathise! It is so awkward and I was very wary of going out etc but at least I didn't have to go to work - poor you. None of the midwives were very familiar with catheters post birth and I felt very vulnerable too. In lighter moments, I did manage to make light of it - no need to get up in the night for a wee! But as you say, it really impacts on life. Night feeds, showering, getting dressed plus dealing with a baby was all very hard. The things we have to go through!

Try to stay positive and count down your 4 weeks. Sorry not to be more help.

you poor thing. Do you think it is fine to be trying to carry on with your life like normal? Have you considered being signed off work, or some more flexible work arrangement?

I have'nt been in this position so am not really able to offer advice, but I did feel a lot of pressure on my bladder around that time which was really painful and I continually thought i had a uti and pee'd non stop, and then the baby lifted quite early and it totally stopped and hasnt yet come back at 22w.

So maybe hope that things will move upwards soon?

This happened to me at 15 weeks. Had loads of trouble peeing & eventually couldn't go at all. They catheterised me & a indwelling catheter was discussed but I wasn't keen got all the reasons you mentioned!

As I could go more often than not I opted for intermittent self catheterisation. Is this an option for you?

Otherwise I would think about getting signed off for a bit, at least until you get more confident with it.

They have not mentioned self catherisation at all. I am trying to stay positive and had a much better day today. My partner had to work and I spent most of the day alone with my daughter and it was fine :) I coped! So I am feeling much more positive but do agree that perhaps it would be better to be signed off work for a while so I can get used to things.

I will call the Dr on Monday and get a note.

Thanks for the tips. I am very much hoping that at 16 weeks when they take it out that everything is fine!! Fingers crossed.