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Original poster

Refusing catheter with c section

95 replies

lollydrop · 14/05/2020 23:49

I know this might sound silly but this is the bit I’m dreading the most with having a planned c section.

Can I refuse to have one? Is that even an option?

OP posts:

seven201 · 14/05/2020 23:50

Why don't you want one? It's so nice not having to get up for a wee!

pallisers · 14/05/2020 23:50

You really won't even feel it.

seven201 · 14/05/2020 23:51

I don't think they put it in until after the epidural so you won't feel it go in. Removing it is not that bad either.

june2007 · 14/05/2020 23:52

I hatted having a catheeter in when I ha D&C but needs must. I don,t think you will have much choice with a c section as you won,t have the feeling to know if you need to go.

Foobydoo · 14/05/2020 23:53

I hated having one, but you will have no feeling from the waist down for several hours so you will probably wet yourself without one.
I did mither to have mine removed asap though.

RedLemon · 14/05/2020 23:53

Is it the “putting in” of the catheter or the having it in that you’re worried about? Because I seem to remember it getting put in when I was numb from the spinal anaesthetic both times so didn’t feel a thing and I can tell you I was sooo glad to have it in there post-op to save me having to haul myself out of bed to pee that first night!

timeisnotaline · 14/05/2020 23:55

You definitely do not want to refuse that! I remember arguing they couldn’t take it out yet as I couldn’t walk yet afterwards.

OverTheHandlebars · 14/05/2020 23:55

You need a catheter for the operation to make sure your bladder is empty, and so reduce the chance of surgical injury to the bladder. It's put in after the spinal so you can't feel it.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 14/05/2020 23:56

I definitely didn't feel them putting it in. I did want it out ASAP but I think I had to wait a few hours or until I could stand. It really doesn't feature in my memory of that day.

negomi90 · 14/05/2020 23:56

The catheter means your bladder is empty during the C-section
A full bladder alters the position of the uterus, it can also get in the way of the surgery. Not having the catheter means there is a much bigger likelyhood of the surgeons accidentally damaging your bladder. You do NOT want bladder damage.

Pipandmum · 14/05/2020 23:57

You will be immobile for hours and wet yourself. I didn't even notice them putting it in. But it got disconnected at one point afterwards and I only knew because I felt all wet. But don't worry about it - there will be lots of other stuff going on.

FuckYouCovid · 14/05/2020 23:57

Not the same, but i refused a catheter during a 3 day epidural.

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 14/05/2020 23:59

You can't refuse, you'd piss all over theatre

Wrongdissection · 14/05/2020 23:59

A full bladder get get in the way during surgery so it needs to be empty and post delivery you will either wet yourself through lack of sensation or your bladder will get so full and you can’t feel it you’ll go into retention. Neither is a particularly nice prospect.

negomi90 · 15/05/2020 00:00

Also epidurals and spinals can affect the nerves to the bladder so you can't we until they ware off. Again urinary retention is not fun (and is treated with a catheter anyway)

KenDodd · 15/05/2020 00:00

I felt like this and understand completely. I didn't write a birth plan apart from writing in big letters NO CATHETER! I didn't have a c section, just went to hospital in labour, labour took too long though, wasn't going well and ended up being prepared for a c section, didn't have one I the end, but baby was born in the theatre and was seconds away from a section. Anyway as part of the preparation I had a catheter, I didn't know about it, nobody asked me, didn't feel it because of the epidural. It was horrible. I got them to take it out as soon as I could and still shudder at the thought of it 14 years later.

Hagisonthehill · 15/05/2020 00:00

You don't have it inserted until you've had the spinal.
From then on you're numb from you tits down.This means that you won't know when you need to wee and won't know that you've done one so could be sitting in it for a while until it smells.
Also post surgery we like to see that you are seeing,that you're not dehydrated and that it is clear.
This is major surgery and the catheter is just a small part and necessary.

indemMUND · 15/05/2020 00:00

DM and Dsis both had several c sections with catheters. Both had their bladders cut by accident. Luckily only once each. Between them they had 3 other c sections with catheters with no issues. Still better to have one in given the reasons PPs have stated above.

indemMUND · 15/05/2020 00:02

I refused a catheter with my epidural, ended up with an "in and out" once. Had to be done, bladder too full and baby was in the way. Hated it though.

KrakowDawn · 15/05/2020 00:03

I didn't feel the catheters go in or out, two csections.

mineofuselessinformation · 15/05/2020 00:04

I've never needed a catheter during childbirth, but I have suffered with urine retention after a gynaecologist operation.
The reason why I am posting is that would be a real risk for you if you refused a catheter.
I ended up having 2l of urine drained from my bladder after spending a night only able to pee a drop or two at a time.
It permanently damaged the nerves in my bladder. I now feel much of the time that maybe I need a wee, yet I can't feel when my bladder is very full (I had a urodynamics test where the nurse said she wasn't prepared to put any more liquid in my bladder - I felt no urge to go for a wee at all.)
Quite besides the risk of a full bladder being damaged during your c section, this is something else you should think about too.
As far as I know, you wouldn't have a catheter inserted until after your epidural, so you won't feel it. It's quick and painless to have one removed.
Even if you were to be allowed to make the choice, please don't take the risk.

Hunnybears · 15/05/2020 00:06

Well it’s either they or piss the bed.... (with all due respect)

Hunnybears · 15/05/2020 00:06

That*

flameprincess · 15/05/2020 00:06

Omg the catheter was the best part - having a constantly empty bladder after months of a baby sitting on it was bliss. You don't feel them put it in OP.

C152H · 15/05/2020 00:17

I'm not sure you'll have a choice, as you'll have some form of pain management with a c-section that means you won't be able to feel when you need to go to the loo. If you are dreading it, can you speak to your Dr / midwife about what exactly happens, as maybe knowing the process will make it a bit easier? (It's not always painless, which you should be aware of, but I hope it's painless for you. Also, if you're in a teaching hospital and the trainee nurse says she's worried she put the catheter in wrong and the Dr can't be bothered to check, insist they check! This happened to me and caused a serious infection which kept me in hospital for another week.)

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