Catheter removal after c section

[Writerz34]

How long after your planned c section was catheter removed? Hate the idea of not being able to shower asap!!

Errr it’s a bit of a blur cos the drugs but the gist is that I asked for it out and was stood up so obviously that wasn’t an issue, they said they like to leave it in overnight, I asked why and couldn’t they just put it back in if there was an issue since it was only about 1pm so plenty of time before the night shift and that I’d much rather be moving freely and get dressed properly, and they reluctantly agreed with some huffing and puffing that they don’t normally do it so soon. But chugged some water, peed into a jug to proudly show the midwife (childbirth is so dignified 🤣) and they agreed I was indeed fine!!

Also, if you can force yourself to get up and moving it’s so good for your recovery and needing the loo is about as good a motivator as you can get!

Yes this is what I'm thinking - early movement is good for recovery! Thanks for sharing

Next day

I'm a bit jealous of all these next days! I had mine at 2pm and was woken by the midwife at 4am (just after I'd finally fallen asleep) to get it out and do my walk and wee. Then told I should stay awake to see the Dr for discharge at 8am!

Wow they kick you out early now don't they. With my 3 over 20 years ago you stayed in for a week.

About 6-8 hours after section which I wa Silas about cos then I could start moving about. They told me getting icing Whicker helped recovery and it really did.
I was fine about 5 days after section if I kept taking my meds every 4 hours

C section at 10:30am catheter was out by 6pm and I was up and about, albeit very slowly.

Section at 3.30pm and I was showered and catheter out by 11pm. They said they would need to put it back if I didn’t pee X amount so I just drank loads and it was fine!

I had an EMCS at 2am.
Catheter out by about 9am. Had to wee in a jug for a while to prove I was going

I don't know exactly but my section was at lunchtime and it was definitely out that evening as they wanted me to make sure I was mobile and having at least 3 wees before discharging me. I was discharged 24 hours post section. It was my second child though.

I had my 2nd section at 8.30am and they took out the catheter about 4pm. It was too soon though and they had to put it back in at night ☹️

About 36 hours because I wasn’t allowed to move for 24 hours. Best shower ever!

Second time I was up super quick and basically tore everything outta me so a maybe 4 hours?

It was out by the next morning but I showered within 6 hours of my c section I would say with it still in. No one told me I couldn't so I just got on with it!

I think about 12 hours after the surgery. I had my C Section quite late at night. Having a catheter was absolute bliss. Not having to pee at all for hours, was just heavenly. I could drink to my hearts content! It’s quite annoying when they’ve taken it out and you have to keep getting up to go and have a wee! 😂

24hrs here too. Both times.
I loved not having to get up for a wee after having my bladder squashed in the last weeks of pregnancy.

Same!
There is no way I wanted it out that first night as I wouldn’t have been able to get up without so much pain. It was great to be able to just lie in the bed, feed the baby and eat snacks!

Had section about 9.30am. They took it out about 24 hours later

You can enquire if they do the ERAS pathway. Maybe have a research yourself. It is a pathway for elective cesarean that can lead to quicker recovery.

Can have catheter out after 6 hours if full movement in legs.

Can't have it out after 6pm though due to way hormones work.

Overall you can decide when you want it out but it is their job to tell you pros and cons. If you have it out and not able to pass urine then they will want to reinsert and if a big amount in there may recommend having it for quite some time (up to 6 weeks).

You can shower with a catheter in though.

I did! Had c section at lunch, shower about 6 hours later and catheter out at lunchtime the next day. Then went home

48 hours. I had poor pain management and couldn't walk to the bathroom.

Me too and quite right too with major abdominal surgery!

In our hospital if all 'ok' it's removed after 6 hours and you have to stand up and move around a little. Had to use the toilet within a set period of time (can't remember what it was, small number of hours) or it would have been put back in. Section was at around 3pm and had a shower about 24hrs later.

6 hours but you likely won't feel like it immediately

Retention is agony so you wouldn't be rolling your eyes if occured to you but it's incorrect that there's noone available, midwives/nurses can all catheterise women, drs can do men. There's always someone available

C section at midday, catheter out by 8pm. They needed to see that I'd done a decent sized wee before the next day in order to be discharged.

It's worth taking into account there are reasons as to why it is usually left in for about 12h or until next morning, to make sure you can move safely, the anaesthesia has worn off, there is no lingering weakness or dizziness and that your bladder has recovered from the trauma of c-section. If you remove it too quickly there is the risk of failing to pass urine and the chance of having to have another one inserted and left in for at least another 24h.