Catheter for C-Section

I was worried about my catheter but tbh it doesn’t really both you. I just had major anxiety and felt like I really need a wee but they just moved it and it worked. Didn’t feel it be removed either x

After the c section I only had mine until I managed to have a shower then she removed it 😊 it's just until they know that you have feeling back!! The balloon was actually worse as I had it in for 24hrs and its jusy like a catheter xx

I hardly even noticed mine. I had an emergency c section but they usually insert it after the spinal block anyway so you don’t feel it go in. It doesn’t hurt being removed. It can lead to infection, as with everything that is inserted into the body and UTI is common in long term catheter use but you’ll usually only have the catheter 24-48hrs xx

I had a c section and had a catheter inserted. Honestly, it didn’t hurt going in or coming out. I also had recurrent UTIs before pregnancy, but I didn’t get any UTIs after birth. I will say, however, my urethra was, like, sore? For a few weeks after Oh and you can sleep fine with the catheter. It is less inconvenient than I anticipated

They put it in after the spinal and the nurse tells you she's about to do it. They also may put a swab in your vagina to avoid infection which they remove immediately after the surgery. The midwife removed my catheter at 6am the day after and I didn't feel a thing the whole time it was in or on removal. The only odd thing was that I had to pay attention to needing a wee afterwards as my body couldn't recognise the need to go. I also had to sit on the loo and think about needing to wee in order to go, that all went in 24 hours though and back to normal. I didn't notice having the catheter at any point and barely slept anyway as had a new baby to panic about.

I got mine removed once I could feel my legs again. It’s not really that bad. You can feel it go in slightly when they put the spinal in or when they take it out. But other than that it wasn’t that bad x

As others have said, they’ll insert it after the spinal block. I had mine inserted after the section was completed. It doesn’t hurt coming out either. I had mine taken out 15 hours after the operation as I had bled. The only thing to be mindful about, is you need to retrain your bladder after. So make sure you drink 2-3litres of water a day, and go to the toilet regularly as you won’t feel yourself needing to go x

Honestly you don’t feel a thing when it’s being inserted. Your legs will be numb and you’ll feel like a floating torso, forgetting you have legs 🫣😂 The thought of someone going down there to insert it is abit unnerving if you think about it. A midwife I had met a couple of times did mine and put me at ease. They also do them multiple times per day so it’s just another body part to them. They remove the catheter once you go for a shower once you can walk. I had mine removed 6 hours later. It’s abit strange but doesn’t hurt at all. Make sure you drink loads after the operation because you will need to prove you can have a wee once it’s removed. The thought of a catheter is worse than the actual thing. I found the cannula the worst bit for me. Good luck! I hope your experience was as positive as mine 😃

They put it in when your blocked up so you don’t feel anything. You can sleep with it and tbh I didn’t really feel it, I had mine in from about 11:45am until about 7am the next day. Didn’t feel anything when it came out either which is what I was worried about ☺️ ✨

You probably wont sleep with it as it will be taken out 6-12 hours after your op (depends on your slot). I was concerned about it so asked midwife for the details and she said you don’t feel it because you’ve had the spinal when they insert it. You are obviously not numb when they remove it but she said it shouldn’t hurt at all as they deflate the balloon first then slowly pull out the tube. I think the thought of it in the urethra makes it seem a lot worse than it is x

They will numb you up before they put it in, you’re naked from the waist down for the section anyway but they’ll have the screen up. I don’t remember having mine taken out, i must have still been a bit numb or just overly tired - either way I didn’t feel any pain with it going in or out

Oh it's so reassuring knowing what to expect and that it isn't a bother most of the time.

Thank you everyone!

They do it when you’ve have the spinal so you don’t feel anything, I honestly forgot I had it in, and didn’t feel it when they took it out. I can just remember thinking how great it was that I didn’t need to get up for the bathroom.

You don’t even notice and it’s out before you get up and walk around I didn’t want one but was told they won’t offer a c section without it

You don’t feel it going in as you have your nerve block by then. The removal feels weird but not painful. They keep it in until you are able to safely get and go to the toilet by yourself x

I had mine out basically once I had feeling back and was up walking around my room. I can’t remember feeling it in there at all, same when they took it out x

Honestly you don’t even notice it’s there, they put it in after the spinal so you can’t feel it going in and can’t feel it even when you gain feeling back after the spinal. They remove it once you have feeling back and ready to get out of bed. It can feel a little bit weird when they remove it but not painful at all. UTIs can happen but I don’t think it’s as common as you’d think