stupid question I am sure LOL

[paradise lost]

Re: the catheter... My SIL had an epi and they emptied her bladder with a disposable catheter (very short straw it looked like) into a bedpan every 2 hours, she didn't have to push with it in.

Re: the placenta: the surgeon peels it off by hand before closing you up.

[MantaRay]

Sadly it is a requirement in most, if not all hossies here that if you have an epi you have to have a catheter in for 24 hours.

[paradise lost]

REALLY? That's so weird. I wonder why the UK doesn't do that? With SIL she had the "normal" epi experience. It was given at about 5cm, topped up once, began to wear off at transition, was allowed to wear off through pushing, and SIL felt the crowning, could move her legs by the time she was pushing and was able to stand within 30mins of delivery. They cath'd her about an hour after the epi was put in (because she said she felt uncomfy but couldn't feel why) and then every 2 hours thereafter. She had to pee by herself in delivery (within 2 hours of birth) to be allowed to the ward.

I think if they had the same rule here epi uptake might drop!

[Trish]

I must be the only one on here that had a c section and got not cathetar. How good is that.

The placenta is taken out pretty much as soon as they get bub out.

[Lulu]

Thanks guys! Sorry for the thread hijack Rach.

Wow, so it just peels off? Is there more chance of the usual "retained product"?

[Trish]

Yes Lulu there is because basically they just tear it out any old how. Generally thet will say on their report about the placenta that it was "ragged membranes" because of how it ends up when they remove it.

[paradise lost]

They have to get it out quickly because as soon as the baby is out the uterus begins to contract down hard, and they have to get the placenta out and carefully stitch it shut in a double layer while the whole organ basically halves in size. It happens fast, and they have to do a good suture job, so time is of the essence.