Hospital policy is that catheter is inserted by midwife PRIOR to ECS.
What the ??? Why???? i mean, why cause a little bit of pain when i 20 minutes patients are numb?
I would. Never had an ECS myself but as a nurse it sounds more like convenience for the theatre staff than anyhing else. Make it clear that you are the patient and its your decision and you want inserted after your anaesthetic ( general, block or whatever you are having)! If they say no ask what their rationale and is this an evidenced based practice (ie does doing it before have a better outcome)
With my ECS the catheter was inserted in surgery, after the spinal was put in, and while they were getting me ready for the surgery... I asked my OB and this is standard practice at my hospital.
I can only think there may be a chance that if you can't feel it going in due to being numb you cant tell them if it hurts or not.
I've had a couple of catheters put in for various things and only one of them hurt. I also ended up with a UTI from it so it may have damaged me on the way in. I imagine if you can tell them it hurts then they can stop and try again
Mine was done after the spinal as well. I queried it before the op (at the presurgical appt where you chat to the anaesthetist, etc) and they said I could choose either way but they usually do it after the spinal. Just ask.
hey , i had an emerg cesarean for my son , and i screamed during the catheter insertion , was soo horible, i can still remember the feeling so well, , i had my daughter elective 13 months later and in my plan i stated i wanted it put in after i was numb, so point going thru the pain and stress of it, just request and push for it, it only takes the nurse a minute ,
ps.. they may insist on it but it is your birth your decision, you can down right refuse, and once they have all their staff there to work on you , they dont want to waste everyones time, so they will end up doing it for you numbed, it is purely only a convienice thing for them,, coz if u have it numbed they have to come with u to theatre to do it, DEMAND " i did, u are right u do not need the stress
Putting a IDC in a female is easier than a male in someways (other than finding the hole), the urethra is heaps shorter than in a male, so usually when its in, its in - they will get urine running out when it reaches the bladder... In a male you can get urine coming out (very rarely) when its still in the urethra and if you blow the balloon up too soon you can rupture the urethra which is incredibly painful.
When a male IDC is inserted we put in lignocane gel to numb the area - cant do that for a female de the anatomy of a female (TMI - nothing to hold onto to shove the lignocaine down).
If you get a UTI post IDC it is usually because the procedure was not sterile or the area is not cleaned regularly or was left in too long (which seldom is the case for c/s as they are usually removed after surgery, when sensation is back or the next day)
Its more the norm to have the Teletubby bag...I mean cath put in BEFORE going into theatre for an elective c/s as it cuts down on the waiting time for others who are having c/s that day. They want to get into gettign the baby out and moving the next person in so to speak rather then take 5 mins after your numb or knocked out to put the cath in.
with an emergency they tend to want to get the eppi into you as quick as they can and normally try to do the cath straight after it as they dont want you to be contracting badly (so I was told) when they do it
i would tell the anethatist (sp?) when you see them - usually 2 days before your c/s, that you qould prefer this method and use your voice...tell who ever you come into contact to...they'll soon get the hint.
i had one put in while I was labouring with VY and the stupid woman put 2 yes 2 up there because the first one was to big so she slid the second one up there...that friggen KILLED!!! (sorry not what you want to hear)
ETA Im crossing my legs and gritting my teeth over the thought of the thing for you
Mine went in before I went into theatre, still in the labour ward. It didn't really hurt, just a bit uncomfortable which suprised me, I was really worried it would hurt.
definately insist they wait until after your spinal/epi - they cannot force you. Ive had 3 c/s - my 2nd was an elective and they put the catheter in before the spinal and it was horrible - i said never again - i had my 3rd elective 2 weeks ago and told them there was no way i would let them put it in before my spinal and they were actually quite understanding and no one kicked up a fuss - just warned me i would have an audience when it was done - like i cared after having 3 bubs!
definately stick to your guns, i aksed a midwife at around 30 weeks about it as i was already losing sleep over it - i know most people dont have bad experiences with them being put in - but once you've had one bad experience i think it would make you more tense which would make it worse.
have to say even after the spinal i could feel it going in but no pain or uncomfyness - just the sensation.
Good luck with your boys birth - wishing you all the best
i had a elective ceasar 5 months ago and they put the catheter in after i had my spinal block done i was worried to and just asked and the midwife said they put it in after the spinal
with both my of my previous caesars.. catheter was put in prior to going into surgery NOT nice.. am now after seeing this going to ask them to put the catheter in when i am numb... will see what is said to that...
This was one of the first questions I asked my OB. He said that if I wanted it done after the spinal that is what he would do.
Then DS decided he wanted to arrive by himself, so when they took me to theatre on the day of my scheduled c/s, my OB did the catheter before I had anaesthetic. I was completely freaked out, but didn't feel a thing!
Definately keep fighting it, if it is freaking you out (understandably) then it won't be helpful to you or to them either.
2 em c/s under general- they insert it BEFORE i went under.
1 c/s with an epidural and the catheder went in AFTER i had the epidural in....
i would Q their practise, although i have to say the 2 i had inserted before the general weren't too bad. they were uncomfortable, but i would lie if i'd say they hurt, they really didn't.
Registered User
Catheter insertion - elective cs
NOT nice.. am now after seeing this going to ask them to put the catheter in when i am numb... will see what is said to that...
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