Catheter insertion - elective cs

[Mummatotwo!]

OK, jsut a question.....


I want to know how hard i can fight this!

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?

Can i really put my foot down and say no?

[Novella]

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)

Good luck and let me know how you go

[Arimeh]

I've had two c-sections now, and both times it was inserted when i was numb..... so i'd insist that they wait...

[~Raven~]

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

[{sarah}]

Mine was done after the spinal as well, though it wasn't an elective c/s.

[AnyDream]

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.

[rufalina]

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.