Ive had both an elective and emergency c-section and both were put in after epi and spinal. They asked me what i wanted to do for the elective too. I would say out right "NO". What are they gonna do really. Say u cant have the c-section anymore. The hospital that your going to must not really like making thier patients comfortable. Seems silly doesnt it.
mine was put in before my spinal (em-c)
that said, i was in fiercely horrific transition after 25 hours, so they could have clubbed my urethra with a spiked instrument and i wouldn't have cared.
Ok, i've never had a section OR a catheter - my closest experience is having a urethral swab taken when i had a UTI - got my legs crossed tightly right now!!!
Talk to anyone who will listen, and use the word "consent" - consent is a powerful legal term. "i would prefer to have the catheter in after i'm numb" is a best-case-scenario preference. "I do not consent to having the catheter placed before i am numb" is a fair warning that you're not mucking about, there WILL be a lawsuit, and they'd better remember it! Ask your Ob to write it on your notes in big writing (you can make them write it - i made mine write "does not consent to chemical induction" even though it was effectively putting handcuffs on him, he HAD to do it! LOL).
If you have done this and a nurse still arrives pre-anaesthatist with a cath pack PUT YOUR KNEES TOGETHER and tell them they can place it just as soon as the anaesthatist has done their thing, as per your notes.
Ladies just because you're having surgery DOES NOT mean THEY are in control. It is YOUR baby, YOUR body, YOUR birth. The answer to "It's hospital policy to place the cath first" is "It is MY policy not to allow that". You're in charge, don't forget!
Mumma - it is a policy but every hospital i have worked in!.
Basically it is a time and sterility issue.
Once you have been given your spinal the ob is usually scrubbed up (the midwife isnt as they are not part of the theater team as such). And your body and the table is sterile. SO to have someone come in to catheterise could cause a sterility problem as wee runs out etc etc (although it is considered sterlie as well). As you will have no control down there - there are a lot of precautions to be taken so that your legs are positioned correctly as not to fall off the table.. it more people touching you - reducing sterlity. But also the anaestist would prefer you to have your spinal for the least amount of time possible - and not be waitin around for the catheter to be placed in case they make a real mess and then they have to clean everything and re steriliser the theatre area .. which is very difficult with a patient who cannot move from the chest down.
A lot of hospitals now - catheterisation doesnt need to be sterile. ANd honestly yourmidwife would have done a million of them and should only take 5 minutes after your prep shower. then the theatre staff can just get on with it.
In saying that though.
They are often put in theatre if the ob agrees the nursing staff to do so. (not just c/s but all operations that reduce mobility in the patient post-op)
So it is definatly worth asking about it - it is your body
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