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February 2025 Babies
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F
FellBell
I'm a FTM due on the 16 but set for induction on the 24 if no progress. Out of all things to worry about I'm stressed about a catheter, since I will be getting an epidural. It just gives me shivers and chills to imagine (as much as I fear tearing down there), does anyone have experiences to share?? Anyone also not tear or tore and feel okay??
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b
brittjon
I’ve had 2 babies, both with epidurals, and I don’t even remember the catheter for either, though I know I must have, especially with my second. They him gave me something extra with my epidural so it would work quickly for my fast delivery and I couldn’t walk for 12 hours. They check you so often that I guess I didn’t really notice.
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e
eicherr
You won’t even feel it. I had bladder surgery when I was 10 and had to wear a catheter full time for a month. I swear I was a normal kid. Never felt it or any pain aside from the bag of pee strapped to my leg but you won’t have that ��. I had many catheters before my surgery without any sort of numbing and I don’t remember it ever hurting.
I tore with my first and had to get stitches. I won’t lie, that hurt for a week or so but I also pushed for a while which I think caused a lot of that pain. Going to the bathroom was the scariest part for me. Make sure you start that stool softener before you go into labor! If you tear, you’ll heal in a week or 2 then forget all about it. Postpartum isn’t pretty.
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jstodd10
Honestly a catheter sounds nice. I had to pee so much on labor last time and I kept having to ask the nurse to unplug my monitor. My hospital doesn’t have wireless. Kind of annoying.
Epidural on my first baby, combined with the lying down/feet up position they put you in, did cause them to give me a fourth degree episiotomy, which was absolutely horrible. If you do go with induction/epidural, look into best birthing positions that use gravity.
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H
Hopden
I didn’t even feel the catheter at all
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C
CallunaN
I had a C-section and was super stressed about catheter going in and out. Both were fine. Epidural kicks in before catheter, so you only feel pressure, and I didnt feel anything during removal either.
Having the catheter in was so luxurious lol…I’m so glad I didn’t have to get up and pee post op. I could feel it inside sometimes, which didn’t feel good, but nothing really felt great in that lower belly area after being cut open so…
Anyway I’m converted and was so glad to have that catheter in I tell you!
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Sio123
I gave birth in the 2nd via c section. I got the catheter after my epidural and it was honestly great. My epidural hadn’t fully kicked in so I did feel it getting inserted and it was very uncomfortable but the pain faded quickly and not having to ring for a nurse every time I had to pee was great. I was limiting my liquids because I hated having to call For someone to take me off the monitors just so I could pee, so it actually eased my mind a lot. I was almost sad when they had to take it out. Overall
Catheter was great and I had no pain during use nor after they removed it.
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t
tkchkn
Had it both times and it’s nothing to worry about. I was fully numb before insertion. You don’t feel it and forget that it’s there.
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l
lcosbrown
Tearing was one of my biggest fears and I just had my baby two days ago and got a second degree tear. I didn’t feel myself tearing at all and didn’t even know I did until I noticed the midwife putting stitches in and asked. Healing has been good so far, I feel the swelling pain more than any pain form tearing and the pain healing has been very mild
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alxhaf
you won’t feel it being put in or removed if you have an epidural, nothing to worry about. It does feel a little annoying while in.
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TortieMom
When I had my son I didn't even know I had a catheter. A few hours after I got the epidural I asked the nurse if she could help me pee and she was like "sweetie, you've been peeing in a bag all morning". I also tore "almost all the way" (doctor's words) and my recovery was not bad at all.
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