With my daughter they didn't even mention a catheter until after I finally requested an epidural. The put it in after the epidural took effect and it didn't hurt at all. I've never heard of an unmedicated birth that required a catheter

No , the catheter is put in because since the epidural numbs you , you can't walk.. you can't walk .. you can't get up to go pee .

My first was drug free and no cath. 2nd birth I received my epidural at 8cm and was ready to push right after so my nurse gave me a straight cath after I delivered. And since I only had a small amount of the epidural, I was able to walk and use the restroom about 4-5 hrs after delivering. I didn't realize how much bleeding a straight cath would cause ? my urethra was sore for about 2 weeks after delivering due to the cath. I think this delivery if I get the epidural late again, I'll ask if they can skip the cath and just give me a diaper or something else until I can walk myself to pee. Serious.

No u don't have to get one if u go natural

With my first they gave me a catheter way before the epidural. But it hurt me so bad. I made the nurse take it out. I told her if she didn't I was going to tear it out. I also told her I'd rather get up to use the restroom. 14 hours later I sat up and told them to give me the epidural. I tried to go natural but my son had already passed away and I didn't know how long I would be in labor. I needed rest.. then they put it back in but I obviously didn't feel it.

I haemorrhaged with my 2nd baby so ended up having one put in as I wasn't allowed out of bed for 2.5 days. I don't remember it being put in but having it taken out wasn't as bad as I expected it to be.

I was so scared to get one that was my main reason for wanting to go natural. But they had me on magnesium and said I needed one anyway because I wasn't supposed to be getting out of bed until I had the baby. So the epi became a easy decision since I was already laying in bed in pain, with a catheter and my waters gushing. There was nothing going on down there that I wanted to feel lol.

I've given birth three times completely naturally, never had an epidural, and I've never had a catheter.

I had epi without cath. I peed the table twice and when I said "I'm going to shat" I pushed a baby out!

No only when you have an epidural because you can't get up to the bathroom because you are numb. Or if you have a csection.

well that is up to you! You can decline what you want . I said no to the catheter.

Had an epidural, but no catheter. By the time they wanted to give me one his head was there. The doctor had to empty my bladder before I had him.

I always go natural and have never had one while in labour but did when I had another surgery and let me tell you that shat hurt ! Never again ?

I had an epidural but I know AFTER I had my son I hadn't peed for 6 hours and she said if I didn't pee within the next hour they would put one in.

I had a long natural labor and had to have a cath.

I wasn't peeing for awhile and was trying.

It was pretty uncomfortable, but didn't hurt too bad.

With my first I went pee before going to the hospital while in labor, couldn't go once I got to the hospital as they wanted so I had to have one. Second time around I was able to go in the hospital so didn't need one

I thought you meant IV catheter.

Not typically. With my first, I got straight-cathed between contractions cuz I kept peeing. With my second, I had a Foley for 24 hours because I tore A LOT around clit/urethra, and my OB is a very kind man who didn't want me to pee on the stitches the first day ?

I found out I was allergic to latex due to a latex catheter. My urethra swelled shut. That sucked. On top of it my epidural wasn't working so the urge to pee was hardcore! ?

I had the epi and no cath for both births. When I felt my bladder was full I let the nurse know and she did a straight cath with both labors. My epi worked but not to the point where I could feel anything. I could still move my legs.

I never had an epidural but I had to have a catheter put in during my first labor.

Add that to the pain of giving birth and the magnesium drip- and it was an absolute nightmare.

That's why I had a catheter my last pregnancy. I don't want to go through that again!

Not necessarily true if you don't get a epi you don't need a catheter. I was on a magnesium drip after I had my son and had to have a catheter put in. Hurt like hell without the numbing!

Thanks ladies! I'm considering going all natural with this baby but the thought of having a catheter without an epi scares me. They had to cath me my last pregnancy before the epidural and it's not something I want to experience again!

I didn't have an epi and had a temp catheter in to literally empty my bladder as I couldn't do it naturally myself. As soon as it was empty they removed it.

I had the epi and had a catheter. They took it out within an hour of me giving birth though. Then I had to call to go to the bathroom because they wanted to be sure I could walk. Now that was hard lol

I had an epidural without a catheter. The epidural did not paralyzed my bladder. I could still feel when I had to go until it was turned up to high. But at the point your sitting on pads because your waters already gusting out so doesn't it really matter if you peeing on yourself at that point . Plus most women poop when they have babie as well.

Epidural and catheter with dd1. The catheter was one of the many reasons I decided I didn't want an epidural with I had dd2.

Epidural and catheter with my first, unmedicated, natural, no catheter with ds2 and technically had an epidural and no catheter with ds3, but he was out literally when she was done with the epidural, so no time for meds to be pumped in.

It really just depends.

I did not have an epidural with either birth, but I did have a catheter when I had my dd. I was hemorrhaging and the OBGYN needed to massage my uterus, and she couldn't do it properly due to my bladder being in the way. Since I couldn't pee on demand while so much was going on, my only other option was a catheter. I didn't have to wear a colostomy bag though thankfully.

Epidural paralyze everything from the waste down, your bladder is a muscle and is paralyzed so you don't know you have to urinate. And you can't. That's why they put one in to keep the bladder empty. I didn't have a catheter bag I was straight cathed

Ive done both and never had a catheter? I didnt pee myself. I could still move around, but was numb to ctx, if that makes sense.

Ugh I hated that thing. Having visitors and having to carry around a bag of piss wasn't very dignifying. ? I had the epidural.

Same as the others. My last childbirth was all natural, no cath.

My first two were c-sections - cath.

My third was vaginal with epi - cath.

Natural no cath

@pp You got an epi but no catheter? But if you cant feel anything wouldn't that mean you'd pee yourself? ?

I had csections so got epidurals and catheters. Not painful at all since they did the epi first.

Natural, unmedicated birth; no catheter.

I had the epidural without a catheter .....

I requested that they place it after the epidural and don't even remember feeling it, but my epidural worked so I guess I got lucky lol. I feel so bad for the mamas that got a shotty epidural. ?

Ergh when I hear the word catheter I feel sick ? when I was in labour with my son I had an epidural,I had a catheter in place and my midwife came in and knocked it and it flew on the floor! My epidural wasn't working so that s*** hurt! ?

I believe If you don't have an epidural then it's not needed ?

I was all natural and didn't have a catheter either.

I had a natural birth and didn't have a catheter