Peeing with a catheter...

[rhythmsofgrace]

OK...my client had a successful VBAC yesterday...will write her story later.
My problem is that she is having trouble peeing...so the hospital puts a catheter in. Now they're keeping here there for several days until she pees. I've been trying to get her to try using peppermint oil in the toilet, but they won't take the cath out to let her try. I'm not sure I'm understanding their rational. Woman won't pee...so we won't let her leave the hospital till she does...but we won't take the cath out so she can try???? Anyone with experience on this and suggestions?

[UtahDoula]

Likely they suspect trauma to the bladder or urethra, and want to leave the catheter in place for a few days to allow some rest. But I can only guess. Your client can ASK and she deserves a straight answer.

[DL]

You don't have to try to pee with a catheter (I know...I've had four of them at different times for different reasons, both foley and straight cath ). When the bladder fills with the slightest bit of urine, under normal circumstances, the urine automatically goes into the cath tube and empties out of the body. It involves no voluntary muscle movements (it just happens). If she has a catheter and is not urinating then there may be trauma there like Utah said. It sounds like they may be trying to measure just how much/little urine is being made while allowing the bladder to rest and not have to contract to empty. If urine won't come out with a catheter inserted, then most likely taking it out wouldn't make it any easier for the urine to come out either. I hope that makes some sense.

I would advise your client to ask specific questions regarding the medical reasons for why the catheter is inserted. She should have no doubt as to why she has it in. Informed consent is just as important for after baby is born, too.

[betterbirths]

I am not understanding the rational either. The longer they leave the cath in the harder it could make it on her to pee on her own. Unless like Utah Doula said if she had trauma and they were leaving a cath in to let it heal. They do that after surgerys in that are alot. But if it is not due to trauma the bladder can get used to a cath being in and then have to be "trained" to properly work again. She really needs to ask her DR exactly what the heck he has in mind.
Are they trying bladder training?
Did they try straight cathing her first when she had to go?

[rhythmsofgrace]

I guess I didn't phrase it right...they aren't trying to measure her pee for anything. When she had trouble peeing right after the birth, they put a catheter in to empty the bladder. They keep telling her they won't let her go home until she pees on her own, but they won't take the catheter out to let her try either. I'm getting concerned that the longer they leave it in...the harder it will be. She did have a second degree tear, but the doc didn't say anything about trauma to the bladder or urethra. I'm stumped. If they are still having trouble tomorrow...I'm going to strongly encourage them to start asking some serious questions. This is ridiculous!
Thanks for all your replies!

[1stimestar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahDoula Likely they suspect trauma to the bladder or urethra, and want to leave the catheter in place for a few days to allow some rest. But I can only guess. Your client can ASK and she deserves a straight answer.

Yea that. Sorry, even now on dsl I still refuse to use emoticons lol.

[Wendy79]

Yup, something more is going on here--a piece of information is missing. I've done "pee trials" with many patients--it's very common not to "let" someone go home until they've peed on their own--so we take out the catheter and expect to wait a few hours, have them pee, then wave goodbye.

The ultimate test of whether she'll be discharged may be that she has to pee first, but they're doing something else in the meantime. Any kidney trouble you know of? How much is urine is coming out with the catheter?