Is It True?? (A Series): You Need a Catheter for Labor

When people know you're pregnant, they love to tell you absolutely everything they think you don't know/should know/want to know -- whether or not you ask. 

As a result, you've probably heard: you'll have a catheter in labor -- everyone gets one. 

Answer: No, not everyone is required to have a urinary catheter during labor. 

Clarification: Depending on what you choose for pain relief and if you have a cesarean will affect whether or not you receive a catheter during labor. For example, most people who have an epidural during labor and birth will have a catheter. Almost everyone who has a cesarean will have a catheter in place. While a doctor cannot legally force you into any procedure, and you do have the right to refuse, it gets tricky to not have a catheter with an epidural and it is risky to not have a catheter during a c-section. 

Further Explanation: A urinary catheter is a medical device (clear plastic tubing) used to empty a person's bladder of urine automatically. It is used in medical situations when a person is unable to empty their bladder on their own. 

An epidural causes numbness/loss of sensation and therefore limited movement from the waist down. For most people, an epidural prevents getting up and out of bed and walking around safely. It also prevents a person from feeling if they have a full bladder and therefore, need to pee to empty the bladder. Since the bladder is conveniently nestled against the vaginal canal and uterus, a full bladder can create issues that prevent baby from moving down into the pelvis and getting into the best position for birth. Thus the reason why a catheter is encouraged when a person has an epidural. Thankfully, a catheter can be placed once the epidural medicine has taken affect, which means you should not feel anything or perhaps only light pressure when it is put in place. If you care provider wants to place a catheter beforehand, find out why and ask if they could wait until after the epidural is in place. Medically, there shouldn't be an issue waiting to place the catheter. 

During a cesarean, you will also experience numbness from the waist down from either an epidural or spinal anesthesia. For the same reasons listed above, a catheter is considered a routine part of the procedure, but it is also used due to the risks from having a full bladder during cesarean surgery. A full bladder during surgery is at greater risk for injury and it can also get in the way of the surgical site. 

A catheter can also be useful because it measures your urinary output, which can be helpful to medical staff for a variety of reasons. 

During a vaginal birth, a catheter is not typically necessary unless you are unable to urinate on your own. If you're having difficulty urinating, you may request a temporary catheter, which is not left in place, but only used as a tool to empty your bladder periodically. The tubing is placed in to empty, then removed.