Epidurals during delivery with frequency/urgency

[anniepie1976]

I have been thinking about this and wondering this. If anyone can help me if they have been through this it would be great. A very bad symptom through this pregnancy with my IC is frequency and urgency for me. I am due in the beginning of Sept. I really want an epidural but I'm worried not knowing what to expect as this is my first child I'm wondering about my bladder. If it doesn't have capacity like normal how would it react to being numbed down there? I guess a big fear I have is when I start getting some feeling back that I feel the pain from my bladder being overly full but not enough feeling to be able to control voiding. I know that they can catheterize me but how do they know I need to go because I feel the urge and pain when there's very little in my bladder. I also fear catheters because of bad experiences in the past with them. They are very painful for me. I know that things will probably go just how they are supposed to that day. I'm very much a worrier and have had this on my mind for awhile now. If there is anyone who has been through the epidural during bad flare with frequency/urgency I would really like to know what you have to say. Any advice? Thanks....Ann

[Sherry5]

Anniepie, your epidural will be the best thing that ever happened to you. When you are in labor, to be blunt, you don't have control over any of your bodily functions anyway. I'm going to be a little graphic here. Because the act of pushing out your baby is so similar to the act of pushing out a bowel movement, you won't even have control of your bowels. This is part of the reason they don't let you eat or drink anything once you are in labor. You will have a nice big absorbant pad under you. If(and when) you lose control of your bladder or anything else, they just whisk it away and put another one down.

I am quite sensitive to catheters as well. I had one for a few minutes with my first child, then made them take it out. With the other two they just didn't put one in at all. They are used to those types of things.

When you are having full blown labor contractions, cancelling your epidural will be the last thing you want to do. Good luck!

[cdfox]

:) Thanks Annie for posting this question and thanks Sherry for answering. Even before I got pregnant, this question was on my mind and a source of much worry to me because of my IC. I had thought a vaginal delivery would prove to be very difficult with IC and that a c-section would be more desirable. However, after reading this post and others on this board, I've now changed my mind and have been given hope of potentially experiencing less problems with a vaginal delivery than I originally assumed. Thanks again...Carolyn

[Sherry5]

Carolyn, this is my fourth baby and I have been going back and forth with the decision of whether or not to have a c-section. Your are kind of darned if you do darned if you don't(see c-section vs vaginal birth threads) Most on this board have said that c-sections are horrible on your IC. IC is especially sensitive to any kind of abdominal surgery.

Two of my three vaginal births were just horrible. With my first, the epidural didn't take, I was in labor for 26 hours, and had to push for 3 hours. My baby had a vaccuum on her head for a full hour. I have always thought that is what triggered my IC, and my third child made it worse. But from what I have read on here, a c-section may have been just as harmful. (my experience is not typical, my baby had a large head and my tail bone made it difficult for her to pass. It happens to be in a strange place. Don't let me scare you.:)

I would have to say that your vaginal birth experience will be good or bad depending entirely on three people. Your anesthesiologist is critical. Ask other moms who have delivered in your hospital if they had good epidurals and who their anesthesiologists were. Most are very good and capable at what they do, but if you get a bad one it makes a HUGE difference.

The second and third are your doctor and delivery nurse. With my first one I had a nurse who left me fully dilated for 21/2 hours. We later found out she had left, and hadn't told anyone I was dilated. She was off of her shift soon, and didn't want to start delivering me. Don't be afraid to check up on your nurses. Some nurses just won't listen to you, or flat out ignore you. Tell your nurse you want your doctor called as soon as you are fully dilated, and you won't push without him. Some nurses will have you pushing for a full hour before they even call the doctor. This is never good. Sometimes the nurses do that because they want to, and sometimes the doctor instructs them to. It is important to talk to your doctor before hand and find out his policy. With my third one they made me stop pushing for two and a half hours because the baby's heart rate was low. When the doctor finally came he said, "he's fine, just let her push him out." which I did. Unfortunately, the 21/2 hour pause caused the worst hemmoroids in the history of the world, not to mention bladder pain from the intense pressure. These two things were by far the hardest things to heal from. I was in intense pain, couldn't sleep, couldn't function, for a long time afterwards. So, my strongest advice would be to get your doctor in there as soon as you are fully dilated. Talk to him before hand and make sure this is his policy.

These are things I really wish I had known before I went into the hospital with my other children. If you talk to your doctor about these things, and feel comfortable with his responses, your vaginal delivery should go well. I didn't have these problems with my second child and she was a piece of cake.I had a good epidural shortly after I went into labor, and the Doctor came in right as I was fully dilated.

If you have any questions, let me know. Good luck!

[cdfox]

Holly molly Sherry! I think you qualify for sainthood: four children with IC. You've experienced my fears and my dreams. I truly commend you. I'm 37 years old and am 6 months pregnant with my first and have been terrified to get pregnant earlier because of my IC so I can't even begin to imagine what you have experienced.

Gosh, I'm so glad you let me know the potential pitfalls with epidurals and dilation. I'll certainly bring a copy of your message next time I see my ob-gyn and keep your message handy when it comes close to delivery. I'll do anything to keep the intense pelvic pain at bay and minimize the potential for bladder problems.

Thanks again...Carolyn :)

[Sherry5]

Carolyn, it is a wise person that can learn from other people's mistakes :) Here's hoping you have doctors and nurses who listen to you! They should listen to your concerns because of your IC.

Good Luck!

[Dianne]

After an epidural I've never seen anyone be incontinent, it's more that they can't pee til it wakes up. One option is just get them to bring over the bladder scanner. It's a nifty little portable ultrasound type thing that they can put over your bladder and it estimates how much is in there. Totally painless and reasonably accurate.
Dianne (OB nurse for 30 yrs.)

[anniepie1976]

Thanks Dianne. I am glad that you have mentioned that. I have had those used on me before and forgot about them. Ann

[SandyRN]

Being a nurse who worked with pregnant and post partum women I can say that the Labor & Delivery nurses are some of the most skilled ladies I've ever met, and as far as the cath goes, they dont miss, and if you tell them your fears, about IC, etc, they will be so kind and gentle, if it comes to a quick in and out cath.

After delivery it is often hard to pee, even for "normal" moms. There are lots of tricks, etc to use to help you go, and if you arent able, the nurses on the floor can cath anyone as well, because it's just something we do, a lot.

I've had 3 kids, before my dx of IC, but I couldnt pee, and I didnt even feel the cath which was amazing because I had a very very hard delivery.

I know voiding is one of the major things on your mind, but trust me, it will be back in the far recesses of your mind when you have your little one in your arms. The nurses will take care of you.

I think OB nurses are a special breed, if I do say so myself lol.

Take care, Sandy

[sscott]

I also had fibroids before pregnancy, i had two myomectomys to get rid of them so that i could get pregnant. There were 13 in all. I understand your pain but usually the fibroid doesn't hurt the child especially since you are so far along. You should see if your doctor can prescribe something for the pain. My doctor gave me vicodin during pregnancy because of my ic pain and it worked for the fibroids as well.

[gloriabono68]

I had my epididural in for 15 hours straight .......I didn't really experience any frequency and urgency until later that night after my delivery and then it lasted for about four days......probably due to the cath.......not sure........but i wouldn't have made it without it ........
GOOD LUCK with your delivery , my thoughts and prayers will be with you and let us all know how it goes........
my baby girl is almost five weeks old now...........I didnt think i would survive delivery with my IC but i did it.........
Now i need to consider birth control options.......i haven't had much luck with the pill in the past and now am considering a tubal but i am scared of what it might do to my bladder.......or the shot maybe? does anyone have any experience with either of these ?
gloriabono