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I had an epidural and didn't get a catheter. Does it just increase the chance you'll need one ?

@2littlepumpkins: oh, yes I could move my legs. I didn't realize there were different kinds!

@2littlepumpkins: I also had an epi with no catheter ...I definitely couldn't move my legs so I don't think it was a light dose... so it might be an option! They had me go to the washroom beforehand. I got my epi at 4pm and she was delivered at 11:30pm .

I hated mine, and it barely worked. I'm planning to go without if at all possible for my next delivery.

I had an epidural with my first, got it at 8 cm, ended up pushing for 4 hours. My second came within about 15-20 minutes of arriving at the hospital, and there was no time to get an epidural. I am sure that the fact that my second kind of shot out of me and I didn't push helped, I also feel like my recovery was so much better after my second! You can do it! But if you decide not to, that's totally rad too!

I had an epidural with my first, but not my second. Both times my goal was to go as long as I could and then I'd get one. With my first labor was 34 hours long and i got one at 27 hours when I was still only 3cm (back labor). I was so exhausted that my MW didn't think I'd have energy to push without one.

My second was estimated to be 7lbs again so I was ok with the possibility of not having an epidural, so again I was just going to go as long as possible. My second labor was only 14 hours and I had a TENS unit that really helped with pain. I never felt like I needed an epidural until he was almost out. Obviously that was during the last few minutes, so it wasn't needed He was ginormous at 9lb 3oz so I'm sure if he was the 7lbs they estimated I wouldn't have felt like I wanted one!

If I were to do it again I think I'd just go as long as possible again, although I wouldn't be opposed to having one. I think I felt better faster with no epidural, but it's hard to compare a 7lb delivery to a 9lb one. I didn't have any IV fluids so I wasn't totally puffy, which was nice and of course none of the potential complications.

So I've only had one, and I did have an epidural, but they did not put in a permanent(ish) catheter for me until I was headed in for a c-section. They had me pee right before the epidural then said they would cath me every 4-6 hours thereafter. So if you waited until the end you could possibly get by without the catheter. Also you could take cranberry pills as a preventative headed into the hospital

I had one with E and my dr suggested I go without this time....I'm playing it by ear

@2littlepumpkins: I've had two epidurals, one with a catheter (because I was on a magnesium drip) and one without. I would definitely ask your OB if you can have an epidural without a catheter. When I asked one of the L&D nurses about it on our tour she said that each OB just has different preferences. I would imagine that if you really don't want a catheter you wouldn't have to have one. If you have trouble peeing they can always "straight cath" you - where they insert a catheter to drain your bladder but take it out immediately (less than a minute). Much lower chance of UTIs.

I've had two epidurals (both almost fully dilated), and both times did not get a catheter. not sure if it was because I only had the epi in for less than an hour each time? maybe ask your ob if you have a choice :).