You could try some of the non-epidural pain relief options, OP. I don't think those require catheters. http://www.babycenter.com/0_systemic-pain-medication-for-labor_1489906.bc

I just googled - the organism was Klebsiella. It was resistant to the antibiotic (Macrobid) that was originally prescribed by my OB. To add insult to injury, the OB never bothered to read the results of the culture, so I took the antibiotic for about a week and when the pain was getting worse and shooting up to my kidneys, I called them back. The nurse's response was "Oh, it's resistant to the antibiotic we gave you." I had to go a different antiobiotic (I think it was ampicillin) that had to be taken every 6 hours round the clock. Which meant that sometimes I had to set an alarm during those precious 2 hours at night when the baby was sleeping and I was finally resting. It was a miserable first 2 weeks.

OP here. PP is correct. With my last birth, I definitely developed a UTI (not just irritation or allergic reaction). I can't recall the name of the particular organism, but it was a rare one, and resistant to the typical antibiotics.

Anonymous wrote:OP, is it possible that you are allergic to latex or the stuff used to prep the area? I can't think of the name right now. I have a latex allergy and was given a latex free option. My friend is allergic to the solution that hospitals and doctors use in the prep process and has to get something else used on her.

Are you thinking of PVPI (aka Betadine)?

While it's very true that some people have such allergies, it's unlikely that a reaction would manifest in symptoms similar to the UTI the OP is describing.

OP, is it possible that you are allergic to latex or the stuff used to prep the area? I can't think of the name right now. I have a latex allergy and was given a latex free option. My friend is allergic to the solution that hospitals and doctors use in the prep process and has to get something else used on her.

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate what kind of issues with the epidural?

I'm not PP, but I can answer your question in broad terms...

Maternal Risks
Hypotension (Drop in blood pressure) (indication for c-section if not managed)
Urinary Retention and Postpartum Bladder Dysfunction
Uncontrollable Shivering
Itching of the face, neck and throat
Nausea and Vomiting
Postpartum Backache
Maternal Fever (indication for c-section if not managed)
Spinal Headache
Uneven, incomplete or nonexistent pain relief
Feelings of Emotional detachment
Postpartum feelings of regret or loss of autonomy
Inability to move about freely on your own
Loss of perineal sensation and sexual function
Very Serious and rare risks include: Convulsions, Respiratory paralysis, Cardiac arrest, Allergic shock, Nerve injury, Epidural abscess, and Maternal death


Labor Side Effects
Prolonged First Stage of Labor
Increase of malpresentation of baby's head
Increased need for Pitocin augmentation
Prolonged Second Stage of Labor
Decrease in the ability to push effectively
Increased liklihood of forceps or vacuum extraction delivery
Increased likelihood of needing an episiotomy
Increase in cesarean section


Baby Side Effects
Fetal distress; abnormal fetal heart rate
Drowsiness at birth; poor sucking reflex
Poor muscle strength and tone in the first hours

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I also think you may want to go for unmedicated. With baby #3, you should have a fast transition anyway.

FWIW, I had the ring of fire and it was crazy painful...but it lasted two pushes (and that was for my first labor). Seriously, it's like 3 minutes of pain tops. Definitely worth it to avoid an invasive UTI.

First unmedicated PP, and wanted to ditto this, though with my 2nd kid. Definitely highly painful at the end, but it was over quickly, and may have been related to my child's size / positioning (almost 10 lbs with 'sticky' shoulders.)

That said my reasons for going unmedicated with #2 were the direct result of wanting to avoid some issues I had with the epidural with #1 and it was absolutely the right choice for me. Tough in the moment, but then it was over.

Can you elaborate what kind of issues with the epidural?

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I also think you may want to go for unmedicated. With baby #3, you should have a fast transition anyway.

FWIW, I had the ring of fire and it was crazy painful...but it lasted two pushes (and that was for my first labor). Seriously, it's like 3 minutes of pain tops. Definitely worth it to avoid an invasive UTI.

First unmedicated PP, and wanted to ditto this, though with my 2nd kid. Definitely highly painful at the end, but it was over quickly, and may have been related to my child's size / positioning (almost 10 lbs with 'sticky' shoulders.)

That said my reasons for going unmedicated with #2 were the direct result of wanting to avoid some issues I had with the epidural with #1 and it was absolutely the right choice for me. Tough in the moment, but then it was over.

Anonymous wrote:what about taking cranberry pills before you go into labor and then again after. They are shown to decrease UTI's

that said I had one with my c-section and had to have another inserted wehn I cuold not get myself to pee on my own. Never got a UTI.

That's great that you didn't get a UTI. But I'm 2 for 2. Thanks for the cranberry pill suggestion. I might try that as well.

Anonymous wrote:NP here, how many minutes of pushing before an OB says we need c section?
Would one even push before 8-9 cm of dilation? Thank you.

You wouldn't push until you were completely dilated (10cm). It is common for 1st time moms to push anywhere between 1-4 hours. Beyond that time frame, it is likely your OB would recommend a c-section if baby wasn't descending or if there was another concern (heart rate for example). With second or third babies, most moms push less than an hour and sometimes only for a matter of minutes.

what about taking cranberry pills before you go into labor and then again after. They are shown to decrease UTI's

that said I had one with my c-section and had to have another inserted wehn I cuold not get myself to pee on my own. Never got a UTI.

NP here, how many minutes of pushing before an OB says we need c section?
Would one even push before 8-9 cm of dilation? Thank you.

FWIW, I had UTIs after both my births: first was unmedicated with no cath, second was with an epi/cath for about a month. I never get UTIs otherwise.

Birth itself causes a lot of trauma and fluid exchange/chance for infection. Just as a fair warning!

True about the prophylactic antibiotics. I guess you'd need to weigh the benefits and risks of all situations. Nightmare UTI vs. thrush or yeast infection? Take your pick.

Or there's the unmedicated route too.

It's possible that taking prophylactic antibiotics, or more antibiotics than necessary, could lead to other issues (thrush, vaginal yeast infections, etc.)