getting worried about a possible catheterization

[HardCoreMom]

hi there-

i'm due to give birth in the next few weeks, and i already know that we have to take a urine sample on my little guy after 24 hours postpartum. and the more i think about it, the more worried i'm becoming, that someone's going to try to retract my son. it's easy enough to say "NO TOUCHING HIS PENIS," but when your birth plan also requests a urine sample, well, i just kinda feel like i'm opening myself up for trouble.

i guess my concern is that we can only take the sample after 24 hours, no sooner. and by then, will he be urinating much? i know bf babies have a dry spell before the milk fully comes in. i am going to mandate that they use a Ubag for the specimen (and i have happen to have one in sterile packaging that i may even bring in if anyone were to play the "we don't have any Ubags" card), but i'm just so worried that some idiot nurse is gonna think that we have to cath the little guy to get any urine out of him, and therefore, needlessly retract him.

unfortunately, the sample really does have to be provided in the hospital, cause it has to be couriered far away, and my ped's office can't handle that sort of confusion, or else i'd put it off for a few days till he was peeing well.

i'm. just. so. nervous.... that something (and we all know what) is going to happen.

anyone out there with any words of comfort for me?

peace,
hcm

[thixle]

Simple- don't let him out of your (or someone you trust's) sight.

I don't remember my DD having more than a couple slightly wet diapers at that time. But it is totally awesome that you have your own sterile bag! And leaving it on a few hours should produce results.

However, I don't understand why you have to have the hospital do it after 24 hours, but after a few days is fine, as well. If our ped's office were so scatterbrained they couldn't send off a urine sample, i would seriously consider a different ped.

But, congrats!
and if the "anonymous" poster wants to pm me again about caths/urine collection, I would be glad to repeat his info here.

[HardCoreMom]

thanks for replying- oh, we won't be letting him out of our sight (if even our arms) for the entire time that we'll be in the hospital. the urine sample has to be paired with a blood sample and shipped cold to a special lab same-day. i suppose that if it came down to facing any pressure to cath him, i'd could take the battle to my ped's office a few days later, and see if they will do both the blood and urine and get it shipped-- though my gut tells me they'd send me to a local lab to take the samples, and that's really the last place i want to go. tons of germy people there, most of them really sick, waiting to get their blood drawn. no thanks.

i did some reading on this forum, and if the Ubag is a no-go, i'm going to request a NICU nurse with experience with intact neonates to insert the cath. and she has to come to our room. and i'm going to watch very carefully.

i think that at my next mw appt on monday, i will raise these concerns with her and see if she can't help certify that they have Ubags available in the NICU. my mw team is very supportive of even my tiniest concerns, and they assure me that the hospital is very family-friendly (hey, they even provide queen-size beds in the post partum suites for co-sleeping). i just worry that family-friendly doesn't necessarily equal foreskin-friendly, kwim?

thanks,
hcm

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I have never heard of a baby needing a UA that soon. Do you mind sharing why this has to be done??

[HardCoreMom]

my firstborn son has a monumentally rare but 100% treatable metabolic disorder that can be detected in the blood and urine as of 24 hours postpartum. i did not have to test my second because i agreed to an amniocentesis when pg with him, but decided not to undergo that procedure this time, in lieu of the testing after birth, because there was no added benefit from knowing the results in utero, and well, amnios are icky and can be dangerous. but it is crucial that we know the results of the test sooner rather than later.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I would have done the same in your position amnio's scare me. I think you can prevent his retraction totally just be very clear on what you expect to have happen and watch like a hawk.

Did you see the instructions for proper cathing in the Sticky The Definition of Retraction & Why it is BAD so that you know what they should be doing? So you can prevent them hurting him.

[HardCoreMom]

thanks; i guess my plan is--
1. talk to my midwife on monday; see if she can help make certain they have Ubags in the NICU/post-partum floor.
2. draft up my birthplan to mandate the use of a Ubag.
3. bring in my own sterile Ubag.
4. in the event that #1 fails to be productive and they refuse to use my sterile Ubag on some legal grounds, be certain that a NICU nurse with intact neonates experience perform the cath... and watch like a HAWK, never letting the baby out of my room.

btw, i always bring a big basket of cookies and homemade baked goodies to the hospital with me, and it usually gets me good results in terms of nursing support and care. so maybe that will help smoothe things over, too.

i just feel so defensive!

ETA: i will definitely check out the sticky again! thanks.

[thixle]

Are you sure they can use bag urine for the test? I would find out from the peds office or through the lab itself, before the babe gets here.

I believe there is an intact agreement at www.mothersopposingcircumcision.org that you could have the nurse sign immediately before she does the cath... you know, just to get the legal stuff out of the way.

I'm sure you'll be fine, if you are very clear of your expectations, and constantly with your child. Baked goodies would definately smooth over any awkwardness!

[HardCoreMom]

i assume they can use a Ubag- my ds with the condition gets bagged for UA a couple times a year, and it works fine. i don't know how it could be different with a neonate... but i guess i should go in ready to face the unexpected.

i think that talking with my mw about it will be the first step towards getting everything smoothed out ahead of time. she can be a helpful advocate with the medical staff. and so can hershey's triple chocolate cookies

hcm