How My Asher Yatzar Tefilla Became Precious After Pregnancy Challenges

When I was just a couple of months pregnant with my third baby, I woke up one morning and could not pass urine. I was at a point where I was drinking a ton, going to the bathroom every hour, but suddenly, I couldn't. I felt like I needed to, but nothing was happening. I was in excruciating pain, trying whatever I could think to do. Finally, I told my husband that I needed to get a catheter. He asked if I was sure and I knew I was. It was Shabbat, so we walked to urgent care to ask them to place the catheter. They said they couldn't do it there, I'd need to go to the hospital. I was taken in an ambulance, terrified that my bladder would burst and it would harm my baby. Finally, finally, the nurses placed the catheter. It filled two bags. The OB on call did an ultrasound, BH everything was fine with my baby. I was able to go to the bathroom once in the hospital, so I took a cab home.

I met my husband and kids at a friend they went to for lunch. Again, although I was drinking a lot, I couldn't go. Before the meal ended, I ran back home. I was squatting in the shower, convinced I was in preterm labor. Finally, my husband came home and I told him I needed to go back to the hospital. This time, I didn't want to go alone. Baruch HaShem, my sister was staying by us for Shabbat, so my kids weren't alone. We went downstairs to the street and an ambulance took us back to the hospital. A catheter was placed and, again, almost two bags filled instantly. The OB checked, I was not in labor thank God, everything seemed okay. We waited to see a neurologist to determine what was wrong. They couldn't figure it out. They gave me a catheter bag with a drain for long-term use and told me to get it removed on Tuesday. I took the bus home, it was after Shabbat. I had been in and out of the hospital from 9am that morning.

On Tuesday, I went to the nurse at the local clinic. She removed the catheter, I used the toilet, and I went home. I was back a few hours later to get another catheter.

Being a 27 year old with two toddlers who needs a catheter for no apparent reason was the hardest thing I had ever endured. It was difficult to sit up, difficult to shower, difficult to take care of my children. I got referrals to different doctors, to do different tests. Blood tests and ultrasounds. No results. Apparently, this is just something that can happen in early pregnancy occasionally, due to an increase in hormones.

And then, two weeks later, I went to the nurse at the clinic, got the catheter removed, and everything was back to normal.

When I woke up the next morning and could use the toilet, I cried as I said Asher Yatzar.