The first postnatal pee

THE FIRST POSTNATAL PEE 🥴

Peeing after birth. People tend to anxiously anticipate the first poop but forget that the first pee can be a little tricky too sometimes. Especially as the first pee comes much quicker than the first poop usually, AND you are often urged to produce it in good time 🙄 but there are quite good reasons for it.

Firstly, because we generally pee more than we poop and hopefully have hydrated well in labour, but also because it is important to keep emptying a postnatal bladder timely and regularly.

If not, it can stop the uterus from clamping down effectively to stem bloodloss and delay the release of the placenta.

But also, it keeps you more comfortable with regards to afterpains.

Plus, overdistending the bladder after birth can have undesirable consequences, and bladder injury and urinary retention are no fun for anyone, least of all you. The tricky bit is that when you have JUST passed a human out of your body, there is swelling, and often some injury like tearing or skin splits of the labia (commonly called grazes even though they are not), maybe trauma from previous catheterisation.

Under those circumstances a full bladder might just not send the familiar ‘gotta pee’ signals. Plus, the swelling may physically make it quite difficult to release urine from the bladder, not even mentioning the psychological reasons for not being able to do so, like fear, exhaustion etc etc.

So, sometimes, when peeing does not come easy (though of course it might be ABSOLUTLEY FINE!!!), it’s good to have a bag of tools to make it a little easier.

1. Relaxation. Try to chill and just let it happen. Dark, private, warm surroundings are nice. Hypnobirthing techniques can come in helpful.

2. Run the tap for support. Goodness knows why it works but it often does.

3. Many midwives swear by a few drops of peppermint oil dripped into the toilet to encourage urination. Results are mixed, but no harm done I reckon (as long as you DO NOT GET PEPPERMINT OIL ON YOUR PERINEUM)

4. Some very gentle bearing down while keeping the perineum relaxed. If it feels too tender, try to relax it.....but support it gently with a pad/cloth. If you get pee on your hands, they can be washed. 5. Be mobile if peeing is tricky. Lean forward, or backwards......sometimes lifting the belly to also lift the bladder and ‘unkink’ the urethra can help.

6. Pee in water. The shower or the bath, or a sitz bath will do. Or pour warm water down yourself when peeing or use a ‘peribottle’ to be able to spray water upwards towards your vulva. The warm water relaxes, AND diluted pee stings a WHOLE lot less than concentrated pee.

7. Don’t hugely overhydrate in desperation to be able to pee. An overfull bladder may find it more difficult to empty itself.

8. Suprapubic tapping (to stimulate reflexive contraction of the detrusor muscle that empties the bladder) and lower back massage are often used to trigger reflexive urination for people who have suffered a spinal injury and also small children. It works well postnatally too. Although it’s a little tricky with a fresh postnatal belly in the way, it’s worth a try! Essentially, tap the area over your bladder with the side of your hand or with fingers firmly but not violently (obviously!).....pee might just come!

9. Sometimes deciding to accept help in the form of a catheter can prevent more long term damage and be a huge relief but it’s something that needs to discussed with nuance at the time if nothing else works. Hope this is helpful to fill your toolbox so you dont feel too out at sea and frustrated should pee not flow forth!

There is lots more to say about peeing after birth, but this will do for now 😊

Happy Voiding 😬 (and thank you for putting up with the worst accompanying meme ever.)