Painful urination and low urine output

I really need some advice here,

I gave birth two weeks ago—and honestly, it’s been rough. I’ve basically been stuck in bed because this episiotomy is just brutal—but lately, whenever I try to get up, I get this awful sensation. It feels like intense pressure right at the opening of my urethra... almost like a nerve is being pinched or pressed. I have to tense up and just wait for the feeling to pass before I can move. Once I start walking, it goes away, but man, it's uncomfortable...
Also, I feel like I'm barely peeing at all. I figured it might just be because I'm breastfeeding, but I'm only going a few times a day. Is it possible my bladder has shifted or dropped, causing all of this? I'm actually pretty freaked out about it...

Any help would be amazing!

Kate White81 said:I really need some advice,

I gave birth two weeks ago, and I’m struggling. For the last week, every time I try to get out of bed, there's this awful sensation—it feels like heavy pressure right at my urethra. It’s like a nerve is being pinched or something. I have to tense up and just wait for the feeling to pass before I can move, but once I start walking, it goes away. And then it just repeats itself over and over.
I'm barely even peeing. I figured it was just because I'm breastfeeding, but I'm only going a few times a day. Could a prolapsed bladder be causing all this? Honestly, I'm pretty terrified...

Please help.

Don't panic.
It'll pass.
I went through the exact same thing, and man, it dragged on... ugh... I think it took almost three or four months postpartum before things felt normal again.

Hey,

Are you kidding me? What even is that? I totally panicked thinking it might be nerve damage because of the epidural... When I stand up, I have to suddenly squeeze my pelvic muscles—kind of like I'm trying to stop myself from peeing—just to help it through. It’s such a gross feeling, honestly... I’ve scoured the entire internet and couldn't find anything similar at all. I'm debating calling my OB-GYN to ask for advice, but do you happen to know what this could be?

Thanks so much!

Kate White81 said:Hey,

Are you kidding? What even is that? I was freaking out thinking it might be nerve damage since I had an epidural... When I stand up, I have to suddenly squeeze my pelvic muscles—kind of like I'm trying to stop myself from peeing—just to help it along. It’s such a gross feeling. I searched the entire internet and couldn't find anything like this, so I was thinking about calling my OB-GYN for advice. Do you happen to know what this could be?

Thanks!

I haven't made it to the doctor yet. 🙈
I was scared. But I think I can go now. 🙂

I talked to some other women who went through something similar, and they were all on antibiotics... which seems stupid to me. You shouldn't need an antibiotic for everything.

I also had an epidural during delivery, so there's a chance it's linked to that.

But don't worry... you'll get through it just like I did.
You don't need any meds.
Just push through it... mine cleared up on its own and my bladder and everything else are just fine now!!! 👍 😁

Aha, it could definitely be from the epidural... ugh, I’ve got that issue going on with my bladder, plus they did such a deep incision that even two weeks postpartum, I honestly feel like everything is just going to fall out of my vagina... did you deal with that too?

Man, it feels like something is always wrong—and I can't even walk around the house properly yet! Just getting myself up to go to the bathroom or the kitchen is a total struggle... it sucks.

How long did it take you to get back on your feet?

Kate White81 said:Maybe it’s from the epidural... honestly, between that and my urinary tract issues, plus how much they had to cut me, I'm two weeks postpartum and feel like everything is just going to fall out of my vagina. Did you deal with that too?

Man, I’m feeling absolutely trashed. I can barely even move around my own house right now—getting from the bed to the kitchen or the bathroom feels like running a marathon. This sucks.

How long did it take you to get back on your feet?

I felt better the second I stepped through my front door. Being stuck in the hospital was miserable because I couldn't get comfortable—everything just felt constantly damp down there. Honestly, I couldn't even bring myself to use a towel to dry off after cleaning up because the whole sensation was just gross. As soon as I got home, I started using a hair dryer to dry the area after my showers. It’s a total game changer. 🤣 The stitches came out and everything looks great.

My scar still acts up sometimes. It gets this weird pressure whenever the weather shifts or if I spend too much time out on a long hike.

Man, that issue with my urethra really ate at me for a few months. It was a total drag.

Ever had a catheter shoved down your throat?
They did for me.
They’re doing less work for everyone on an epidural, so that’s basically where I saw the connection.

Yeah, true. Just eat some cranberries and brew yourself some cranberry tea.
It’s possible this could even be an infection triggered by the catheter.

I dealt with a similar issue after my second child was born, even though I didn't opt for an epidural. It was a struggle—I could barely hold it, constantly rushing to the restroom, and once I actually started going, I just couldn't control the flow. I stuck with Kegel exercises, and thankfully, things leveled out after a few weeks. If it were actually an infection, you'd likely be running a fever too.

I dealt with some serious bladder issues right after giving birth 😢 because I picked up a UTI about eight days postpartum from the catheter... plus, I think my uterus was just putting way too much pressure on my bladder or something, so for two weeks straight, I was basically 🤣🤣just leaking through my clothes because 😳I had zero control over it. Eventually things settled down, though for a couple of weeks after that, any sound of running water would make me rush to the bathroom 🤣but now, I feel like a completely different person 😍

Laura Jackson56 made a good point, though—try drinking cranberry juice or some uva ursi tea, maybe that'll help you feel better. Honestly, I wouldn't suggest going in for an exam just yet... I went in for a pelvic exam on my eighth day postpartum specifically because of the infection, and let me tell you, it hurt like absolute hell... almost worse than the actual labor 😲

I didn't end up needing a catheter, and I’m definitely not dealing with any leaking issues—mostly because I can barely go at all! Like, maybe a couple of times a day while I'm in the shower... yikes. The home health nurse actually spooked me a little, though—she mentioned it might be a kidney thing, ufff...
I honestly don't know how to handle this. There's this intense pressure down in my pelvic area whenever I stand up, and then there's this whole mess with not being able to pee. It's like, I'm drinking plenty, so where is it all going? Just sitting in my bladder??

I'm really not sure if I should be calling a doctor about this lack of urination, or if it's just some post-delivery thing that I should wait out until my postpartum period is over...

Hi,
I had an experience that was almost identical to yours—I actually went through a natural labor without any epidural, though they did use a catheter, and the doctors suggested that might be the culprit. I was honestly terrified about a potential infection, but just like someone mentioned earlier in this thread, I eventually realized that if things were truly spiraling, I would have developed a fever by now.
It’s been about six weeks since it happened, and I’m finally starting to feel some improvement; I suppose it just takes a bit of time for the body to recover, but I won't sugarcoat it—the sensation is absolutely miserable. 🙂

Laura Jackson56 said:but honestly, that whole stinging sensation near my urethra was driving me absolutely crazy for months.

did they end up putting a catheter in you?
they did mine.
it seems like pretty much everyone getting an epidural gets one, so I figured that was probably why I was dealing with all that.

ugh, yeah. just eat some cranberries and drink cranberry juice.
it’s totally possible that it’s actually some kind of infection caused by the catheter.

Those catheters are seriously the worst. After I gave birth, it burned like crazy whenever I went to the bathroom. Now, like 4 or 5 months later, the burning is gone, but the opening of my urethra looks red (whenever I check with a mirror). I lowkey freaked out when I first saw it, but my OBGYN didn't say anything, and then I totally forgot to ask. I’m guessing it’s from the catheter since they had to pop one in at least five different times while I was in labor for 18 hours.

Did you deal with stuff like that too?

Laura Jackson56 said:don't sweat it.
it'll pass eventually.
I went through the exact same thing and it dragged on forever... ugh... I think it was almost 3 or 4 months after I gave birth.

Laura Jackson56 said:but that whole urethra issue really messed with me for a few months.

did they put a catheter in you?
they did mine.
pretty much everyone getting an epidural gets one, so I figured that was probably why.

oh, yeah. eat some cranberries and make your own cranberry juice.
it could totally be an infection from the catheter.

same story here, I was in pain until just a couple months ago. could be the catheter or the epi... I didn't even start peeing normally until recently, and sitting down comfortably? definitely wasn't happening for at least 2 months postpartum... plus, they actually had to fix my stitches at the hospital (what they call "cleaning things up" 🤣) because they stitched me way too tight and I couldn't even walk. once they fixed it, I felt like a new woman... though I ended up stuck in the hospital for 10 days because of jaundice, and I couldn't even walk until those last 2 days... 🙄

cranberries are definitely worth it, I drank them constantly. but I heard nursing moms shouldn't touch uva ursi 🤷

Oh, and I should probably mention—I was only hitting the restroom maybe two or three times max all day, and honestly? I didn't even feel like my bladder was full... 🤷

That could easily be a bladder prolapse. Try this: while standing up, press your finger into your pelvic area (sorry, TMI) and then feel along the side of your pelvis toward your bladder. Is there any kind of "bulge"? If there is, start Kegel's exercises immediately.

Just wanted to let you guys know that the uncomfortable pain I was dealing with is finally gone... so if anyone else is going through something similar postpartum, hang in there—it does pass! I was honestly so worried that something might be wrong with my bladder...