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Original poster

Has anyone ever heard of such a problem post-birth? (TMI and embarrassing warning!)

180 replies

Kirova · 17/03/2024 07:56

I'm trying to get over the embarrassment to seek medical help for this, but it's not something I've ever heard of anyone else happening and it didn't happen to me after the first two times I gave birth!

I gave birth to my DD3 in December - she was premature and I had a very, very fast and slightly traumatic labour. She is doing amazingly now (although she doesn't seem to need to sleep, like, ever) and I am okay too. But ever since the birth I've had a problem passing urine. It's like I just don't feel any urge and I only feel I need to go when I have a really full bladder. I do feel uncomfortable at that point and sometimes it is painful.

Then, even when I get to that point, it's really hard to wee. I end up sitting for 20 mins trying to wee and when I do it's just like a trickle, not a proper flow.

I don't know why but I'm too ashamed to tell anyone in real life. I can't get the courage up! I had quite bad 'baby blues' after DD's birth and although I don't feel it was ever really depression, I've lost confidence a bit. I know I need to go to the doctor, but I'm just so embarrassed and it feels like it must be somehow my fault...

OP posts:
Original poster
Kirova · 21/03/2024 11:47

Thank you for all the messages! I had the surgery yesterday morning and it went smoothly although it was also long - 4 hours. I'm still in hospital but hoping to be home later today. I've been able to walk around and the pain isn't too bad at all.

Unfortunately I am still having bladder and bowel issues and haven't been able to wee yet since the op. So it looks like I will be going home with a catheter, but I've been told I will be booked in for an appointment with a specialist nurse who will talk to me about retraining and management and how to self-catheterise. I was hoping it would be magically fixed the moment I woke up, but no!

Missing my girls a lot and I want to get home!

OP posts:
nozbottheblue · 21/03/2024 11:53

Great that the op has been done, OP!
Compressed nerves can take a while to start working again so there is scope for improvement- I’m sure you’ll have been told this.
Hope all goes well with your recovery ☕🍰

Freddiefan · 21/03/2024 12:33

I’ve been thinking about you and hope you have some improvement soon. I presume your sister has been looking after your children and hope they are all ok.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Antenatal & postnatal Families General health
PoochiesPinkEars · 21/03/2024 12:33

Amazing! All the best with your recovery op. 💐

Cornettoninja · 21/03/2024 15:07

I’m so pleased for you that the op went well, I hope you’ll be home soon too - will your sister be hanging around for a bit longer?

don’t be too disheartened by your immediate recovery. The doctors told you your condition was a ‘slow burner’, your recovery might be too Flowers

SprainedBum · 22/03/2024 06:21

Glad you're through the other side - no doubt the most important thing now is rest! Nerves take longer to heal, so the fact that things haven't instantly resolved doesn't mean they won't with time

tchotchke · 22/03/2024 14:29

Hopefully you’ll be reading this from the comfort of your own bed now.

christmascalypso · 24/03/2024 20:04

@Kirova How are you now? 🤞🤞

enidblythe · 26/03/2024 05:13

H
Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope you are coping at home.

rainbowstardrops · 26/03/2024 08:48

Oh you poor thing! I hope you're feeling more comfortable and you're home with your girls now Flowers

Original poster
Kirova · 07/04/2024 18:25

Sorry for the slow response and update; it's all been a bit full-on and I haven't been managing to get online much! I've recovered from the surgery really well, but unfortunately there's not much change with the bladder and bowel issues yet. I had an appointment to learn how to self-catheterise, and now I'm getting used to that and it's been okay. The bowel issues have been more of a problem because everything just seems to have got really sluggish so I'm blocked up and 'leaking' without feeling it. Makes me a bit miserable to be honest! But I have another appointment with the bladder and bowel specialist nurse tomorrow and I will try to bring it up then, even though it's a bit cringe.

Kids are all good. DD3 seems to have decided that she doesn't need to sleep, ever, but the older two have been good and are playing together beautifully - which isn't always the case!

OP posts:
SprainedBum · 07/04/2024 18:53

Ah bless you, I'm glad you're recovering well.

Honestly don't worry about the poop situ, piss and shit is their thing. They'll have seen, heard, and been elbows deep in it on a daily basis. Its really important that you tell them what's going on for you so they can give you the treatment you need.

Hope you manage to get some sleep at some point, I don't miss those days!

Cornettoninja · 07/04/2024 22:23

It’s lovely to hear that you’re getting on ok, very kind of you to update! Flowers

Please do bring it up with your nurse. It won’t be the first time they’ve heard all about it! They’ll keep an eye on you whilst you’re getting a handle back on things.

If you’ve been constipated badly for a while it can distort the bowel and it needs to shrink back with the help of something like movicol for quite a while otherwise your bowel just keeps filling up the available space.

Peridot1 · 08/04/2024 09:11

So glad to see your update.

As others have said be honest with the nurse. It’s their specialty. They have seen and heard it all before. They will only be able to give you the correct treatment if they know exactly what is going on.

PinotPony · 08/04/2024 11:45

OP has anyone indicated why you're having these problems following your labour? Just wondering if your labour was managed correctly. Midwives should have noted fluid balance charts to track fluids in and out, to avoid urinary retention. Did you have a perineal tear that needed stitches?

Original poster
Kirova · 08/04/2024 12:30

To be honest, nobody is entirely sure - I did tear quite badly and DD arrived too quickly (it was a very, very fast labour) and I was trying not to push because I was scared it was too soon and I wanted her to stay in there! But I also had bad sciatica during pregnancy so the compressed nerves may also have been related to that.

I was honest about the constipation and leaking and how much it's affected me, and the nurse has instructed me to do a few rounds of Movicol to "clear everything out" and then try using suppositories because it's apparently all due to the nerves not talking to the muscles properly. I also need to go back in to have some more urodynamics testing. I definitely think there's a bit of improvement because I can squeeze out a little wee, but it's still a lot of effort for a weak trickle and I can't empty properly. Sometimes I'm a bit scared I'll be stuck like this, although obviously there are worser things and I should count myself lucky really!

OP posts:
justasking111 · 08/04/2024 12:40

@Kirova are you in hospital or at home?

peloton2024 · 08/04/2024 13:14

PinotPony · 08/04/2024 11:45

OP has anyone indicated why you're having these problems following your labour? Just wondering if your labour was managed correctly. Midwives should have noted fluid balance charts to track fluids in and out, to avoid urinary retention. Did you have a perineal tear that needed stitches?

It's because of the compressed nerves - OP said she had sciatica for ages and it became cauda equina so not necessarily related to the labour
But if you've got a dodgy disc anyway then labour isn't going to do it any good
One of the symptoms and possible lasting effects of cauda equina is it affects your bladder and bowel

Original poster
Kirova · 08/04/2024 19:09

Thankfully, at home! Although I have appointments this week for both me and for DD3, plus dentist with the older two, so it's going to be a very healthcare-heavy week 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Kirova · 08/04/2024 19:12

peloton2024 · 08/04/2024 13:14

It's because of the compressed nerves - OP said she had sciatica for ages and it became cauda equina so not necessarily related to the labour
But if you've got a dodgy disc anyway then labour isn't going to do it any good
One of the symptoms and possible lasting effects of cauda equina is it affects your bladder and bowel

Show quote history

Yep, just that really. It is hard to know if pregnancy and labour caused and/or exacerbated it. I just never originally thought about the bladder issues being connected with my back pain!

I'm a bit wary of the movicol and not sure what's the best time to do it - everyone has been telling me horror stories, lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kirova · 10/04/2024 11:33

I'm back in hospital today for my bladder function testing - I'm feeling very jittery, so please wish me luck! DD3 is not in a very cooperative mood and I've also started my movicol regime which seems to be resulting in uncontrollable leaking, so I feel a bit of a mess all in all! I know I should be grateful that it's not worse, but I just want it all to get better and not to have to think about it any more...

OP posts:
nozbottheblue · 10/04/2024 11:46

I do feel for you! You’re in the right place now to get it all dealt with. The leaking must be horrible to deal with but after a good Movicol clear out (been there, done that!) it’s giving your bowel the best chance of working more normally.
Keep us posted 🍇

SuncreamAndIceCream · 10/04/2024 11:47

Best of luck OP

It's still early days, it's not long since you had the OP, nerves can take a while to start doing their job again & muscles need to remember what to do!

Well done for seeking medical help & I hope you turn a corner soon. You're in the best place to get it all resolved. Hope your appt goes well.

justasking111 · 10/04/2024 11:55

Good luck @Kirova .

Original poster
Kirova · 10/04/2024 12:00

Thanks! Yeah, the consultant told me that improvement may be gradual over 3-4 months, although any residual effects after that time are likely to not be reversible. Fingers crossed for lots of gradual improvement! I'm really trying to follow all the steps and engage with everything as best I can, including physio (which has helped with my back and leg pain loads).

The leaking is a bit grim because it kind of happens without me feeling the urge so I can't control it. I'm kind of worried that it will happen during the bladder function testing and they'll be disgusted - I know I shouldn't and no way would I judge someone else who had this issue, but I feel ashamed that I can't control my own bowel movements!

OP posts: