Forceps unable to hold urine - I am terrified

[Booni]

Hello Ladies, I gave birth on Tuesday this week. I had a very long labour and unfortunately couldn't push the baby out. I agreed to for forceps to be used. The baby was too low to have a c-section apparently. Anyway I was kept in the hospital for few hours and was told to keep the pad in because of bleeding. I didn't have any problem with holding wee in the hospital. As soon as we came home I've realised something wasn't right. It's like I am paralysed down there and have no feeling of wee coming. It just comes out with no warning. I thought it was because of epidural. I was also given 3 injections in my vagina but it looks like my muscles stopped working completely. I know it has been only 72 hours but I am terrified. Will it ever improve? I wasn't told anything about it before. I talked to the midwife but she seemed surprised too. She asked me whether it happens when I sneeze only? I said it's constant at the moment. I don't even have any urge to wee. I will appreciate your advice xx

Don't panic!

I had a forceps birth last June and for about the first week, literally couldn't keep any wee in, it just came out, no control what so ever. In the morning I'd just stand up and it would all go into my pad.

But after a week, I got more and more control of it, and then started doing pelvic floor exercises.

It lasted a week and then suddenly improved massively is what I'm trying to say, so hopefully the same for you :)

Don’t panic. My bladder went into retention after I had a forceps delivery. I came home with a catheter and then switched to intermittent self catheterisation. This sounds worse than it is. Speak to your midwife and/or GP. You should, in theory, be sent to your local gynae ward to be taught ISC. Good luck, and please don’t panic. Congratulations on your new baby 💐

Hello! Yes, it’ll get better I promise! I had the same delivery as you 4 weeks ago, managed to pee in hospital and peed a few times at home, it was really stingy but still came out but then I found 10/15 mins after peeing I was desperately needing to go again and literally not making it to the toilet (thank god I had a pad on) but nothing would come out once I sat down on the toilet again. There was a few times were I got the urge and like yourself felt completely numb down there and leaked a good few times. I was mortified and thought the doctor must have damaged me when doing the episiotomy for the forceps. I phoned the GP and they said it was normal to feel numb for a while but to keep an eye on it and to keep doing pelvic floor exercises. Also to try sit there and let it run out and to pour cold water after peeing to help keep the area clean. Hopefully you feel better soon x

Sorry @Booni no advice, but I just wanted to say I can’t believe so many people experienced it and no one explained to you that this can happen. Sorry you’re experiencing this and I hope it improves soon!

I haven’t even given birth yet, I’m pregnant, but a few years ago I had the weirdest UTI where I got no warning of needing to go and was bolting for the toilet while already wetting myself. When I looked it up it was definitely a thing associated with a uti, just check it couldn’t be that

I didn't have forceps but I had a fast traumatic birth with a significant tear.
Like you, I couldn't even feel my bladder, I would stand up and it would empty without me even being aware.

It did get better and now several years later I'd completely forgot about it until I read your post. I was so scared that I was going to be left incontinent but my body just needed time to heal.

I found the thick maternity pads are also very good at holding a lot of wee. I stayed at home for the first few weeks but I gradually got myself out and about. The first week was the hardest but it got better and after about a month things were much better.

I had a second baby 3 years later and none of the same problems. 6 years later I have no issues with incontinence and can even bounce on the trampoline with my kids!

it will get better

I don’t have experience of this myself (I am 38 weeks pregnant with my 1st) but I have heard if this from the experiences of my mother and a close friend. Both were as you described and then after about. A week they were able to do their pelvic floor exercises again and things improved really quickly! It will get better! Good luck @Booni congratulations on your baby!

I have this exact issue since a forceps delivery 5 weeks ago. I can’t control my wee and never feel the urge/sensation when I need to go. It’s like my bladder and all it’s nerves are asleep. I don’t have any answers for you, as the Dr’s haven’t been able to give me any other than it will hopefully improve over the coming months.

Yep! Forcep delivery too and took me awhile to not piss myself 😂
Once my stitches were heeled I started doing pelvic floor exercises and it helped a lot!

Just wanted to add to those saying not to panic. Has your midwife spoken to you about catheterisation? Same thing happened to a friend of mine and she was given a catheter to use whilst at home (didn’t have to be readmitted) and the situation gradually improved over a few weeks. She’s totally fine now.

I had the opposite problem after my forceps delivery, I found it really hard to wee and would have to get into a really specific position on the toilet and concentrate for ages to make it happen. Again, that gradually improved with plenty of pelvic floor exercises.

Just wanted to say that I had a straight forward delivery with no interventions and minimal tearing, and even still I was terrified to find that I had very little control holding urine at first. This did improve relatively quickly and was soon back to normal, but I totally get that place of fear you're in now! Its been through the wars down there and still recovering, give it some time before panicking too much x

Oops, just realised your post was from 30th April - hope you are doing better now OP and congrats on your lovely new baby.

Oops, yeah also didn’t realise this was an old thread. Hope things are better now OP.

How are you now op?

I was exactly the same after forceps. Zero control for a week. So, so traumatised by the whole thing. Anyway, I had intensive physio for 6 months and I improved massively. 5 years on I'm mostly fine. Stupid forceps, I feel your pain 💐

Just realised we gave birth on the same day! How are you doing now OP?

@cereallover

@ChateauMargaux thank you 😊