Worrying bladder problem - can anyone help?

[mrsm22]

I had my baby boy 11 weeks ago (my first baby) and a hard time in labour (28 hours, forceps delivery and 3rd degree episiotomy). For the first 5 weeks after I wasn't very mobile as my stitches came undone and i had to rest while waiting for my episotomy to heal by itself. It healed by week 7 and I was so happy to then be able to start enjoying my baby properly. In the last 3/4 weeks I have developed a new problem, which is really worrying me and I am concerned it may be a prolapse of the bladder or something even worse, and wondered if anyone has had a similar problem? The problem I am having is that I constantly have the feeling of needing to wee. There's no pain, but literally as soon as I go for a wee, the feeling hasn't gone away afterwards. My gp gave me antibiotics suspecting a water infection but it wasn't, and i have now been to see a uro-gynacologist privately who did an internal examination and said it is my pelvic floor muscles. I'm now going to a physio for help with pelvic floor exercises and am doing them at home, but am just worried in case it is something else that hasn't been picked up. I'm really hoping it is just that but can't understand why this feeling is not going away. I am unable to do much walking with my baby as the feeling is worse when on my feet and walking. I feel as if my bladder never empties properly. I was wondering if a prolapse of the bladder would be seen in an internal examination and if i have the right symptoms. Has anyone else experienced the same/similar problem and can offer any advice? Thanks

I had this for a while after I had my baby. It was like I couldn't empty my bladder completely - well, I could but it would be as if I had to really make an effort to do so. I didn't have such a difficult birth as you (poor thing, 28 hours sounds horrible) but I did get a 2nd degree tear and had to have a few stitches. I told the GP at my 6 week checkup and she said my body was still recovering so just wait and see if it gets better on its own. It got completely better about 3 months after giving birth, my DD is now nearly one and I have had no more problems at all. I hope this helps but please go back to your GP if you are worried.

Do go back and see your gp. I had a similar birth 8 weeks ago - and have had ongoing problems - I've been in pain longer than I needed to be as I didn't go to the GP soon enough.

Thanks for the advice both. I am going back to see the uro-gynacologist tomorrow just to make sure it is nothing more than pelvic floor, which she thinks it is. I just need some clarity and reassurance as I am just terrified and would hate it to be anything more sinister than that.

Hairytaleofnewyork- if you have had a similar birth experience to mine only 8 weeks then i can really sympathise. The stitches came completely out of my episiotomy and it took 7 weeks for mine to heal (I remember the pain well). Good luck.

Hi, my DS's delivery sounds pretty much like yours, I had absolutely no bladder control post delivery and had a catheter initially for a week. After that, I was like you sound, needing to go, but not emptying fully. After I had a wee, they inserted an in/out catheter and my bladder wasn't even nearly empty. I had the catheter back in for another week and then was right as rain. The doc said that sometimes, the bladder/pelvic floor just takes time to recover from the trauma of a hard birth. I am sure that you'll be fixed soon too. Good luck

Hi, my DS's delivery sounds pretty much like yours, I had absolutely no bladder control post delivery and had a catheter initially for a week. After that, I was like you sound, needing to go, but not emptying fully. After I had a wee, they inserted an in/out catheter and my bladder wasn't even nearly empty. I had the catheter back in for another week and then was right as rain. The doc said that sometimes, the bladder/pelvic floor just takes time to recover from the trauma of a hard birth. I am sure that you'll be fixed soon too. Good luck

Thanks Mrs!

I have had an infection ever since but am now on a third course (longer this time) of anti biotics and have been given some local anaesthetic so hope it will improve soon!

Good luck and keep us updated.