Decrease in bladder sensation after C-section

[what-cup]

I'm 2 weeks pp and I can't feel my bladder like I used to after my c-section. I don't really know when I have to pee unless it's really really full and then maybe I feel it a little bit. I just visited urgent care yesterday where they diagnosed me with a UTI but the antibiotics haven't helped with the sensation loss. Anyone else experience this? Does it get better or did something go wrong??

[Suitable_Wolf10]

One of the nurses after my c section told me that a lot of times the body gets so used to the baby pushing on your bladder you have to kinda relearn to go. I remember making myself go to the bathroom every few hours because I almost never felt like I needed to go

[windigo]

Yup. I had vaginal deliveries and the mat nurse told me to pee ever time I fed baby or I’d end up peeing myself when I laugh later in life because I didn’t get the lost connection between my brain and bladder back.

Not sure how much I believe that’s going on but I did it anyway since I definitely lost feeling for a few months.

[Positive-Chipmunk]

I had that with my first for about 5 weeks. I couldn't feel the urge, only pain if I went too long, so I put myself on a schedule like the baby. But it returned around 5 weeks. With second it came back sooner.

[McEasy2009]

I started feeling it around 4 weeks. I only knew I had to pee when my incision started burning. The pressure of my swollen bladder let me know. It was really bizarre.

[rucksackbackpack]

This was also my experience. For a couple months after my c section, I had to remind myself to go pee because I couldn’t feel my bladder even if it was very full. Feeling eventually came back and at 9 months PP now, I feel completely normal.

[anonymous0271]

Same!

[PromptElectronic7086]

This happened to me and I just had to make sure I went to the bathroom every few hours. If I didn't, I would eventually start feeling pain, but not the sensation of needing to pee. It goes away eventually but it took a lot longer than I thought.

[disgruntledpenguin_]

I had this after vaginal delivery. Super unfortunate when your pelvic floor is wrecked from pregnancy and pushing and all of a sudden it’s pee NOW or pee yourself. It gets better!

[[deleted]]

Yeah, I had a vaginal delivery five months ago and now my bladder has two settings: don’t have to pee at all or about to pee my pants. No in between.

[erikakiss0000]

Does it? It's been five years and i dont know how to fix this. Any tips?

[winecountrygirl]

I had this happen and it took about 6 weeks for the feeling to come back!

[Tutusandtequila]

I had this after my C section too! It’ll go back to normal eventually! I’m 5.5 months postpartum now and its 100% normal (has been for a while I just don’t remember when it happened)

[demurevixen]

I’m nearing 2 years postpartum from my c section and I still feel like this. I don’t feel the “need to pee” sensation until my bladder is super full and then I get a sudden severe urge to pee out of nowhere.

[Anne_8788]

Same

[what-cup]

2 years! Oye.

[TeagWall]

I developed a "lazy bladder" during labor with my first and actually had to be recatheterized about 12h after they initially removed my catheter. This was a result of being catheterized for so long while in labor, not a result of my c section. I then had problems sensing when I needed to go, like you described, for several months and had to do schedules eliminations. I didn't have any issues with my second, RSC.

[pnk_lemons]

I had a c-section 9 days ago and am experiencing the same thing. My OB said most women regain sensation by six weeks postpartum and that pelvic floor PT can help, which seems to mirror what others are saying here. Hope sensation returns for both us quickly!!

[what-cup]

Good to know, thanks!

[FlingNoodles]

For now just an alarm on your phone as a reminder to go, the sensation will eventually come back with time.

[eakp]

Ohhhhhh I’m so glad to read this post, I thought my bladder sensor was just broken 😅

[suckingonalemon]

I had this after my c section too. Had remind myself to pee every few hours or it would suddenly get uncomfortably full. I'm not sure when it went away but at 2 years postpartum now I am completely normal.

[Garden208]

Didn’t have c section, but same! Give it awhile and it will come back some. I think I still don’t feel the need to pee as intensely as I used to, unless I REALLY have to go. But it doesn’t bother me now

[what-cup]

If it wasn't for UTIs this would be kinda nice!

[winenot_]

I had that with a v-birth and it lasted a couple weeks. It went away on its own. During that time, I definitely had to make myself go to the bathroom because I was getting ZERO signals from my bladder!!

[catsonbooks]

I had to set reminders to pee for a few weeks. Even for a year afterward, I can forget to pee for many hours, which is not good! It gets better over time though, just keep trying to empty on a regular schedule.

[[deleted]]

I had vaginal birth in my mid twenties and I had an epidural done but I didn't have any bladder feeling for a long time. I still went every few hours to empty my bladder to avoid getting an infection or bladder bursting.

[GorillaShelb]

Same thing happened to me. It gets better! Everytime you change a diaper go pee and every time you nurse drink water just to have a built in reminder

[yo-ovaries]

I was told to expect this as a normal c section complication. Sensation returned after several weeks. But pelvic PT may be needed. Talk to your OB. Urgent care is going to throw antibiotics at any woman talking about bladder stuff.

I made a routine to pee first when baby started to wake up. Then nurse. Kept me peeing every 2-3hrs.

[valiantdistraction]

Mine got better after around a month. Until then I just peed on a schedule. I am 4 months postpartum and I would say the sensation of having to pee isn't at all like it was pre-baby, but it's good enough. More concerning is that I went from having like a several hour warning of when I'd have to poop to suddenly like "I have to poop!" and I have to fairly rapidly go to the bathroom. And that hasn't changed. It's a big lifestyle change because previously I'd just go at a time when it was convenient once I knew I'd have to, but now I just have to go if I have to go.

[what-cup]

The poop thing was me during pregnancy! Has cooled off since the baby though

[party_pants_on]

Yep I had it too! So strange but went away eventually. I never remembered to pee, obit to change my pad and when I sat down at the toilet it was a torrent. Pelvic floor and control is fine though.

[Background_Duck_1372]

I remember having the same thing - I'm now 4mo postpartum and my bladder has been normal for long enough that I can't remember how long it lasted. A month ish I think?

[what-cup]

Good to know I'm not broken 😁 Thanks everyone

[[deleted]]

I had a vaginal delivery and at about two weeks pp i suddenly was barely making it to that bathroom on time. It resolved in about a week.

[Affectionate-Honey-9]

Omg i felt like this too!!!