Postpartum urinary retention
Reyhan Franjaya Sukma Anandita 
0706259740 
Introduction 
 Postpartum urinary retention occurs in 10-15 
% of women 
 A single episode of postpartum bladder 
overdistention, if not diagnosed and treated 
early, may cause persistent urinary retention 
and irreversible damage to the detrusor 
muscle, with recurrent urinary tract infections 
and permanent voiding difficulties 
Definition 
There are two types of urinary retention that can 
affect women in the post-partum period.  
Overt Retention  
  Clinically overt urinary retention refers to the 
inability to void spontaneously within 6 hours of 
vaginal birth or removal of IDC  
Covert Retention 
  Covert urinary retention refers to elevated post 
void residual volumes of >150mL and no symptoms 
of urinary retention  
Etiology 
 The causes for both types of urinary retention 
are theorised to be neurological damage 
associated with prolonged pressure against 
the pelvic floor and bladder, associated 
pudendal, pelvic or hypogastric nerve injury ), 
and pain inhibited detrusor function 
Risk Factor 
 History of voiding difficulties 
 Primiparity 
 Epidural, spinal or pudendal block in labour 
 Instrument-assisted delivery  
 Prolonged second stage 
 Perineal oedema  
 Periurethral trauma 
Symptoms 
Symptoms of overt urinary retention include:  
    Hesitancy  
    Difficulty passing urine  
    Slow or intermittent stream  
    Straining to void  
    Sense of incomplete emptying  
Symptoms of covert urinary retention include:  
    No symptoms of overt urinary retention  
    No urge to void  
    Overflow incontinence  
Management 
 Women should be encouraged to void every 
2-3 hours in labour with a low threshold for 
catheterisation if unable to void 
 After birth, encourage all women to void 
within 1-2 hours  maximum 6 hours  
 Discuss with the woman the importance of 
ensuring urinary function returns to normal  
Discharge planning 
 All women should have voided before 
discharge.  Usual early postpartum volume is 
400 mL    
 Women who have required an in / out or 
indwelling urinary catheter must have  three 
documented voids  with normal voiding 
parameters post removal of catheter  before 
they may discharged home  
Complications 
Incomplete emptying of the bladder after birth may 
cause the following complications:   
 Urinary tract infection  
 Urinary / faecal incontinence  
 Short and long term bladder dysfunction  
 Ureteric reflux  
 Bilateral hydronephrosis  
 Acute renal failure  
 Long-term renal impairment