How to pee postpartum (without crying)

Let me tell you, peeing after giving birth can be a whole ordeal, especially if you end up like me—with stitches that just wouldn’t stay put. How to pee postpartum becomes a major concern when even the simplest trip to the bathroom turns into a painful saga.

My postpartum journey quickly turned into a series of unexpected bathroom emergencies, leading to multiple frantic trips back to the hospital. Each time, it seemed my stitches had a mind of their own, unraveling at the worst possible moments. The pain was intense, and I learned some tough lessons about navigating those delicate first weeks after childbirth.

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My Painful Lesson in Postpartum Peeing

After delivering my little one, I thought the worst was over. Little did I know, the real challenge was just beginning. As already mentioned, I needed stitches, the thought of them were already terrifying, but oh boy, I had no idea it would hurt like a… well, you know where I’m going with this.

It didn’t even hurt when I got them, I think they numbed me because I didn’t feel much. It didn’t even hurt when I teared. I mean it hurt giving birth but I didn’t specifically felt myself tearing. I just felt pain from the whole process. But anyways, the real pain hit me hard every time I needed to pee. And not just any pain—think fire and brimstone combined.

The Stitches Saga: Round One, Two, and Three

The first time my stitches decided to say goodbye was when I innocently sat down to do my business. Rookie mistake, right? The sitting stretched things out just enough to undo what the doctors had sewn up. Cue the panic, the bleeding, and the rushed hospital trip.

Lesson learned: sitting down to pee was a no-go.

The Tub Solution: Standing Up to Pee (Yes, Really)

Desperate times call for desperate measures. After that first bathroom disaster, I found my salvation in the tub. Standing up to pee was a game-changer. No sitting, no stretching, just a quick rinse with cold water from a removable shower head (life-saver, trust me). I would also sometimes just run the water while I pee because my pee would still touch the affected area so water really helped so it wouldn’t burn as bad. It was soothing and spared me from the excruciating pain of stitches unraveling mid-pee.

The Surprise Incident: Run #2 to the Hospital

Just when I thought I had it figured out, the dreaded number two struck—and this time, I had to sit. I won’t get into the details, but let’s just say pushing without proper precautions led to another stitch mishap. Note to self (and to you): stool softeners are your friends postpartum. They make everything down there a lot less… painful.

I like these stool softeners from Amazon, they worked so well for me. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Donut Pillow: My Cushioned Savior (Most of the Time)

Now, about that third mishap… Turns out, skipping my trusty donut pillow for a brief moment was all it took. I sat down on the couch—yes, even with the pillow just an arm’s reach away—and ended up back at the hospital. Lesson re-learned: always use the donut pillow. It might not be glamorous, but it sure beats a trip to Emergency. And, it really does help relive pressure from down there when you sit and it feels much more comfortable.

By the way, I also recommend you use these organic cotton pads. DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT use Always pads, they are so uncomfortable. I started off with them and ended up switching to these organic cotton pads because the Always brand made me feel moist all the time, the texture was too rough and it just wasn’t comfortable AT ALL. I felt like they were delaying my healing process.

As soon as I switched over to the cotton pads, I felt dry, the pad is soft and it was much more comfortable.

Tips on How to Pee Postpartum and Make Everything Easier

Pee Standing Up in the Tub: It’s awkward at first, but trust me, it works wonders. Just aim for the drain, rinse off with the shower head, and voila! No pain, no fuss.
Numbing Spray: Invest in a good numbing spray for down there. I found this one on Amazon that saved my sanity. Spray it on before and after peeing—it’s a game-changer.
Peri Bottle Power: Keep using that peri bottle religiously. Spray water down there after every bathroom trip to minimize the sting and speed up healing.
Stool Softeners: Take them. Trust me on this. Your future bathroom experiences will thank you.
Yoni Oil: I like this Yoni Oil from Veenourish. It keeps down there moisturized, it’s very soothing after the burning sensation. This one is herb infused so it’s also healing and even helps with bad odors, helps balance Ph levels. Which is very important during this healing process. This is when I would use it, I would first pee, spray numbing product and then apply yoni oil to heal faster. I love it so much, I use it to this day.

Final Thoughts (and a Promise)

Peeing postpartum doesn’t have to be a horror story like mine. Learn from my mishaps and take these tips seriously. They might seem unconventional, but hey, when you’re healing down there, you’ll try anything. Remember, humor helps, this numbing spray is your new bff (for now), and standing up in the tub isn’t just for emergencies—it’s a lifesaver.

Here’s to smoother bathroom experiences post-baby. Hang in there, mama—you’ve got this.