distended bladder

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2005

Cranberry juice helps keep bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder, thus decreasing UTI. Doesn't help with distended bladder. Try a little oil of peppermint in teh toilet. The fumes seem to help some women relax the spincter and void

FrumDoula · Jul 3, 2005

Cranberry juice helps keep bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder, thus decreasing UTI. Doesn't help with distended bladder. Try a little oil of peppermint in teh toilet. The fumes seem to help some women relax the spincter and void

I like this tip a lot! I'll have to keep some in my doula bag ..... thanks.

nursejoey05 · Jul 3, 2005

NurseNora, you are just full of good info!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 3, 2005

we have used oil of peppermint or wintergreen and running water in the faucet to help post partum moms void. A peri bottle full of warm water sprinkled over the peri works great too. more often than not, these tricks do work. Also , having them take a nice warm shower may help them void. There are a lot of tricks we use to avoid catheterizing them if possible.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2005

we have used oil of peppermint or wintergreen and running water in the faucet to help post partum moms void. A peri bottle full of warm water sprinkled over the peri works great too. more often than not, these tricks do work. Also , having them take a nice warm shower may help them void. There are a lot of tricks we use to avoid catheterizing them if possible.

snerk. on our science of nursing practice exam the other day, one of the questions was what to do w/a pt who couldn't void lying down. Among sensible suggestions like "assist the pt to sit up" was the gem - pour cold water over the pt's genitals. sorry, I know that's a little OT, but I haven't been able to resist sharing it with everyone I see upon the slightest provocation...

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 3, 2005

good grief.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2005

good grief.

you know your professor can't come up with a good fourth answer option when...

BETSRN · Jul 7, 2005

I like this tip a lot! I'll have to keep some in my doula bag ..... thanks.

Blowing through a straw also helps some women. But you must also realize that sometimes the trauma of birth really does hurt the urethra,etc., causing some temporary swelling. Sometimes a straight cath is necessary. Usually, it only takes once to get a woman back on track after birth. A severely distended bladder CANNOT work, not to mention, the overload can keep the uterus from contracting properly, thereby causing more post partum bleeding.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 7, 2005

Blowing through a straw also helps some women. But you must also realize that sometimes the trauma of birth really does hurt the urethra,etc., causing some temporary swelling. Sometimes a straight cath is necessary. Usually, it only takes once to get a woman back on track after birth. A severely distended bladder CANNOT work, not to mention, the overload can keep the uterus from contracting properly, thereby causing more post partum bleeding.

this is very true. There are times when a straight-cath is necessary. Fortunately, I don't run into this too often. I have been guilty in the past of letting it go too far to avoid cath'ing and learned my lesson well. I don't like to cath anyone after a traumatic delivery; it's so painful. But sometimes,there is no choice and it's preferable to allowing a bladder to distend and risk damage or severe hemorrhage.

BabyRN2Be · Jul 7, 2005

I like this tip a lot! I'll have to keep some in my doula bag ..... thanks.

Me too! That would be a great tip to have on board as well.

Jolynn and co · Sep 25, 2010

Hello fellow Ob-Gyn Nurses

I've recently started to work with a urogynecologist even though my expertise for the last 25 years has been obstetrics. My patients will often be unable to void after their pelvic reconstructive surgery-especially the more elderly or the ones who have had extensive repair. Recently I had a patient who could not void 7 days post-op, who then went home and returned on post-op day 13 for a voiding trial and failed. She was so anxious and upset with the thought that she would have to go home with a catheter again that I used 3-4 drops of peppermint oil (100% pure oil) in a hat in the toilet (a practice from my days in L & D). Voila! My patient voided within 5 minutes 300mL after trying unsuccessfully for over 45 minutes to void. I sent the patient home with instructions to void every 2-3 hours while awake. She was to try to void without the oil in a hat initially, but I gave her the hat and 2 mL of the oil-explaining the correct use, rationale and risks. It is important to remember that peppermint oil is a poison and should NOT be used directly on the skin. I usually place the drops onto a gauze in the hat-I'm not sure why.

Moral to my long story is...I would like to find any sources/resources available to make this a new policy/procedure in the facility where I work. Does anyone have a source that is not anecdotal? I wish it were enough to show that it works, but it isn't. The desire for "evidence-based" practice may put the kabosh on a practice that I know works and saves my patients from catheterization. I'll be looking thanks.