Most women have no difficulty passing urine after the birth. Many are anxious in anticipation but are then pleasantly surprised that it was easy and comfortable. A few women will find that passing urine stings a little, especially if they sustained grazes around their labia and urethra (opening to the bladder). Occasionally the woman will start to pass urine but find it too uncomfortable, to continue because it is stinging too much. If this is the case you can try:
Passing urine in the shower or bath
Leaning backwards or forwards
Taking a urinary alkaliniser
Dietary changes
Putting ointment on the grazes
Passing urine in the shower or bath. Sitting in a warm water bath or a bowl of warm water (sitz bath) or having warm water running onto the genital area in the shower can be soothing and will dilute and disperse the urine so it does not sting. The same thing can be achieved by pouring a warm jug of water onto the genitals while sitting on the toilet and passing urine.
Leaning backwards or forwards. If the grazes are up the top near the labia, then leaning back on the toilet will make the urine run down away from them. If they are more towards the base of the vagina, then leaning forward might help.
Taking a urinary alkaliniser. Your caregiver or hospital should have sachets of urinary alkalinisers that can be taken for a day or two after the birth. These make the urine less acidic and therefore less likely to sting as you pass urine. One to two sachets is added to a glass of water and taken every 6 to 8 hours. It will take a few hours for the first dose to take effect. If you have your baby at home they can be bought over the counter at any chemist.
Dietary changes. Drinking plenty of water (about 8 glasses of water per day) and avoiding acidic foods such as oranges and lemons, or these fruits juiced, can also decrease the acidity of your urine and minimise stinging when passing urine.
Putting ointment on the grazes.