Bladder Hygiene
Or should the title be “HOW TO PEE 101” ?
Here is the PEE info you never got—
Don’t Pee “Just in Case” If you teach your family, and yourself to pee before you go, then your bladder will learn this behavior and potentially hold you to it! Your bladder is meant to tolerate holding urine comfortably for 2-4 hours.
Typically we want to see 6-8 pees per day, and 1 per night. If you are peeing 1x/hour or less than that— it is time to book an appointment! That would be considered increased bladder frequency. Things that can affect this, include diuretics (medicine or caffeine that make you pee), irritants (some citrus/juice/coffee/alcohol/sugar/carbonation), or behaviors (see #1).
SLOW DOWN to pee. If you are rushing to the bathroom, and trying to push down to “pee faster,” then you in general are moving too fast. Take some deep breaths. You should be able to slowly walk to the bathroom, slowly remove your undergarments, slowly release your pee until completion.
Feeling like you can never empty your bladder? Well perhaps get tested for urine health, and if the feeling persists— time to see a PT. The feeling of a UTI can linger as tissue memory from the nerves, muscles, fascia and feeling fully empty might be a struggle. If you are in fact needing to empty again shortly after peeing, you may also be experiencing symptoms of prolapse— WAIT! Don’t freak out just yet. This is a possibility- not a Dr. Google Diagnosis time… so be sure to take a deep breath, and see a PT!
Does a full bladder or peeing hurt? OK time to see a PT again. Holding urine, releasing urine, should never hurt. This can be do to a number of things… best to get checked out.
“I was told to practice my kegels while peeing to see if I can stop the flow of urine.” DON’T DO THAT. That was BAD Rubbish advice that was spread during my Mama’s generation.
“I was told holding my urine in would give me a kidney infection.” A Catheter increases risk of infection. Wearing a penis-clamp (if you don’t know what it is— it’s what it sounds like) for too long could increase a risk of harm. But holding a full bladder for 2-4 hours… now that is harmless. Imagine being on the window seat during a plane, or in a long movie, or SLEEPING… holding in urine is okay. Side note— I would still encourage peeing after a sexual play session involving vaginal penetration, or bacterial exchange around the urethra (aka touch without a dental dam or condom).
LEAKAGE IS NOT NORMAL. Ever. Not at any age ( above 4ish years old). Not during or after pregnancy. If you pee you pants (even a little) when coughing, sneezing, washing dishes, running, jumping, hiking, during sexual play (different from golden showers and squirting), then seek pelvic PT.
Odds are— you’re dehydrated. MOST people I see are dehydrated. Try to drink half your body weight in ounces of water. Since I weigh 180 pounds currently, that means I should have a goal of 90 ounces of water intake. If you exercise, make milk (with your chest/breast), talk a lot (like a teacher), then you might even need a little more. Can I drink too much water? YES. Yes actually. There is a sweet spot for hydration. And no, coffee, beer and soda do not count for hydration.
Blood in your urine? Call your Medical Care Provider immediately… that isn’t normal.
