as increasing the incidence of urinary retention.
Additional risk factors for PUR include
infant birth weight more than 4kg,
large fetal head circumference, prolonged
second stage of labor, and extensive perineal
trauma.3 Although anatomical alterations
occur in the pelvic floor following
pregnancy and vaginal delivery, the long-term
effects of pregnancy, the alterations’ relationships
with mode of delivery, and the development
of urinary complications remain
controversial.4 The goals of postpartum bladder
care are to assess bladder function, detect
any deviation(s) from normal, and carry out
timely preventative measures to avoid complications
of urinary dysfunction following birth.
A delay in the recognition and/or management
of PUR may lead to subsequent urinary
complications such as recurrent urinary tract
infections, upper urinary tract damage, and
permanent voiding difficulties. One of the
major problems regarding treatment of PUR,
however, is the lack of guidelines.1 Despite
the low incidence, PUR has the potential to affect
any woman who experiences childbirth.
Researchers continue to explore causal relationships
between various obstetric parameters
and urinary retention. Many studies have
examined the relationship of epidural analgesia
and duration of labor to the development