The bladder mucosa shows varying degrees of edema and hyperemia, with diminished bladder tone after delivery.

This results in decreased sensation to increased pressure, increased capacity, overdistention with overflow incontinence, and incomplete emptying of the bladder.

Nursing care must include careful monitoring of the condition of the bladder. Distention and urinary retention are common occurrences and can cause discomfort as well as predispose a patient to infection, uterine atony and heavy bleeding, and may cause the patient’s blood pressure to increase. With adequate emptying of the bladder, tone is usually restored within five to seven days.