Final answer:
The sensation of needing to urinate frequently due to the uterus pressing on the bladder is an expected postpartum finding, related to the normal physiological changes in late pregnancy. It is different from symptoms of infections like cystitis or UTI, which include pain and possibly blood during urination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The feeling of a frequent urge to urinate due to the uterus pushing on the bladder is a normal occurrence postpartum and is considered an expected postpartum finding. This pressure results from the enlarging uterus, especially during late pregnancy, compressing the bladder and reducing its capacity, leading to more frequent urination. The increase in urine production for both maternal and fetal wastes contributes to this sensation. Bladder pressure can indeed be raised by several factors, including the physical pressure exerted by the pregnant uterus as well as other conditions such as nervous tension or coughing, which can induce the micturition reflex.
Moreover, bladder pressure is an important concept during pregnancy, as it can increase steadily as the bladder fills, and once it reaches a certain threshold, it prompts the urge to urinate. It's important to differentiate this normal physiological process from actual infections such as cystitis (bladder infection) or a urinary tract infection (UTI), which are associated with additional symptoms such as pain during urination, blood in the urine, or an urgent need to urinate with little urine output.