What should a postpartum patient expect if she is urinating large amounts of urine?

After childbirth, it is common for a postpartum patient to experience diuresis, or increased urination. This physiological response occurs as the body eliminates excess fluids that were retained during pregnancy. Throughout gestation, a woman's body holds onto additional fluid for the developing fetus, which can lead to edema and increased blood volume. Following delivery, hormonal changes, particularly a decrease in progesterone, trigger the kidneys to excrete this surplus fluid, resulting in larger volumes of urine.

This process is a normal and healthy adaptation of the body as it returns to its pre-pregnancy state. The increase in urinary output can sometimes be surprising but is generally a sign that the body is effectively managing and balancing its fluid levels after the stress of pregnancy and labor. Therefore, the expectation of urinating large amounts of urine in the postpartum period is associated with the body getting rid of increased fluid rather than fluid retention, dehydration, or any infection.