[Urine flow measurement in pregnancy and the puerperium]

To elucidate effects of gestation on micturition, 337 standardised urine flow measurements with weight transducers were performed on 296 women in normal pregnancy (n = 128), under oral or intravenous tocolysis (n = 103), after spontaneous delivery (n = 20) or obstetric surgery (n = 26) as well as on non-pregnant probands (n = 19) with clinically intact urinary tract for comparison. Average micturition frequency was calculated, as well (n = 86). However, only general trends were discernible from mean value calculations because of wide scatter of uroflow parameters: In normal pregnancy, significant increase in flow rate was observed only in the second trimenon. Major opposite effects were recordable from beta-adrenergics (Fenoterol) only in intravenous tocolysis. Micturition frequency was at its highest level towards the end of pregnancy. Post-partum, only flow rates after forceps delivery were worse than those in the non-pregnant control group, on the other hand after spontaneous delivery flow rates were even better than in the controls. Yet, even significant differences stayed within normal range, so that in general severe disadvantages should not be expected from voiding alterations during pregnancy. Uroflow measurements and frequency/volume charts are not required in the care of pregnant women unless conspicuous findings are derived from analyses of micturition habits, types, and frequencies.