Shortly after birth, infants begin to urinate. If there is no urination within two days after birth, it is referred to as neonatal urinary retention. However, neonatal urinary retention caused by urethral deformities, imperforation, improper feeding, or lack of fluids is not within the scope of this discussion.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Heat Accumulation in Bladder︰Difficulty in urination, abdominal distension and fullness, dysphoria with frequent crying, dry mouth and red lips, red tongue, rapid pulse, and purple stagnant finger venules. This is caused by fetal heat accumulating in the bladder, leading to impaired qi transformation and obstructed water passage. Symptoms such as dysphoria with frequent crying, loud crying, dry mouth and red lips, and purple stagnant finger venules indicate a yang pattern heat pattern. Treatment should focus on clearing heat and promoting diuresis, using Eight-Ingredient Rectification Powder.
2. Yuan Qi Deficiency Weakness︰Difficulty in urination, distension in the lower abdomen, timid and weak spirit, low and faint crying, pale complexion, pale lips and moist tongue, thin coating and fine pulse, light red finger veins. It is caused by congenital insufficiency, kidney qi deficiency, and dysfunction of qi transformation, leading to difficulty in urination. Therefore, it manifests as deficiency pattern and cold pattern, such as timid spirit and pale face, faint crying, light red finger veins, etc. The treatment should focus on warming and tonifying to promote diuresis, using the Chunze Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. 《Pediatrics Zhengzhi Zhunsheng．Neonatal Section: "The reason why newborns do not urinate is often due to the mother indulging in food during pregnancy, causing heat toxin to flow into the fetus. The baby drinks this blood, leading to swelling of the navel and abdomen at birth. If there is a bluish-black color around the navel and the mouth is puckered, it is incurable."
2. 《Pediatrics Explained．Urination and Defecation》: "Urinary retention can be divided into yin and yang types. Yin blockage is caused by cold dampness invading the interior, leading to obstruction. ... Yang blockage is caused by sudden heat, resulting in difficulty and obstruction. There is also ischuria, which is due to internal organ qi deficiency, heat stagnation, and failure of transformation, causing neither difficulty nor pain, but simply obstruction, with abdominal distension and fullness."