[leratocharlie]

I delivered my daughter vaginally on 17th January... she was 9lb 7oz when born, so not small by any means. They thought they'd need to vacuum her out as she was sunny side up, on a bit of an angle, but I managed to push her out with an epidural to deal with the back-to-back labour pain.

About 2 weeks ago (probably 10 days or so post-birth) I started to feel like things were about to 'fall out' inside... after some googling, it seems likely to be a prolapse. I find it so frustrating when I'm walking, it's not as bad as many seem to have it - everything is still 'inside'... but if I use a mirror and separate it, I can see a bulge that is all I can see inside now.

I'm so terrified that it won't get better, that I'll need to see many specialists, that they'll tell me they can't fix it til I've finished having children.

I had a bad experience a few years back where I was badly sexually assaulted, and this is why I'm so scared of having to have continuous doctor involvement, and/or continuous feeling of discomfort down there which I find makes me almost burst into tears when I'm walking around.

My daughter is 4 weeks old and I'm doing great with motherhood itself, but I just am so horrified about this and looking for any stories anyone can share with me if they have experienced something similar.

I'm going to go to my GP tomorrow, but it would be great to know what 'real people' have to say, rather than the GP potentially telling me it'll all be fine when this isn't normally the case.

Thanks for any help, it's really getting me down

[R2D2]

It's not uncommon to have temporary mild prolapse post VB. I was like this with second bub, my vaginal wall sort of bulged out my vaginal entrance, worse when late in day (had been standing a long time) or full bladder.
Rubbed when i walked etc.
I was in tears, thinking i was doomed to a life of incontinence, surgery etc etc.

My ob, who was also a pelvic repair specialist said not to worry, would resolve, my pelvic strength was pretty decent.

True to her word, it got better over the course of about six months, despite my constant upset and worry. Not quite back to how it was, but my lady doc has confirmed my pelvic floor is actually fine, i just need to do some pelvic floor exercises and lose some weight (i am about 35kg heavier, thanks to overeating and no sleep for 3 years!) - being overweight is a strain on your pelvic floor and can mimic the feeling of prolapse.

Go see a proper gynae and ask for a referral to a pelvic physio (to assess, and make sure you are doing pelvic floor exercises correctly) - and try not to worry!

Also, is this no1 or no2? Statistically, it is bub #2 that does the most damage in terms of pelvic floor, so if you are going to have probs, #2 is when it will often present itself.

THe good news is that there is a lot that pelvic floor exercises can do, and good to be in the habit of doing them anyway, especially if you plan more bubs.

Try not to worry, it is so distressing to have such changes in your body, but you are only a month post delivery. try to keep your feet up and take it easy.

[pium]

Hi, I have a cervical prolapse from the vaginal delivery of my DS (now 3 3/4), which wasn't diagnosed until DS was 18 months old. I was told by the GP that it couldn't be fixed until I'd finished having children. I found out a couple of months ago that this is not the case, in the event that you have corrective surgery before you have finished having kids you then have c-sections (I assume because they don't like seeing surgical work undone). I have not had surgery yet and am having a c-section for #2 in any case.

Now I'm pregnant again and the physio at the hospital told me after the birth of number 2 is my best chance to make progress with exercises because the first couple of months after birth your body is naturally tightening everything back up and if you work hard on your pelvic floor you can make a lot of progress.

I'd suggest you get a referral to a specialist physio & gynae at your 6 week check up (before if you don't mind an extra visit to the doctor) as it is best to find out exactly what you're dealing with as prolapse varies a lot, and you want to be sure you're doing the pelvic floor exercises properly.

I did get up on the bed and do pelvic floor exercises with the (female) physio watching to check - I did find it confronting and embarrassing, not going to lie, but it didn't take long and when you think about all the other pokes and prods you undergo during pregnancy, birth, pap smears, mole checks, etc... it was not so bad.

Try to stay positive, be careful lifting, and get help. Your body can repair a surprising amount - and what you have described doesn't sound so bad. My cervix was actually hanging out and I am still not considered a bad case!

Take care & feel free to PM me if you like.

[snortle]

I would highly recommend seeing a physio.
My prolapse led to surgery but it was quite severe. There are other options including physio which I do now post surgery and I am finding it very helpful.
Physio can feel very intrusive though, there is a lot of internal examinations so make sure you feel comfortable with the physio you choose.

[cordyline]

OP, I think I might be in the same boat. DD is now 5 wks and was also sunny side up, did require vacuum. Although 8lbs 4 oz, so not quite as big.

I am due to have my 6wk checkup on Friday. Im worried. My cervix is very low. It is not hanging out but when I checked things out, it was right there staring back at me only about half an inch inside. Sometimes I think I can feel it but not sure if I am imagining it or not. I have been pretty good with doing my pelvic floors so was surprised and disappointed.

Tmi but it is so low that I am not sure how sex will be possible. There doesn't appear to be any room for anything else in there. I kind of wish I hadn't looked as now I am too scared to try. Will have to wait and see what OB says on Friday.

I have never been able to see my cervix as it has always been really high up before birth.

[howdo]

You can still have sex with a prolapse where you can see your cervix. I have found it does retreat somewhat as you get *ahem* excited. And you can 'go behind it' (or in front of it depending which way it's falling I guess) It's easier in the missionary position than on top - not to put too fine a point on it - but it does sometimes also fall back a bit and gravity is on your side which does not happen with you on top.

And now that I have the sex advice out of the way ...

I can't tell you that it will be fine or won't be fine. Mine's not but it was repaired quite well which lasted for 5 years - the normal length of time - AFTER 3 very large babies. So there will come a time, probably when it will fall and not go back but mine certainly went back after the first (11lb) and wasn't a problem after the second (10lb) and even went back after three (9lb). It didn't actually 'fall' until #3 was 2yo.

So yes, the chances are that it will repair with some exercises if you get onto it straight away. It feels so much better when it's back in place.

[bluecardigans]

OP, me too I noticed it when putting in my Diva cup. I haven't done anything about it. Snortle what were the circumstances leading to you needing surgery.

[againagain]

I had pretty much the same experience as R2D2.

I noticed the bulge that you describe OP, about 2 weeks after my 3rd was born. I googled and was so upset. All I read about was incontinence and painful sex and horrid things. I was devastated and so worried.

I went and saw my dr when my baby was 4 weeks and he almost snorted at me, he said it was only very mild and it wasn't my whole bladder hanging out (which is what I had thought!) it was the wall of the vagina. He also said it would get better over time and probably almost fully resolve once the baby weaned and the breastfeeding hormones left my body.

Well I didn't believe him at all. I thought he was full of it. I decided it must be much worse than what he was saying. It certainly felt awful and pretty bad to me, especially after a day on my feet.

My baby is now 2.5 years old and it has gone *almost* completely. It did continue to get better while I breastfed (until baby was 18 months) but the leftover bit of it quickly snapped back into place once she weaned. I don't even think about it anymore, it seems perfectly normal to me.

I am slightly worried about what will happen when this baby is born. My dr said for me it wasn't so mucht he size of the baby (8lb 10oz) but the speed she was born. Labour was incredibly short and the 2nd stage was under 2 minutes. Apparently that doesn't give things time to stretch nicely.

My advice is DO NOT GOOGLE. And see your dr for further advice

[snortle]

OP, me too I noticed it when putting in my Diva cup. I haven't done anything about it. Snortle what were the circumstances leading to you needing surgery.

I had three babies in under 3 years and I think maybe my body just never had a chance to bounce back before the next baby.
I also had a very difficult labour with my second child, she was posterior which I personally think is around 500,000,000 times harder lol

I also had three very fast labours which might have had something to do with it- perhaps my body not being "ready" enough.
Its all just speculation really but at this point I can easily say that having the surgery was the best decision I have ever made.
I have already been told there is almost an absolute certainty that I will need to have a repeat surgery at some point but even so I dont regret my choice for an instant.

It was a VERY difficult recovery for me and I have had to change my whole life in certain ways- no more lifting my children, no carrying groceries, certain exercises are off limits forever(!) eg. situps, ab work but its almost a year later for me and I feel a million times better

(Plus DH says its like im 18 again... ahem... down there LOL!!)

[lucky 2]

Been there, done that, I saw a Gynecologist who just assessed it and sent me on to a womens health physio, it was intrusive (ie examination and assessment of muscles) so do you think you will be ok with a female providing care?
There are things you can do about it, you need the right diagnosis though.
Get is assessed ASAP and do your pelvic floor exercises (I hate them but they do help!).
All the best.