OK for women to shit themselves 7 months post partum?

It's common for running to encourage the bowels. Imodiim beforehand can help I think.

But it still doesnt sound as if everything is ok in that area. I'd ask for a referral.

That’s a rectal prolapse. I found the GP pretty useless tbh. They don’t have specific training on it and frequently check it whilst you’re lying down or are currently empty, when it doesn’t show!

I found Facebook support groups helpful in telling me what to tell the GP to get a referral. Or you may be able to self refer to the women’s physio in your hospital - it varies by trust.

I'm sorry but the second session of couch to 5k is very mild activity. Absolutely no-one who is healthy should shit themselves as a result of this.

People who are healthy do not shit themselves even if they feel the need to go to the toilet. Being able to hold in a bowel movement is normal and not a challenge.

Who are the 11% of arseholes who think yabu to not want to shit yourself?!

The second session of couch to 5k is hardly hardcore. You are walking most of it! If such mild activity is making you lose control of your bowels that is a really bad problem. You need to be referred to a pelvic specialist physio.

Pelvic floor problems are a real issue in putting women off being active and exercising. Its a gendered public health issue that should be taken seriously.

Definitely not normal. I had third degree tear, big stomach separation and prolapse was mentioned early on PP. Got to see an NHS physio but private were more helpful - did Pilates and saw a women's health physio who checked how I was doing the pelvic floor exercises. I did a lot of exercises (not just pelvic floor but healing core muscles etc) and it worked really well. So there is hope you can fix it. I think for prolapse they wait until a year PP - I was told that though maybe mine was minor so they wanted to see if it would just go away. I would definitely try to find more support though and someone who can help you with the right exercises

Running can encourage bowel movements. If you feel the urge to go, you should stop running and ideally go to the loo. Continuing runs the risk of what happened to you the second time you went running. You're relying on the ability to hold it in whilst running, which can clearly be a challenge.

The dragging feeling and the bulging is something that I agree could need a referral to a women's health physio or some other expert in this area for a more detailed investigation.

Id definitely see a woman's physio, I dont think youre being unreasonable at all to expect not to shit yourself!

I also get the bulge in my vag from back & wondered why. I mentioned it to Dr when I was getting hemmeroids banded. Dr didn't seem concerned. This is what it is ...

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectocele/symptoms-causes/syc-20353414

I don't run so can't comment on that part but the bulge hasn't caused me to soil myself so may be coincidence. I find having a step still for going to the toilet helps my empty properly.

I don't think it's normal & should be accepted when we poop ourselves!

Did you not get referred to see a consultant?
It was a very long time ago when I had my first and I had a third degree tear. I had a referral to go back to the hospital (maybe 6 months after giving birth) for them to check everything had healed properly and they asked me if I had experienced any incontinence.
As this was a long time ago maybe I was lucky and the NHS wasn't such a shit show and you could get an appointment.

Have you seen a women's health physio? GPs don't have the right expertise.