Impact of birth injuries/prolapse etc

I have been reading this thread over the past few weeks, and it is similar to many others I have seen over the years. The fact that so many women suffer pelvic floor injuries without ever being informed of the possibility is unacceptable. Fortunately, increasing social media (and the law) is changing things:
caesareanbirth.org/2017/10/17/womens-voices-are-exposing-truth-about-pelvic-organ-prolapse/

In addition to other work, the organisation Caesarean Birth has been trying to ensure short- and long-term pelvic floor damage is recognised as a maternity health outcome and cost, and also included in antenatal conversations about different birth plan risks and benefits. NHS focus, particularly during years of normal birth policy, has been to reduce caesarean rates (usually starting with elective, even if this results in more emergency), which has resulted in avoidable injuries and even deaths.

My organisation also supports women who are having their caesarean requests refused (these can be first-time mothers or mothers who have experienced pelvic floor trauma in a previous birth) where NICE guidance is not being followed.

I just wanted to say thank you to all the brave women who are speaking out about this issue, and to emphasise that while planned caesareans are not risk free (no birth plan is), this is where maternal choice must come in. A planned caesarean birth significantly reduces the risk of serious pelvic floor damage and instrumental delivery. Therefore, if this is something a woman wants to avoid, her maternal request should be supported; in fact this is why it's often referred to in research as a prophylactic caesarean birth.

There is a widely held concern that if women are informed about pelvic floor damage risks, and if stories like those here become more widely known, 'too many' women might choose a caesarean birth. This concern has contributed to the antenatal silence around planned vaginal birth risks, and this again, is unacceptable.

It varies. The pain of kidney stones can vary and so can the pain of labour.

I've had both. I would say that the pain of the kidney stone was similar to the pain I had at the end of the first stage of labour when there was no break in the contractions and I could no longer cope with it by breathing through. This lasted about 10 minutes. From what I can remember, the pain was like a burning pain in the centre of my pelvis that radiated out to my hip bones as the contraction ended, like a smoke ring (I remember thinking of it like that at the time). I dealt with it by breathing through then relaxing as it got to my hipbones, and relaxing through the short break. When it got continuous I found it difficult to cope. I also wanted to throw up with each contraction. I had no pain relief because it was a short labour and the midwife was telling me the contractions would settle.

With my kidney stone, I had 6 1/2 hours of pain that started as discomfort and rapidly increased. It felt like being run through with a red hot poker, and I had no 'waves' like kidney stones are said have - it was continuous. I could not settle and had to keep moving to get comfortable, only to find I it made it worse - this seems to be characteristic of renal colic. By the time the OOH doctor arrived to give me something more effective than the diclofenac the GP had given me, I had given up and resorted to writhing and groaning a bit . I also was very sick. I sort of hoped I would pass out but it never happened.

If I had had 6 hours of the labour pain, or back to back pain like a lot of women get, no doubt I would have been the same if not worse.

I would say my kidney stone was at the bad end of the scale (I should have been in hospital, especially with the vomiting) and they are worst first time. My labour was relatively easy on the grand scale, although I was left with some bad tears and PPH.

It is all relative, and different things anyway.

Your step day is obviously a bit jealous with all his competitive pain thing. He could try liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, or pancreatitis with multiple organ failure, if he wants something better I have seen relatives go through all of these and not complain, but what they went through is unimaginable.

You describe my experience totally. I am so sorry you are going through this too. Five years on from a forceps birth I am lost without being able to run, jump, shout or even move some days. 3rd degree tear means leakage after going to the toilet, so constantly feeling sore and dirty. Been told both front and back vaginal walls are lax but not enough to warrant surgery. Pelvic floor is reasonably strong, but still have massive problems. Sex after all this is a joke. I was 33 when this damage was done. No solutions available. Absolutely, 100%, a feminist issue. In my opinion worthy of chaining ourselves to railings again and going on hunger strike.

@Mamaka how can your stepdad possibly know?! He hasn't had labour pains so how can he compare, for goodness sake. A woman who had experienced both might give an opinion, but even then it depends on what her labour was like.

I'd just call him out on his deliberate unpleasantness and ask him why he's enjoying minimising the pain that you went through in labour. Ask him why it's important that he can say his pain was worse than yours.

What do people on here think about it being said that kidney stone pain is worse than the pain of labour? My stepdad takes great pleasure in telling me this as he has kidney stones. On other topics I can generally ignore him (can't argue with stupid) but this winds me up, knowing as I do that women's pain isn't taken seriously and having been through a very traumatic labour myself.

@SophieGiroux

My smear nurse said she did not know - not trained for that sort of thing - and told me which GP was best to see about it. She did have a bit of a poke around in the appropriate area for me, but could not feel anything.

Oh, totally unsurprised.

Women aren't believed when they report pain, or they're too stoic about it. A friend of mine nearly died of a burst appendix despite being in hospital at the time. Because she wasn't screaming and writhing in agony, the doctor decided it couldn't be appendicitis.

BBC are carrying a story today about care for women who have heart attacks is unequal too.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42590013
Heart attack care dangerously unequal for women, study finds

Unsurprised.

Thanks @QuentinSummers I will ask and see what they say

This thread has inspired me to set a reminder for 8am Monday to book a gp appointment and demand a referral to physio for what I think is a cystocele! It's been nearly 4 years since I last gave birth. I didn't know there was a window of opportunity where physio can help - can anyone tell me more about this?

I gave birth 12 weeks ago and noticed a hard lump whilst in the shower in between my legs, kind of to the side of my vagina. Realised it was a hard poo! I pressed it up and it went away! Does this sound like a rectocele?
I've got a smear test appointment next week, will they be able to tell? Worried it's going to hurt too after reading PP. Haven't attempted sex so have had nothing go in there since pre birth.
This thread is eye opening. I used to suffer with some faecal incontinence when running before birth of DD2 but never considered it could be because of forceps delivery. My second birth was straightforward with no stitches so thought I was ok until I noticed this lump.

It seems like momentum is building... 🤞🏼

Tammy,

Twitter thread highlighting this, replies also interesting:

twitter.com/kateclancy/status/948788429860605952

Thanks Quentin, I will bite the bullet and let you know when I've done it! Useful to have people to hold me to account

@QuentinSummers well done for going!! I'm super impressed! I have not quite managed to get my arse in gear yet but it's on my list I promise!

Both my mother and grandmother had such severe prolapses that they eventually required hysterectomies. My mum had mesh and a few years later after constant problems developed terminal ovarian, peritoneal, bowel and stomach cancer. Still no idea whether there's any connection since no one is interested in looking into these things.

Not just injuries from vaginal delivery either but all sorts of issues related to pregnancy, delivery, c sections, breastfeeding and pumping - literally no medical professional gives a shit. What other sort of major abdominal surgery doesn't even have a follow up with a consultant afterwards to make sure everything is okay?

I can’t believe that I knew almost nothing about this. Thank you for all that you are doing, sjpPOP.

Know APOPS will continue to fight to bring this topic to the table via media, legislative priorities, policy makers, as well as clinician and women's conferences. We will push until change occurs!

Zero doubt this is a feminist issue, happy to see this thread. POP is without a doubt the biggest secret in women's health, on medical record for nearly 4000 years since Kahun papyrus, still not talked about effectively out loud or screened for. Estimated to impact 50% of women, childbirth and menopause the leading causal factors (2 of the most significant life events women experience) yet no screening exists during routine pelvic exams. Geez don't get me started, I'll rant all day. Without a doubt, will generate the next significant shift in women's health directives. For all we have achieved as women over the decades, it is ridiculous that a health condition that is so prevalent and invasive remains shrouded in silence after all we have achieved as women.

I've always been told by physios that my Lordosis has caused me to have a backwards tilting pelvis and it's a bad thing?

Going to book my post birth check up, I will raise the issue of my prolapse (I can see/feel my urethra but it's not poking 'out' I'm also not sure if I'm leaking urine or it's lochia, or a mix of both. If it's urine it's minor and I seem to be able to hold it. What should I be requesting, physio? Gynaecologist?

I hear you Madam I hear you, why can't they read notes?