Stage one prolapse - Help! I'm feeling lost and anxious

[Reedmonkey]

Hello everyone,
Shortly after my daughter was born 16 months ago I was diagnosed with a mild cystocele. I was told by the doctor that I saw at the hospital that it is mild and that, as a very keen long distance runner, there was no reason to give up running. I then had physio treatment which further strengthened my prolapse and the effects are much less noticeable. I now run with a pessary. It isn't like before but it's manageable. However, I really want to have another child but I'm terrified about making my prolapse worse, and further hindering my ability to run and exercise. No judgement please, running is extremely important to me and my mental health. If there is anyone who has been in this situation I would be really grateful to hear from you, and to hear your story about how future children affected your prolapse.

I haven’t been in your situation, but would you consider an ELCS to ensure no further damage? I was concerned about the impact of childbirth so had an ELCS for no other reason than I wanted one, on the NHS.

You may need to give up running while pregnant though. I totally get the running for your mental health (I’m the same with CrossFit) but I ballsed my pelvic floor while pregnant with my first running and lifting heavy weights, rather than in childbirth.

I also had an ELCS to avoid the risk of worsening prolapse. Consultant told me often vaginal birth doesn’t make it any worse (this seemed at odds with some of the literature I had read but he’s the expert) but it is an additional risk factor.

He also said pregnancy itself can strain the pelvic floor. I did regular pelvic floors in pregnancy and feel no worse at all from the second pregnancy.

I had 2 c sections and have a mild prolapse. Are you seeing a pelvic health physio? Mine is fantastic. It should be possible, you do have to do your exercises religiously.