To ask if you have (or had) a prolapse after birth? I'm 25 and mortified

[Jessy111]

I gave birth 6 weeks ago and needed stitches for a second degree perennial tear.

I have reluctantly examined my bits to see how everything was healing and noticed things looked odd on the inside, a swelling of sort.

A closer inspection has revealed what I'm %99 sure is a prolapse (to be confirmed at my doctors appointment next week)

If i insert my finger past some tissue i can feel a lump and my cervix is well within reach, it has dropped down very low.

I'm only in my mid twenties and I'm mortified at the prospect of having a damaged vag

Can I have your experiences please, perhaps some reassurance that it can be resolved without intrusive surgery? I'm already doing my pelvic floors.

I'm so sad about this

I'm very sorry for the loss of your mum SinkGirl, your mum's experience alone is enough to put me off taking the risk. That is truly awful

I would definitely do a kegel squeeze whenever you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift something heavy for sure to try and strengthen the muscles and prevent further damage but yes, certainly in my case it seems to be a slow progression.

I’m not saying the mesh caused the cancer BTW, the link was never proven (well, its not something anyone is really looking into, as with many issues affecting gynae health), but the rest of it was awful enough. She suffered so much because of it, and it’s something that was supposed to help. Worse still, the women suffering this way spent years being dismissed, laughed at by doctors who said there was no evidence (funny that, when no one is interested in looking into it). Only intense activism and pressure got anyone to listen which is just awful.

Sorry, bit of a tangent! Hopefully physio alone will be plenty for you and surgery won’t be necessary (one of the bonuses of being young - easier for your body to repair itself!). If it is, I would just make sure you discuss other options. Personally they’d insert mesh in me over my dead body!

You sound like me six months ago!! I had what sounds exactly like what you describe, and with a ton of pelvic floor exercises and lots of time, it DID go away almost entirely. When I stopped breastfeeding the last of that dragging sensation disappeared. My cervix rose too.

I hope this is also what happens for you - but in any case until you’ve seen a medical professional please for the love of god step away from google. I have read every single webpage, article and comment thread you have read. I scoured the internet for positive stories and worried myself into a black hole over this when my baby was first born. I lay awake worrying about it. I was so depressed and no one understood why when I had a gorgeous baby on my hands.

Big hugs and give your body time to heal and see your doctor x

Jessy111 this thread is such a coincidence as I have just got back from my first NHS physio session. I am 7 weeks pp after a VABC episiotomy and forceps delivery with baby no. 2.

I had a heavy feeling, and felt like everything was going to fall out, for the first 5 weeks. I could barely walk or lift anything. I chose a VBAC over an ELCS as I was told the recovering should be better but it has been far worse. I have been beating myself up about that decision and have been so down about it.

I was referred to physio by the hospital and today the physio has confirmed that I have a mild uterine prolapse. I also have a protruding urethra which is causing me discomfort and problems weeping. The physio did a proper assessment and checked that I was doing my pelvic floor exercises properly. She then gave me some exercises and asked me to come back in 6 weeks. Since the appointment I already feel better, just knowing what is wrong is such a relief. I’m sure once you have had your appointment you will feel the same.

Good luck and remember you’re not alone....we can do this girl!

Yes, unfortunately I know that feeling!
I'm 27 now but was just 26 at the time when I got pregnant with second child. About 18 to 19 weeks pregnant I was very uncomfortable down there and just thought it was all the pressure of a much bigger baby than the first. The feeling went away at about 21 -22 weeks but returned at 35-36 weeks pregnant. Uncomfortable feeling came back at about 3 weeks pp. At about 12 weeks pp I started having a very bad burning sensation, like a very bad urine infection this continued for months. I've had kidney scans and then I suddenly looked and thought it didn't look right down there. My urethra has dropped A LOT hence the burning sensation but luckily this has gone away over the last month. I think bladder has dropped to. Although I had c sections both times it seems I didn't escape and it can also happen because of the genes in family's I've read. So my grandmother had one very badly and my mother had a mild one that went with Kegels. I'm not in pain now or uncomfortable but have my first gyno meeting in a few days. I was horrified and cried to the doctor. She said not to worry and said it was extremely common. Very nervous for my first appointment and not sure what to expect x

I had to post, as I am the same age as you, and experienced this after my first baby.
I was so incredibly upset and couldn’t focus on anything else, so don’t worry about how you are feeling, it’s normal.
I was most upset that I couldn’t do all the exercise I wanted to do to be honest, as I still can’t run etc, however with time it had got better and seems manageable.
I saw a private women’s health physio as didn’t want to wait nhs waiting list which was expensive but I believe worth it, and now 2 years later am expecting my second.

I would stress to you to really try not to panic, (although this is hard!) as it may not be as bad a prolapse as you think. Initially mine was grade 2/3 and has now improved vastly.

Just wanted to make you feel you’re not alone!

Another voice saying don't panic and yoy're not alone. I had a horrible 3rd birth which ended in a 3rd degree tear. It healed well but at the check up I was told I had a very weak pelvic floor and diastasis recti. I then panicked about prolapse for months and was convinced I would never run again. I got physio on the NHS for 8 months and did pilates every night during those 8 months to strengthen my core. After that I was told nothing more could be improves until I stopped breastfeeding. So at 11 months pp I took uo swimming, at 15 months pp I stopped breastfeeding and started running. All is fine.
I was so worried and upset, but things can change so much over time. Especially at your age.

Oh you are wonderful you lot, you've really given me a boost. When you find something like a prolapse and don't know the first thing about them, or anybody else with one (at least not who are open about it) you just freak out don't you.

I tried to highlight and reply to each of you individually but kept getting the names muddled and having to go over and 're read, I'm not very with it at the moment due to a lack of sleep so hopefully I've covered the replies in this one

I'm pleased to read about the physio appointment at 7 weeks PP, that's so much quicker than I imagined it would be so I'm hoping I can get seen relatively soon once I've seen the GP. I would be a little relieved to hear 'mild prolapse' when I'm examined as silly as that sounds, because I'm a natural worrier and I always fear the worst. I've been convincing myself it's terrible and irreversible etc. I'm not the most rational at times and post pregnancy hormones coupled with a traumatic birth, and now this, has sent my anxiety into overdrive.

Yup that is exactly what I've been doing, obsessively searching and researching online trying to find reassurance. I've been driving myself and H absolutely potty, poor bloke has heard nothing but prolapse talk since yesterday evening. Not very attractive is it

I'm so pleased you ladies have recovered or are on the road to it. I have everything crossed that I'll be able to say the same before long.

I have that exact same burning sensation as described above. Wow. It's oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in that because I thought I had got an infection and was panicking because I got an infection after birth and was terrified of getting another.

I called my GP who told me she had no appointments that day but to drop in a urine sample which I did and said she'll dip it and call me back. She phoned me later on that day and said there was no sign of infection in the urine so she can't think why I'm having the symptoms. I inquired as to whether it may be thrush, she said possibly. It was a few days after all of this when I discovered the prolapse! Now I'm hearing others report the same or similar, I can relax on that front a little.

The wall inside the labia and around the urethra looks so different to how it used to, when I part the labia my urethra is much more 'obvious' if that makes sense. It's not tucked away as it used to be. I'm not the best at describing it.

I can't thank you all enough for being kind and sharing your experiences with me, a sense of solidarity is soo priceless with things like this as I'm yet to meet somebody in person who's open enough to talk about issues like these x

Has anybody experienced bleeding with their prolapse?

I can't figure out whether my periods have returned (im 6 weeks PP on sunday) or whether I've irritated the prolapse by prodding about last night.

The bleeding isn't what I'd call heavy and is less than my usual menstrual bleeding, but there whenever i wipe as well as in the loo, it is bright red and fresh.

I’m 4 months post birth and have a prolapse. After working with a physio it turns out my pelvic floor was too switched on which meant it’s never able to properly rest which is contributing to the prolapse. What’s helping is using a massage ball and rolling my glute muscles daily. I’ve seen significant improvement since I started doing this. However I’m also being referred to have pessary fitted. The hope is the pessary will give me internal support to enable me to be more physically active. As I become more active I’ll hopefully lose some weight and this take some pressure off and allow the prolapse to rise.
Oh and sex is shit. We’ve tried once we had to stop as it was so uncomfortable. I’ve brought lube on the advice of the physio but I’m so nervous about it

I'm hoping to get a pessary too ICJ, it's something I'm planning on requesting when I see my GP and hopefully get a referral. I hope it works for you and you're able to resume a better quality of life.

Sorry to hear you're having problems with sex aswell. In my case I can't feel a thing. We've attempted it just the once and whilst there was no discomfort, it was totally unsatisfying. I daren't try it again out of the fear it will become painful if I interfere with things any more.

I'm pretty sure the bleeding isn't my period now, there's just not enough of it to be AF. The area around my urethra feels irritated so I think it's coming from there.

I had 3 of my many children in very quick succession and had both an anal and vaginal prolapse. I tried everything. Lots of daily pelvic floors, the ring, things inserted to give shocks the lot. Nothing worked. I soldiered on for a couple of years and realised that it wasnt going to get better or go away by itself. I had repair surgery 15 years ago. Lots and lots of stitches (no mesh) and a consultant who took a lot of time to make sure it was right. He told me never to lift or move anything heavy again - kitchen table, sofas to hoover behind etc. He told me if I kept to that then it would stay good and he was absolutely right. I have had to adjust to not loading up shopping bags and asking family to move things that I know arent too heavy for me to lift but could mess up the surgery. The surgery was transformational for me as no longer had incontinence problems or bowel issues.

Did your surgery include a hysterectomy? @mummymeister

I've been talking with a lady on a Facebook support group and she was telling me that hysterectomy was the only surgical option for her and that took me back a bit.

So pleased a repair has changed your life, you must be so relieved not to have to put up with prolapse anymore :)

OP, another voice to add to the 'you're not alone' crew.

I had the birth from Hell with DC1, which left me with (among other things) a cervical prolapse. It took a very long time for it to be diagnosed (including a female obs & gynae consultant who said I was wasting her time ).

I couldn't feel anything at all down there post partum (which meant I also couldn't feel when I needed to wee. This was nice).

I was referred immediately post birth to a physio in the hospital, who gave me some kind of ultrasound treatment (? I think! It was 17 years ago...) I don't know whether it helped or not, but it couldn't have harmed. Plus the pelvic floor exercises.

When the actual prolapse was diagnosed, I was told that it could be operated on if it started to bother me so much that I couldn't get on with daily life. Some days it does (it feels as if my entire cervix is falling through my vag), and some days it bothers me less so (it seems to depend on where I am in my cycle, strangely). I can always feel a great mass of something at the opening of my vag if I poke around with my fingers.

I didn't have sex for a while post DC1, not least as I also had my vag stitched back together after giving birth. Subsequent DC were ELCS.

Sex: my relationship with XH was not good, so we didn't have sex. However, I am now having the best sex I have ever had, with full sensation. I wouldn't have thought this would ever be possible in the early weeks after DC1. I also have complete control over my bladder (I might not do if I started trampolining, but fortunately it's not on my list of things to do). So there really is hope!

I'm 43 and had surgery to repair my prolapse 10 days ago. First noticed it after the birth of DD1 (now 4) then worsened after having DD2 (2 1/2). My operation was carried out as day surgery, no complications and all went smoothly. The recovery has been fine, uncomfortable rather than painful so far, so I'm feeling really positive about it. The worst thing is not being able to lift anything heavy for 12 weeks!!

Go to the doctor about the bleeding. Sounds like a UTI.

Jessy111 - no I didnt have an hysterectomy. I would have done if the surgery hadnt been successful. I still cant hold going to the loo for too long - no more than about 20 minutes but certainly nothing like before.

Duxford1940 if you want the surgery to last then you shouldnt lift anything heavy EVER again. seriously. I know its a pain but literally I dont shift the sofas, move our big farmhouse table etc. I will lift a hoover but not much heavier than that. my surgeon told me the key reason for the surgery failing is women "forgetting" and starting to lift again.

Pleased to have returned to more positive stories, thank you! I noticed this thread was featured on the home page, I hope others experiencing similar can also take something from the wealth of reassurance from you lot on here

RE the bleeding: I had a urine sample tested a few days ago and it showed no sign of infection, so its quite confusing given how it feels just like i have one

I'm still bleeding today but it's still nothing like my regular periods and worlds away from a first postpartum period. It's like spotting (I think). It's there but very light. I'm at the GP's on Tuesday so I'll be raising it once there.

I have a question about lifting and activities I should avoid, aside the obvious things like moving furniture.. can I pretty much carry on as normal with housework, food shopping etc? We have a very heavy toddler who regularly needs lifting up and I'm a bit worried about that.

I had our newborn laid across my stomach during a feed and got a very uncomfortable sharp pain so I'm a bit on edge and am shuffling about at a snail's pace worrying about irritating something. Feeling a bit (probably unnessicarily) delicate

How did you ladies manage with a prolapse and needing to lift your children?

Does picking your DC up make the prolapse worse?

I have a 17 month old who's huge for their age, also newborn who looks as though they'll be a bruiser too. Not lifting them isn't an option is it

Am I doomed to the fact it's going to get worse or is there a chance it'll stay as it is regardless of the heavy lifting (toddler etc)

I haven't found it getting worse. Only better. I had another child after the birth that caused it and also lift things up.

That's good to know User

I've been unsure whether I should even be lifting our toddler, have been doing it anyway as obviously we have no choice. I read an article where a woman was advised against lifting her child the same age as ours and if left me wondering how it's even feasible to take that on board.

I had to lift a nearly three year old pretty often and also found things got better not worse. But I minimised it as much as possible, lifted in a thoughtful way (clenching as I lifted etc) and avoided carrying for any prolonged period.

I don't think it's the case that one day you'll be lifting him/her and 'pop' your prolapse gets worse, rather than exertion that puts pressure on your pelvic floor will have a tiny but cumulative effect. So think about other ways on minimising that pressure while also strengthening them?

10 months on and I can lift my son without a second thought - though I still clench.

I’m glad to read that for some people their prolapses have corrected. This chat is helping me slightly.

I’m five weeks post forceps delivery and I haven’t felt quite right down below for the past week. Been struggling when going to the toilet and having lower abdominal pains and aches.

Yesterday it was like my insides were coming out. I’ve had a look and there are three bulges right at the opening of my vagina. Absolutely gutted and haven’t really been able to stop crying. My mum had a prolapse but only after three children and in her forties. This is my first baby and I’ve just turned 30.

Making appointment with GP tomorrow morning but feeling very low and scared.