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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

206 replies

Jessy111 · 06/06/2019 22:03

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 Sad

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

OP posts:
Original poster
Jessy111 · 13/06/2019 00:21

Ah yes I see what you mean Audacity, how are you managing with it and has anything helped to lessen it's severity? Apologies if you've already mentioned it on a previous page.

The more I read about prolapse the more convinced I am that mine is a multiple. I'm hoping I'm not waiting too long for my physio appointment to come through as I'm keen to get the type diagnosed and find out what my chances are of being able to resolve it or at least lessen the severity.

I'm not feeling as desperately sad as I was last week which I'm glad about. I'm reaching a degree of acceptance - for now at least. I've accepted that there's not a great deal I can do about it overnight so why waste precious time and energy beating myself up about something I can't change right?

she says whilst silently hoping it will all just go away Grin

OP posts:
AudacityOfHope · 13/06/2019 07:39

I'm doing my pelvic floors;

Ten short sharp really strong ones x3 per day
Ten x 10-second medium strength ones x 1 a day (so 100 seconds overall IYSWIM)

Trying to lose weight
Trying to find time to walk four times a week for at least 30 minutes (and physio says I can start running next month as long as it hasn't got worse as the benefits for fitness outweigh the impact on the prolapse)
No heavy lifting (keep forgetting that one)
Feet up on a box when I go to the loo (always forget that one)

AudacityOfHope · 13/06/2019 07:42

Oh and the other thing I want to say is (and this is meant with the absolute utmost kindness).

You could worry about this less. It's irritating but it's not life threatening or a disease. Many, many women have them and live normally. When I went to my physio appointment I was so bloody glad to be going to hospital for something that is, in the grand scheme of health, on the manageable and discrete side.

Lecture over ❤️Grin

Original poster
Jessy111 · 13/06/2019 10:34

Aw thank you audacity you are absolutely right, anytime I find myself ruminating about my long lost normal vag i'm going to remind myself of exactly that Grin

I've been doing loads of pelvic floors to the point it feels a bit achy inside. I think that's a good thing right?

Wow I had no idea running would even be on the cards, that's SO good to know because I want to shift some of my baby weight and have found in the past that running (Well jogging in my case) was something I actually enjoyed doing.

I've avoided all heavy lifting apart from our toddler as that's unavoidable but I'm trying not to lift him for long periods of time, just in and out of the travel cot when needed and when I want a cuddle I'll get him to come over to the sofa to me and pull him up rather than full on lift from standing up iyswim

OP posts:
AudacityOfHope · 13/06/2019 12:42

I ended up lifting two couches today to find my son's lost teddy so not the best day for me! Although I did download the Squeezy app thanks to this thread!

Original poster
Jessy111 · 13/06/2019 13:51

You're braver than me!

I was doing a mini shop at Tesco yesterday and was nervous about the weight of the basket, then again I am a bit irrational sometimes Grin

OP posts:
AudacityOfHope · 13/06/2019 14:49

I had to, his favourite teddy is missing Sad

Pootleflump76 · 13/06/2019 15:08

Whilst you are waiting for your referral you could try a pelvic floor fitness class ( I did One Fit Core through www.onefitmama.co.uk/). We learnt all about the anatomy of your pelvic floor and how it all supports the bladder, cervix and bowel. Then how to do the pelvic floor exercises correctly and other core strengthening exercises which helps support your pelvic floor. I’m sure we were told a stat of something like 80% of prolapse can be treated with exercises alone. You take your baby to the class so it’s easy to do in the day. We also had ladies in the class that has school age children so I don’t think it’s ever too late to try exercise to fix it.

Poetryinaction · 18/06/2019 18:03

Any update Jessie?
I have just had a big shock. Felt bulgy so had a feel and it feels like there's something stuck up there. I actually questioned if I had left a tampon up there. It felt the same shape and size but fleshy.
I suppose I need to see a doctor now. I'm not even sure when I can. Life is busy amd stressful at the moment.

Original poster
Jessy111 · 18/06/2019 19:39

I hear you about life being busy poetry, if i were you though I'd prioritise making an appointment when you can - only so you don't drive yourself up the wall. I was gutted when I discovered mine but my GP (and you ladies here) quickly reassured me it was extremely common and nothing to worry about, I know that might not be of comfort to you right now as you've only just discovered it. I've been doing my pelvic floors religiously and can feel the muscles tensing a bit when I examine with a finger - so they're doing 'something' which I hope is helping.

Nothing to update as of yet in my case. I'm currently waiting for my appointment to come through from physio. They should have my referral by now but from what I've read it can take a while to be seen.

Have had a crap few days of heightened anxiety where I've convinced myself there's something worse than the prolapse going on in there, iykwim. I've had some fanny daggers type pains that shoot up into my stomach and some down my leg, is that usual with prolapse does anybody know? Bloody health anxiety.

Also feel like I have the start of cystitis except it doesn't burn when I wee, I just have the uncomfortable irritated sensation down below Blush

I've pretty much completely come to terms with having the prolapse itself now though, I'm no longer as devastated and it's not affecting my day to day life too much. I'm careful not to lift anything too heavy if I can avoid it and remind myself not to strain when I go to the loo.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jessy111 · 18/06/2019 20:02

I've just seen your link pootle, sounds good. Thank you for that. I'll give it a look Smile

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Original poster
Jessy111 · 18/06/2019 20:34

In short, has anybody had feelings of a uti with their prolapse but not actually had one? Last time i had this sensation a urine test ruled out water infection.

Also stabbing pains inside.

OP posts:
Poetryinaction · 18/06/2019 20:54

Sorry to hear of all these symptoms and thanks for the reply. I think yoi are still newly post birth and things will settle down. I am 15 months post (3rd) birth and all settled I fear!

Runningonempty84 · 18/06/2019 20:58

Try not to worry, OP. Know that sounds trite, but prolapse is really common, and can be fixed.
I had to have surgery for a severe prolapse after DC2. I was 30 years old, and absolutely devastated. Thought that was it for lifting, for running, for my sex life - I was a mess.

Turns out I shouldn't have worried at all. The recovery was tough but, three years on, I'm the fittest I've ever been (run one marathon and countless halves since the surgery, in decent times), I lift heavy weights - and heavy children! - and all the symptoms are completely gone.

Hope that gives you some comfort. I know how you feel and it's rubbish Flowers

Poetryinaction · 18/06/2019 21:50

Wow runningonempty that is so reassuring! I am not sure if I am worrying about nithing or not. I know I have a lot of scar tissue so maybe it's just that? I should get a doctor to let me know.

Original poster
Jessy111 · 19/06/2019 15:07

Well I've just been for a walk down the shops and I now have that 'tampon falling out' feeling that I didn't have to begin with, that would explain why I'm getting these twinges and stinging I think.

I've been getting complacent and pushing myself to be more active with my toddler, getting down on the floor, chasing him etc.

Can't be coincidental can it Sad

Hope this physio appointment hurries up

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Original poster
Jessy111 · 19/06/2019 15:22

Aww thank you @Runningonempty84 that's definitely inspiring, I'm so glad things turned out well for you :)

Did you have to wait long for surgery? My GP said I'd be unlikely to be OK'd for surgery unless I was sure I didn't want more children. I certainly don't at the moment but don't want to rule it out in my 30s/early 40s.

Also, did you (or anybody else) get an intermittent stinging sensation almost like the start of cystitis but without the painful urination?

OP posts:
Clarky89 · 19/06/2019 15:50

Aw Jessy sorry to hear that, I hope that your appointment comes in quick. I’ve got mine in a few weeks. If she gives me some pointers I’ll pass them along.

I’ve not had any of the cystitis symptoms but my mum did when she had hers. She said that was actually one of her first symptoms before the bulging and the falling out feeling. Obviously it’s hard with a baby and toddler but you might have been overexerting yourself.

Original poster
Jessy111 · 19/06/2019 17:21

Thank you Clarky, I was hoping to be able to put the stinging feeling down to the prolapse because otherwise I'd run away with myself and come up with all sorts of sinister things Blush

That's great about your appointment, I wish you the best of luck with it. Please do let me know how you get on and what they recommend Smile

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Lotsofpots · 19/06/2019 19:22

jessy the bulging feeling- like a tampon needs to come out - is exactly what I experienced. I would really recommend doing some simple core stability exercises (lots of prolapse specific ones online) while waiting for the physio appt as exercise entirely reversed my prolapse.

Original poster
Jessy111 · 19/06/2019 21:53

Thats really good to know Pots. I'm going to look up some of those exercises and start them tonight. Anything that might help I'm definitely keen to try.

OP posts:
Lotsofpots · 20/06/2019 18:40

I may have mentioned this upthread - sorry if so - but I found femfusion on YouTube, or the Hab-it programme which you download to be brilliant jessy

Original poster
Jessy111 · 27/06/2019 17:20

Hi all,

Just a quick update

Been back to my GP today for the stinging urethea, swabs taken and I've got an appointment with gynae on 12th of July.

Haven't heard from physio yet unfortunately

But I've had my prolapse properly diagnosed and it's a grade 1 cystocele (bladder) so not a multiple as I was worrying it would be.

Doctor said it was only mild and very common and can likely be improved alot through PFE alone, which confirmed most of what I've been told here :)

I've been a bit slack on the pelvic floors this past week but am going to give myself a kick up the backside and commit to them again.

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Lotsofpots · 27/06/2019 18:55

That's really positive news jessy. I think you'll find yourself feeling SO much better with a few months of the right exercises. Shame they've not flattened my stomach...

AudacityOfHope · 28/06/2019 10:34

Good news! I've got Grade 1 as well and my physio said with 6 months of pelvic floors it will basically resolve.

Download the Squeezy app! You're too busy to commit to remembering to do the exercises every day without it. Trust me, I know!