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 have a grade 1 cystocele as well. It is resolving I think. I really like the restore your core programme, really good for flattening tummy too!!

Jessy that’s great news I’m so glad you’ve got your diagnosis and it’s looking positive in terms of recovery. What a relief that it’s not the full pelvic prolapse.

Good luck with pelvic floor exercises.

Well that was a short lived joy, it's got bloody worse now. It's at the entrance rather than just low down in the vaginal canal.

I've just had a feel and it's right there almost protruding, alot worse than it was the other day.

How can this have happened so quickly. It's gone from a grade 1 to this within days.

I've been walking miles today and had to pick my toddler up more than usual during a family fun day.

I also had to run across a road because an inpatient arsehole of a driver would give me chance to cross before he started driving.

Is this normal, for it to get worse after alot of physical activity?

Will it retract again by itself?

Oh god I'm so bloody upset. Just as I was starting to feel better

Today was the first time since having DD and being unwell when I've felt the most like "me" again, I've struggled with being active since I had sepsis and I really felt like I was turning a corner.

It was wondeful being active and enjoying a fun day out with the DC walking all over London and seeing the sights.

Am I condemned to not being able to do these things because it's just going to get worse every time I do

My toddler has ASD and very little understanding so makes a bolt for whatever catches his eye when we're out at the park or paddling pool, how can I not chase after him and pick him up. He needs me to be able to look after him

What about if god forbid I need to run to prevent an accident or something like that?

Oh this is utterly shit im devastated.

It looks very strange in there now, like if I part my labia not only can I see what I now know is the cystocele but if I move that then there are fleshy line type things if that makes any sense. Ligaments perhaps? I really don't know.

What a horrible end to a perfect day

Please tell me it'll go back to how it was before and this is normal when you've been active

I found that after a very active day everything felt lower and heavier - and that resting improved it all once again. My physio explained this was simply due to gravity and your stabilising muscles becoming more worn out over the course of the day.

Does it feel worse or only look worse?

You are doing brilliantly jessy - you have so much going on, your body is still healing, emotionally you must be exhausted as well. I know it's easier said than done, but you need to listen to your body!

Go and see a women's specialist physio if you can, also look up the Holistic Core Restore programme which won't solve your problem but may help you after treatment. If you are in the Midlands look up Fiona Mitchell who is an amazing women's physio.

Sorry you’re feeling so down Jessy and have had a set back. It’s understandable when you are dealing with so much.

Try to stay positive about it all. You had a lovely day and there will be more of these to come. You’re being an amazing mum and things will get better again.

It’s still early days and the physio is sure to get things moving back to where they should be.

I’ve heard of getting a mummy MOT and I’m going to look into it on top of the physio so I can be a bit more active and not feel like I’m making things worse down there. Perhaps there’s something like this near you that might help.

Aww thank you ladies. I was almost afraid to check back because of how daft and hysterical I sounded when I posted runs and hides

It doesn't feel too terrible, just a bit more of a sensation of something being there but I think that's because I'm now aware of it. I discovered it had dropped more purely by chance as I was curious as to whether it had changed at all after being so active. I had a feel and felt it was more prominent so had a proper look underneath and spooked my self.. before posting here sobbing like a wally.

So relieved to hear this isn't unusual and is because of gravity and alot of activity. I've recommenced my pelvic floors like crazy today, must keep reminding myself to stay on top of it.

I'll look into the holistic core restore so thank you for the suggestion. I've already been referred for physio but not sure how long a wait that'll be.

Fortunately my lovely GP did get me an appointment with a gynae in two weeks time!

Does anybody know if gynaes can give pesseries or is that the physios remit?

Very interested in this mummy MOT business so I'm gonna go Google that now, I've heard it mentioned a few times

I've done the bare minimum today aside a quick shop visit and looking after the DC, I've had a hangover from.. wait for it.. ONE pint glass of fruit cider on ice after dinner last night.

God knows how that's possible but likely because I haven't drank alcohol in over a year.

Anyhoo, hopefully having my feet up for most the day will have helped the prolapse somewhat!

Hi all,

I have an appointment with gynae today, little bit nervous for some reason but I think that's just my anxiety playing up.

I plan to ask about a pessary, I'm hoping I leave there with one but we shall see!

Also got my physio appointment through for 7th August so things are moving in the right direction.

Will update the thread after my appointment at 2

Well that was kind of a waste of time

Didn't want to give me a pessary as he "didn't think it would work?" And in regards to the stinging sensation advised I drink a lot of water

I already told him I had urine test and swabs which ruled out cystitis, thrush, BV etc.

He advised keep doing my pelvic floors for another three months and if no improvement go back to my GP and ask for another referral and he'd consider a pessary then.

Hopefully physio is more helpful.

He scared the living daylights out of me when he felt my uterus and asked about my periods not returning 11 weeks PP, he said he thinks I might be pregnant. Quick test ruled that out thank god.

Not too happy about the fact I have to just live with the burning sensation and no sensation during sex

@Jessy111 been following your posts, sorry to hear you’re having such a rough time of it. Sounds like the Gynae was pretty unsympathetic, and slightly concerning that he misdiagnosed pregnancy?! Could you go back to your GP and ask to be re-referred for a second opinion? You shouldn’t have to live with these symptoms, especially with no support or plan of action to help them improve.

I'm considering doing that Cake, I don't feel he was at all helpful.

I asked him for a follow up appointment if he wasn't prepared to do anything right now and he said he didn't want to make one because it might not be needed.

So it's loads of pelvic floor exercises for now, put up with the burning feeling and stay celibate as sex is completely pointless anyway.

Sigh

I’ve got one, a rectocele after forceps delivery. I was also pretty devastated at the time.

Good news is religious pelvic floor exercises using an Elvie trainer took away most of the symptoms. It also got much better after I stopped breastfeeding once my relaxin levels were back to normal.

Bad news is it’s come back again now I’ve just given birth again. But at least this time I know it will get better over time.

I saw a special women’s health physio (NHS, specify to your doctor) who said if it doesn’t get better with exercise I could have an operation to fix it. They don’t use mesh or anything like that anymore, they basically just put stitches into your vaginal wall to get everything back to where it should be.

So there are lots of options, please don’t lose hope and do push for more help. And definitely don’t be embarrassed, something like half of post menopausal women have one, it’s really really common.

jessy that is so disappointing and upsetting. I would definitely ask for a second option. Fingers crossed the physio is better (mine was a life saver).

How is everything feeling generally?

Sorry you've had a difficult time op.

There's a fantastic private support group on Facebook that's given me invaluable advice on this. I had a 3rd degree that's left me in tatters...literally.

Called "Birth tear support (severe birth tears)"

Good luck for your appointment in August.

Thanks ladies,

I'm doing ok in general, haven't been ruminating about the prolapse too much and the stinging isn't 24-7 so it's bearable for the time being.

I had my heart set on a pessary with the logic being that it would help the stinging but most importantly shift my bladder out of the way so I can regain a semblance of normality and attempt to DTD.

The prolapse itself is coming between us as far as intimacy goes, i can't bring myself to want to try again because if it's the same as last time and I feel nothing I know I'll just cry

I'm at woman's health (physio) next month so I'll stay positive and look forward to that.

I definitely want a second opinion but reluctant to make a nuisance of myself.

Can't help but feel if I were paying that gynae privately he'd have been alot more helpful!

I will look at that group

@Jessy111 at the risk of being too graphic - regarding sex, is it just penetration that gives you no sensation? I know how stressful and emotionally draining it can be when sex becomes an issue, I’m just wondering whether there are other ways for you to be close to your partner?

It's doubly frustrating because although I get no sensation from penetrative intercourse itself, the 'other' things worsen the irritation I have.

So as far as me getting anything out of it goes.. I'm pretty much doomed

@Jessy111 oh love, that’s the pits really feel for you. I’ve had previous health issues that meant sex was a no-go and I found it really stressful, even though DH was fabulously supportive I felt like it was always on my mind, the elephant in the room. Is your partner understanding?

Hey OP I replied up the thread ages ago and wanted to check in.

I’m now 7 months down the line and my cystocele (which sounds exactly like yours) has vastly improved.

I get that heavy dragging feeling sometimes after a long physical day but mainly I get it now when I have a full bladder - maybe you’ve noticed this too. It’s the weight of my bladder that causes the problem.

Anyway the good news is that once I stopped breastfeeding and started yoga again (lots of pelvic floor) mine dramatically improved. I hardly notice it now.

My cervix didn’t rise again until my first period (at 6 months). But it did go back. And finally I can use tampons and have sex again. But it’s been 7 months to this point.

We arent the same person of course but I wanted to share this in case it gave you something to balance all the horror stories on the internet!

Frankly I stopped seeing healthcare professionals for a bit. No one knew what to say to me apart from ‘do your kegels’ and dragging the baby to appointments was just getting me down. But you should certainly seek a second opinion if you need to.

I’m going to insist on a section next time. I had a very traumatic birth so I will get one (I’m also very persuasive 😂) but the real reason is that I don’t want to add another vagibal birth to the damage a second pregnancy would do to my pelvic floor

OP, was he a urogynae or just a gynae? Usually it is recommended to see a urogynae for pelvic organ prolapse. I would push for that if I were you.

Fortunately yes CakePigeon4, and oh yes i can relate to what you said about it being the elephant in the room

Aw thank you that does help, Fivebyfivesq. I do get alot out of hearing positive outcomes for other POP sufferers. I've 're read the thread a few times for that reason. It's still very early days in my case and I think I need to remind myself of that when i worry "what if it never gets better"

Baby is coming up to three months now so hopefully I can report much of the same improvement by seven.

He was a regular gynae littlecabbage and not a particularly sympathetic one either. I didn't realise a urogynae was any different so I will raise the possibility of being referred to one when I see the physio at women's health next month.

I really want a pessary but perhaps I'm a bit deluded in my thinking that it will be a magic (albeit temporary) fix.

The gynaes lax attitude towards the burning feeling I have has annoyed me, it's as though he was putting it down to a UTI "drink lots of water" despite me having told him five minutes previous that the GP had ruled out UTI's, thrush, BV etc.

I've been doing some more of my own research and I'm wondering if I do indeed have a urethocele aswell, which I read often comes hand in hand with a cystocele and causes this feeling of irritation, but the only thing he mentioned was the cystocele.

Roll on next month, I'm going to be more assertive if needs be.

Good for you. Can you take a friend or your partner along to help?

Good idea to ask the physio re a urogyn. They should know who is in your area, what their "bedside manner" is like, and what their surgical outcomes are like.

That burning sensation needs further consideration. They have no right to fob you off.

I think I will take somebody along with me next time.

I started bleeding this morning and thought great my periods are coming back, but it's tailed off from bright red to just brown spotting.

I think he has irritated something inside when he was examining with his fingers as he wasn't gentle at all, or theres something else going on. Worrying now