'That's just what happens when you have children'

[pastatriangles]

I'm pregnant with my third baby and after having symptoms and looking in a mirror, I think I have a uterine prolapse (stage II).

I called my GP and asked about it during a scan and they both said it was just what happens when you have children and 'it's unfortunate but it's what happens.'

I asked about treatments and was told no, just leave it, it might get a bit worse after the birth but that's just what happens. There was a real attitude of 'what did you expect,' like I was asking them why I couldn't fit into my normal jeans or something.

AIBU to think this response isn't good enough? I haven't even been offered an examination.

YANBU, but that’s the state of the NHS and GP care in the UK.

Could you afford to go private?

Completely unacceptable and indicative of the dismissive way in which some in the NHS approach birth injuries. If you’re pregnant at the moment, could you talk to your midwife and see what she recommends?

How would you determine uterine prolapse by looking in the mirror?

Depends where the mirror is, I suppose.

YANBU the NHS has a long way to go in terms of maternity and post natal care!

Go to a private physio or consultant if you can afford it.

That said it might be worth looking at your maternity notes or speaking with midwife as you might be able to get speedier access to a womens physio at your hospital if you’re having any sort of pelvic floor issues, but I have come to realise this isn’t widely known and probably depends on where you are in the country.

What make you think you have a uterine prolapse during pregnancy?

They cant do anything if you are pregnant.

So best to wait til you've had your baby if you did want to pursue this.

Advice would be pelvic floor exercises/ vaginal ring/ just deal with it until you are old enough that you definitely wont have any more kids,. Cos surgery will be undone if you get pregnant again.

Also they will want your younger kids to be older, cos if you have surgery you have to avoid heavy lifting.

So if you have toddlers again they wouldn't do any surgery.

But for now wait til you've had your baby.

Then it takes approximately at least 6 months for body to go back to normal. So a lot of the ligaments are a lot looser when pregnant. And the high progesterone levels. A lot of people find symptoms improve any time up to 8 months after having the baby, longer if you are breastfeeding.

And if you are worried it might cause issues during the pregnancy talk to your midwife. They can check if it needs any extra monitoring during the pregnancy.

The fact you've Dr Google has probably get their backs up. Simply book and appointment with the GP and discuss it with the professionals. The receptionist seem to think they have a PhD.

I have similar, also DC3.

Ive had a consultant appointment who basically said nothing can be done until after pregnancy, and even then it needs time to settle. It also apparently won’t effect delivery as most of the damage is caused by pregnancy. I paid for a private physio but again not much can be done in pregnancy.

Completely shit though, I feel fobbed off too!

I can tighten mine up with the NHS Squeezy app but it is common. We should all be doing our kegel exercises to prevent prolapse in old age too. Men included.

Well of course it depends where the mirror is, but presumably it would be be to look at the vaginal entrance where the prolapse would be visible?

Of course your GP should try to help by referring you to a specialist physio or gynae. Prolapse can be debilitating.

I ended up going to a private gynaecologist for this same issue. Is that an option for you?

If your uterus is actually prolapsing while you're pregnant - this is a big issue that you need to speak to your midwife about asap. Are you sure it's not a vulval variscosity instead?

Or not such a big issue according to PP!

Ask someone (medical - not just Bob next door ) to have a look without telling them what you think it might be. Play dumb.

I’m going through something similar, not my first baby but first time I’m experiencing this and I am always bringing it up at appointments they are agreeing it’s a prolapse based on my description but nobody seems to want to look down there and instead say it’s normal part of pregnancy. I am nearing the end now so I don’t think I have time for appointments but I know how frustrating this is. I am contemplating an elective section now.

YANBU
Doctors are very dismissive of women's health issues and it shouldn't be just how it is, despite the fact that many women have these issue you shouldn't have to suffer.
I've heard from friends experiencing similar that often the best route to treat prolapse is a pelvic floor physio if you can afford it, they are often more knowledgeable than gynecologists in this issue and there goos physios who can repair prolapses through physio only no surgery.

Pregnancy hormones do change things and your body will need 6 months minimum to settle after the birth so I can see why they're saying nothing can be done at the moment but it's a sad state of affairs and indicative of the NHS being on its knees that they won't examine you to reassure you.....or even just recommend the NHS squeezy app for pelvic floor exercises!

After DD2's birth I had both a bladder prolapse and a rectal prolapse....it is very common. Fortunately the rectal prolapse did sort itself out within a short time after the birth but I've been left with a grade 2 bladder prolapse. If yours doesn't correct itself I'd go straight to a private women's health physio if you can, mine was great and I'm now managing through pelvic floor exercises. I don't need surgery at the moment and won't pursue it anyway until DD2 is older.....but it's the reason we're not having a third baby!

Thanks all. I will look into pelvic floor physios after baby is born - really can’t afford private treatment but if that’s the only option I’ll have to make it work.

I was also told this means I will probably go into premature labour but again all the advice I got was ‘pack your hospital bag.’

I understand the service is currently under strain but it was just the attitude of ‘yes of course this happens, live with it.’ I dealt with the same attitude when I was trying to get a PCOS diagnosis in 2015 (wasn’t believed or tested for years until I gave up and went private) so I don’t think it’s just due to that.

Presumably she's not looking at her face in the mirror is she?

Pf course YANBU. A gynaecological injury is an injury just as a broken arm is. A prolapse can cause long term complications. You need to see a specialist after your baby is born (maybe even before).

I'm not sure because no one will examine and tell me! But that's what it looks like based on what I've seen online, and I can't feel my cervix in its normal place so I think what I'm seeing is the cervix dropped right down.

GP said I was at risk of premature labour (again not having examined) but all she said was to pack my hospital bag.