Birthing experiences with prolapse and incontinence

[user1469992853]

Hi I must say sorry if there's too much information going on in what I write..

I suffer with joint hypermobility and when having flare ups chronic pain and fatigue.
Anyway my real sticking point is I suffer with a prolapse of vaginal walls and uterus and also incontinence which is getting much worse (threw up and fully wet myself the other day). I'm only 26 so really worried that my prolapse is getting worse through pregnancy will be extreme by the time baby number 2 is here

I am so stuck between having a vaginal birth and a c section I don't know which is the lesser of two evils as my prolapse needs surgery on once I've recovered

Anybody that can speak from experience I'm definitely listening

I developed a vaginal prolapse late in my 1st pregnancy and had a smooth/straightforward delivery. Prolapse seemed to have gone away about 3 months PP, at least I never noticed it anymore and midwives didn’t seem worried about my condition.

Prolapse came back much more prominently at about 25 weeks with second pregnancy (1.5 yrs later). From the third trimester I was almost always wearing a pad due to peeing with every cough, sneeze, laugh, etc. I literally refused to go anywhere where I wouldn’t have immediate access to a bathroom. (My commute to work really pushed my limits!).

Delivered vaginally with second baby as well, no issues in delivery at all. Drs didn’t even consider I should have a C-section. Prolapse is still an issue 3 months PP, though not as prominent as during pregnancy, and I’m waiting another month before seeing a specialist. Incontinence is not so much an issue anymore, just moderate bladder weakness from childbirth but I don’t live in fear anymore!

Not sure if this is helpful...

What have consultants/midwives said about it?

Sharksave

Midwives and consultants have said because I'm "broken" and due surgery on my prolapse anyway have a vaginal birth and we'll fix you after

I am not much help to you really but didn't know if my story would help. I had a bad prolapse (front and rear of my vagina) after an awful emergency forceps birth without pain relief in March 2015 (I had already had some pelvic floor issues before this but the real damage was done with the forceps) , and had TVT, rectocele and cystocele repair in November 2016. (I thought my family was finished) . However I am 38 weeks pregnant and having an ELCS next Tuesday to avoid ruining the work of the repair operation.

I probably agree with your medical advice so far; it's not fun I know, but try to endure your prolapse symptoms during this pregnancy. If you prefer it , I'd say you have very good grounds for an ELCS to minimise further damage, but yes if your prolapse is that severe you will need the repair op anyway. (Which itself was 2 nights in hospital and very uncomfortable- I won't lie- but the results were more than worth it!!)

On the bright side I was a new woman after my repair op. It really transformed things for me. It was such a huge relief for me to leave behind all the incontinence worries and the heavy dragging feeling and enjoy my love life with my lovely husband again, :)
So please don't feel dispirited....things can and will be so much better for you.
But I know this probably doesn't help you right now- sorry.,xx

I had similar issues to you after my first birth so I'm having a section this time. I've been advised that vaginal will make it all worse and worse = harder to repair.

Thank you for your comments I really appreciate you sharing experiences you've had x

With DD1, I ended up have a C-section. It went well and I recovered easily during my mat leave and had no issues at all.

With DD2, I was pressured into having VBAC. In addition to placental adhesion which meant I nearly bled out right after the birth, VBAC also led to prolapse for me. Due to trauma in the area I was incontinent and on a catheter for a few weeks after DD2 was born and eventually, I had cystocele repair but because I had to wait for the area to recover, I did not have any repair surgery until well after my mat leave had ended which meant more time off work.

I really wish I had just insisted on a second C-section.

If you already have prolapse which needs repair, I would push for a 'double': C-section to avoid further damage + prolapse repair at the same time so that you can use your mat leave to recuperate fully.

good luck!

I'm probably having a section for my second because I ended up with pelvic floor damage after DC1. Mine will more be because I can't guarantee I won't panic when I'm labour, and no one can guarantee a perfectly positioned baby who isn't distressed so I can have another calm water birth. There is a great FB group I'm a member of (not APOPS) who is full of young women our age who are still having kids and it's a really positive atmosphere, if you want to PM me I can give you the name.
My specialist (one of the best in the world) recommends waiting an absolute minimum of 3 years postpartum before having surgery. He's said in his experience (he does a lot of research) it's not until 3 years that a urogynacologist can look at a women and know she's recovered from childbirth. He says physio should always be done until then as some women can avoid surgery for many years with physio alone, and it puts you in a much stronger position post-surgery for recovery and for your repairs holding (which, if you're hyper-flexible, you could be at higher risk of surgery failure).
If you do want to go ahead with a vaginal delivery then there are certain positions which can be beneficial to women with prolapse.

Wow thank you very much that's really useful to know about the physio side of things!!

I do honestly believe that c-section is the way to go for me now so when I see my consultant hopefully they will allow me to have an elective one. They've put so many hurdles in the way it's crazy so far xx