Rectocele prolapse

[coffeewithmilk]

Hi,
I had a vaginal delivery 4 weeks ago, was pushing for over an hour and needed an episiotomy.
Had a look the other day to make sure stitches were all healed up which they are, but noticed a bulge. Have been told by my GP that it's something called a rectocele prolapse.

I've been so upset since - has anyone experience with this and does it cause any problems? I can just feel a constant bulge coming from my vagina. I'm only 30 and would like to have more children in the future and so upset that something like this has happened.

Any advice/experiences is appreciated

Yes I had a mild one after dc1 and had surgical repair when she was 12weeks. Dc2 was born by elcs 4years later and dc3 is coming by section this week too.

It's very common. My urogynogologist told me that most women who have a vaginal birth have some degree of rectocele. In the months following birth you have low oestrogen (especially if breastfeeding) and a high level of a hormone called relaxin which makes all your muscles down there a bit floppy. Low oestrogen leads to the vaginal walls being weak and everything bulges in. Honestly, give it a year and you'll have healed up nicely. A year is what it usually takes. My youngest is 9 and I do still have a bit of a prolapse but it's mostly healed and I feel absolutely fine. I don't notice it. Try not to worry. Just give it time and it will greatly improve.

@wingingit33 thank you for sharing your experience. Was it causing you lots of problems to have it surgically repaired?

@SallyWD thank you so much for explaining this: I never knew this, and am currently breastfeeding. It's given me some hope that it's not all negative and hopefully can improve over time

Yes I had one after Dd was born - could feel it when I sat down.

5 years on its completely back to normal.

Do get it checked out in case you need surgery, but I promise you it’s very normal and lots of women have one after birth and don’t even realise.

Hugs OP

I had two Prolapses at the same time and was so so upset, I cried so much. It felt so big. DS is 8 months now and my rectocele disappeared about 3 months ago. The other prolapse has reduced so much that I barely notice it.

I’m nearly 13 weeks pp from having ds2. At my 8 week appt the dr diagnosed a mild bladder prolapse - I could feel it bulging when I walked too much etc.

I’ve been religiously doing pelvic floor exercises and also following someone called Femfusion on YouTube - she has a 30day Kegle camp thing - only 10min videos but it’s really helped and The weird bulge/pressure sensation has massively improved for me. I’ve done it I’ve 5ish weeks so you don’t have to do every day.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. It's been reassuring xx

My rectocele didn't go, but I have learnt to live with it. Physio really helped. I developed it after the birth of my first child a few years ago and have just had another baby My consultant said that a vaginal delivery would make it a lot worse and that surgery to fix the rectocele can be hit and miss, so it was advised to have a c-section. The c-section was great and the second pregnancy/birth has not made the situation worse.

I went for surgery because I wanted to feel like me again. I was in my 20s and I was so upset to think I had a prolapse already so young. It was a quick day surgery and very pleased with my decision to go through with it. Women are so often told to just get on with our issues which is just wrong.

@wingingit33 can I ask how old you was and if you had surgery on nhs? I’m only 27 and want surgery but so hard to get them to agree it’s affecting my life and my womb is all low! If you got on nhs how long did you have to wait and did it go well, xx

I had one after dc3, you should be able to push it back out with your fingers. Once you've done that you can tighten your pelvic floor and hopefully it will stay out for a bit.

I had to "correct" mine every time I went to the loo for a while but after a while my pelvic floor had strengthened again and I haven't had to do it in months (dc3 is 21m now)