?Prolapse after recent childbirth

[Foreverbaffled]

Hi,

So I’ve got myself in a right old state worrying about a potential prolapse.

I gave birth to my second child vaginally 2 weeks ago. Very rapid labour (induction) and pushing phase only 10 mins. 2nd degree tear but otherwise great.

A few days after coming out of hospital I noticed a dragging sensation in my vagina which gets worse when I’m on my feet too long. I also feel like I’m not fully emptying my bladder when I wee and have to go back and strain forward a bit to get the last drops out. It all feels fine and normal when I’m
sitting down.

I’ve had an investigate down there (I have no idea what I’m doing) and can definitely feel a fleshy lump/bulge at the front of my vagina which I can push back up a bit. My cervix also feels lower than it did previously (but not reaching as far down to the entrance to my vagina - still a good few cm above.)

I’m really concerned I have a ?bladder prolapse but also maybe a milder uterine prolapse. I spoke to my midwife who couldn’t have been less interested but said I should make an appointment with my GP this week. I’m due to see my GP in a month for my 6 week postnatal check up so should I wait until then? It seems like very early days in my recovery so maybe I should just focus on pelvic floor exercises etc in the meantime?

Any positives stories of prolapse recovery would be really appreciated. I’m breastfeeding which I thought I’d mention as think it can leave everything a bit slack until you stop.

Feel so anxious this is the end of my sex life and might impact on any future babies I may want.

Thanks!

Get thee to a doctor.

My dd was born in 4.5 hours i also had a 2nd degree tear. I also had that sensation and i also had a small prolapse.

It wont affect sex the sooner you get it sorted.

Thank you! Can I ask was it a bladder prolapse? And was it sorted via exercises only?

It was. After my dds natural labour they were planning to kick me out straight away but they gave me a catheter because I couldnt pee.

And yup Excercise im afraid. The only thing i will say is try not to leave it too long, because my sister in law had one and is now terrified of sex.

just exercises

It sounds really similar! I can actually feel what I assume is my vaginal wall poking slightly out of my vagina which is terrifying. Very happy to exercise if I can avoid more invasive treatment.

Wait to see what doctor says too. And dont damage yourself fiddling! (felt a bit funny writing that out lol)

Definitely sounds like a prolapse. Such a shame for you. It’s probably worth asking your GP for a referral to see a physio to get the ball rolling as waiting times are likely to be long. You’d GP won’t be able to do much else to help, other than make referrals

No more fiddling I promise :)

Thanks @IntoP20, I guess no harm in contacting GP this week and getting process started.

Hi OP

I have the same.

Confirmed by doctor at my 6 week PP check up after I flagged it myself.

She referred me to uro gynae who were useless because it was "mild" although during my examination there he did say I also had mild uterine descent. I wanted an operation to repair but they wouldn't entertain it because of my age, 25 at the time.

I was told to do a regime of pelvic floor exercises and my GP made a second referral to women's health physio.

They did an examination and said my pelvic floor muscles were becoming stronger due to all the exercises and that I may be able to 'reverse' it with exercises alone (which I didn't buy)

Almost 2 years on it's asymptomatic other than the fact I have to rock a little on the loo to empty my bladder completely. As far as I'm aware it hasn't gotten any worse (I tend not to look there days!)

Sex life is unaffected despite my horror that it would be ruined forever. The first few times I DTD after the birth wasn't pleasant, I couldn't feel much (that was another thing that prompted me to investigate) but I'm happy to report that everything feels fine in that department now.

I'm not sure it'll ever go away without surgery but it doesn't cause me any problems at all right now.

No heavy lifting (I know how impossible that is with kids so I'm only relaying the advice I was given)

Absolutely no running whatsoever, be careful with HIIT workouts etc.

Look into kegal machines, I didn't bother in the end but others I spoke to on MN swore by them and said they really helped.

I'm confident that alot of your unpleasant symptoms will fade away as time goes on, as was the case with me.

You're still in the early stages of recovery post birth so rest assured you have alot more healing to do

Hi @MillyA thank you so much for taking the time to explain what happened to you. I’m so reassured and pleased things are much better now for you. Can I ask whether you could actually feel something bulging around the entrance to your vagina or was it more a sensation? I’ve requested an appointment with the GP today to see what they think. Thank you again.

I definitely feel bulges, makes it a bit fiddly trying to get my Mooncup out!

I went to physio first this exact issue about a year ago, and she just gave me a regime of exercises to do.

Oh and she said sex helps and gave me lube

It was just the sensation of bulging for me, I also had some low level stinging which felt just like a UTI apart from the fact it didn't burn to wee. Just a constant uncomfortable tingle. It was quite strange (that has long since gone away now)

Good luck with your appointment today I hope your GP is helpful, please do come back and let us know how you get on.

Don't panic, see what the doctor says. I had similar symptoms after having my first baby and panicked I had a prolapse but it was "mild vaginal wall laxity" - basically the vagina stretches and you can get the lump. So not necessarily a prolapse. But either way pelvic floor exercises and try to get referred to a specialist women's health physio, they are great

Thanks @IncludeWomenInTheSequel, @MillyA and @kiwiblue for writing, I really appreciate the reassurance. Sounds like these aren’t uncommon symptoms.

I was only able to get a telephone appointment today. The GP is going to see and examine me tomorrow but she said she isn’t too alarmed and sounds like things have just “fallen a bit” following a slightly too rapid labour and that it’s more than likely with some physio things will lift again to some extent. I’ll let you know what she says tomorrow but I’m feeling a bit less shocked by it all. There is almost certainly a prolapse there, just hopefully more in the moderate category than anything too severe!

Good news. Definitely try to get referred to a women's health physio. I had an extremely quick labour with my first and a grade 3 tear so it was automatically arranged for me. I turned up convinced I had a prolapse and they soon reassured me but put me on a lot of exercises. The thing is they can check you are doing the exercises right which really helps. After a few months my pelvic floor was like iron! (Not so good now after number 2, I really need to do my exercises again!)

If I'm honest my physio appointment felt a bit weird. The first question she asked me was 'what is this stopping you doing' to which my answer was, well, nothing really!

I didn't want it checked because it was stopping me doing anything, it was more that I wondered if it needed repaired, and I'm concerned about it getting worse in the future.

But I do my exercises every day so hopefully it's helping. I do feel it a lot when using my Mooncup but apart from that it's not an issue. I used to get that burning/tingling feeling someone else described, as if there was some pee retained, but that's stopped so I guess it's helping a bit.

Word of warning: when they check you internally they seem to leave their hand in for a really long time while you squeeze. It might not bother you but it's quite intimate! Although she did say I had the strongest pelvic floor of the day

I have both the issues you are concerned about - had a 10lb baby first time round and pushed for a long time, and it has caused bladder and uterus prolapse. I did see a women’s physio for a while and while it was a bit embarrassing it alleviated the symptoms slightly.
However I cannot do exercise that impacts on pelvic floor ie running or jumping and I so miss this.
I am posting to give you hope on the more children front as there is a surprisingly small amount of info out there! I have had a second baby since and have not noticed it getting any worse, other than needing to pee a lot! And I had a vaginal delivery in the end second time round.
Hope this helps, good luck and enjoy your lovely baby!

@kiwiblue that’s great! Although I had a 3rd degree tear with my first so I empathise. I think I definitely need to check I’m doing the exercises right. I’m guessing because of Covid the wait to see an nhs physio may take some time but I’ll see what she says tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

@IncludeWomenInTheSequel Love your fanny badge! I’ll prepare myself for some intimate rummaging tomorrow. Better than my prodding and poking as god knows what bits of offal I think I can feel!

@moregingerbreadplease that’s so helpful thank you for taking the time to reply. You’re right there is very little info on Google about subsequent pregnancies. I think if we do go for number 3 I might consider a c-section!!

@Foreverbaffled re what @moregingerbreadplease said re subsequent pregnancies actually there are studies on this! The physio I saw told me about them. They suggest the symptoms don't get worse with subsequent babies until you get up to number 4 and they're not sure why that is. If you've had two vaginal deliveries already then actually a third would probably not make it any worse (and a c section would possibly not help as you'd still have the pressure on the pelvic floor all pregnancy which the physio said is a lot of it). Anyway good luck tomorrow

@kiwiblue it’s fascinating that a body gets to baby number 4 and then essentially says ‘right enough of this!’ I’d always prefer a vaginal birth so it’s reassuring to know that’s an option.

You’ve all been so kind! I’ll let you know what the GP says tomorrow

My surgeon examined me standing up so that she could see the degree. After DD was born it was horrendous so I had to have the front wall repaired about 4 months after she was born. Then a few years later the rear wall, then another couple of repairs. I invested in a kegel 8 and that did make a real difference. I’m now post menopausal and, touch wood, don’t have any issues with it now. You can definitely get it sorted so please pursue and do t be fo. Ed off.

Fobbed off!

@bouncydog it sounds like you’ve really been through it you poor thing but so good that it’s much more manageable now. I’m going to insist they examine me standing as when I lie down the bulge sort of retreats and things feel pretty normal. Thank you for the advice. I might check out the kegel 8.

Just an update

I saw GP this morning and she examined me. My uterus is fine but I have a moderate bladder and rectum prolapse which is why I can feel the bulging front and back at the entrance to my vagina - this only becomes really visible when I strain or cough but is there when relaxed too. She was reassuring that it’s not severe (but also not mild) and lots can be done through physio. She’s referred me to gynae but because of Covid will likely take 6 months to be seen. I’ve spoken to DH and we’re going to scrape some money together so I can see a private women’s physio soon to make sure I’m doing the right exercises and correctly.

I can’t pretend it’s not upsetting but at least I have a plan of action. Lucky my boys are so lovely, even if they have both left a path of destruction behind them!

Thanks for all the support and reassurance though. It seems like a horribly common issue that sadly just isn’t discussed so it’s been good to talk on here.

I had the same two weeks PP.

it improved immeasurably.

I’m now 7.5 years PP and it returned quite obviously over course of last year and I had my repair 6 weeks ago. All well