Loss of control over bladder after forceps delivery

[Lishhhh]

Hi all...looking for some answers here...I am 4 weeks post partum and had a forceps delivery and long labour...after the birth I lost complete control of my bladder. No sensation to pee and have been leaking urine constantly...bladder was retaining some urine as well due to which had an UTI. I am devastated and feel like I will never be normal again...I have been referred to physio and have been doing pelvic floor exercises but no signs of improvement. .I am hardly able to bind with my new born. This thing is killing me...has anyone ever faced this and if yes did you recover and how long it took.

@CharleyC0956 yes there is surgery but it is not guaranteed it will make the prolapse better...it can make it worse too if I really have a bad luck..which seems like I have...they usually do the surgery when all other solutions have exhausted ...stress incontinence and prolapse is due to the weakening of the pelvic muscles..yes signal to the bladder and from the bladder can be related to nerve damage .I am having the ultrasound end of this month..she has asked me to keep a diary of the fluids like water etc I drink..and urine I pass..basically measure liquids going in and coming out...and to time interval my toilet trips..I have decided to stop breastfeeding as stopping it can help me heal quicker

@Lishhhh
Yeah I’ve stopped breastfeeding too. I didn’t want to but I wasn’t eating or drinking enough (anxiety diet) to sustain my supply but apparently it helps tighten everything back up when you stop too.
Can you feel the prolapse or is it not causing you any issues at the moment?

@CharleyC0956 I have abundant milk..but stopping it purely for my own benefit..so that muscles tighten up...no the prolapse is not causing any issues..major problem is with sensation to wee and leaking all the time.

@Lishhhh
Did the consultant give you any hope that the leaking will stop and sensation will return?

@CharleyC0956 no she has not said all these problems will go away for sure.. she needs to loom at ultrasound report first.. she just told me to do pelvic floor exercises for some months..and has recommended a physiotherapist...only if this does not work then she will discuss other options like surgery.

So sorry to hear the news, but now you have information and can start your recovery.

If you have the means, I'd recommend seeing a women's health physio. I saw one I found at a local Well-being centre who is both a trained physio with a special interest in women's pelvic floor health, and she is a Pilates instructor.

It felt really good to have someone working in detail on what exercise would help and what not to do. And to check in detail how I could do them without sensation.

Most of my sensation came back but I was so gutted when I found out some of what I'd been doing to recover had made it worse for me.

(I'd joined a gym and was running and lifting small weights to build core strength. My physio could see from her analysis that I didn't have enough pelvic floor muscle strength and tone to be able to do those activities safely without adding pressure to the pelvic floor. So now I know that my good exercises are moderated Pilates and yoga moves - not all are ok - and walking and swimming and cycling are good. Non impact exercises).

Knowledge is power. Get as much as you can. And get support for your head and heart on it. And take it one day at a time. It will improve a lot. And you will find ways around what doesn't fix.

@Lishhhh

Yeah that’s what the urogynae said to me - it’s basically a waiting game to see what happens and to do pelvic floor exercises

@CharleyC0956 did you also go private?

@coathangerdays thank you for your feedback.. yes atleast know I have a sense of dire tonight but all this is still so scary...no sign of sensation or bladder control yet..understand its a long road to recovery...b

It's a total shock. I definitely went through the grief emotions - shock, denial, anger, depression and acceptance. They don't go in order either, and they can come and go.

But it's one part of my life, and I am genuinely not upset about it often now. It's an inconvenience, it can be annoying to plan around it. But everyone gets struggles and this happens to be one of mine.

Im aware of what my body can do and can't do. I've accepted that. Don't always like it but I accept it. No point picking a fight with reality. I've let go of the things not so good for me, like running, and I'm focusing my energy where it's useful - eg walking or yoga.

But the first weeks and months were a mess of emotions and that's totally normal. I felt like I was broken and I'd lost so much. Just at the time when everyone thought I should be all shiny and happy with being a parent. The contrast was immense.

@Lishhhh

No, I saw a NHS urogynae a couple of weeks after giving birth. I was going to go private but then starting thinking what’s the point if I’m just going to be told the same thing. She just said that it’s neuropraxia, basically the nerves being bruised/crushed and need to give it time to heal (approx 3 months). I also had a urodynamics test with Urology which showed I had normal bladder function and they think stress incontinence. Also had an MRI to rule out spinal damage.

@CharleyC0956..nhs urologist told me the same thing..bruising of nerves..but she didn't do any test to confirm...said no prolapse just looking at my face...I decided to go private then...

@Lishhhh

The NHS urogynae wouldn’t even examine me for a prolapse even though I asked. She said there was no point! So I booked in with a nurse at my GP surgery instead who examined me down there.

Will the ultrasound show if you have a nerve damage?

@CharleyC0956 not sure what the ultrasound will show...so did the nurse who examined you said you have no prolapse?

@Lishhhh

Yeah she said no prolapse although the reason I wanted someone to check was because I could definitely feel my cervix low down. I’ve got physio tomorrow so presume they will have a look too.

@CharleyC0956 all the best for tomorrow and keep me updated please.

@toastjam did you check yourself with a uro gynaecologist? How did you improve? Pelvic floor exercises?

@Lishhhh

Been to the physio. She wasn’t able to internally examine me because she said she needed to be sure I didn’t have a UTI, so need to go to the GP to get my pee checked. I’m getting some stomach pain and stinging in my urethra so that’s why she thinks I have a UTI.. But she did an external check.. said she could see my pelvic floor working which was good and that it didn’t look like I had a prolapse. She also said she doesn’t believe my issues are related to my pelvic floor being shot because she’s never seen it before and thinks the muscles look okay from the checks she did…

Then saw the anaesthetist again for a check up because of the epidural. Also couldn’t give me any answers as she’s never seen it before and said my birth was pretty uneventful on paper. Although I had forceps, baby came out in 2 pushes and forceps we’re only in for a matter of minutes. It wasn’t rotational forceps or anything like that. She went to speak to the Obstetricians… who also had no clue. They actually knew who I was at the hospital as they’ve been talking about me and my symptoms, and nobody knows. All she could recommend was going back to my GP!! Who also doesn’t have a clue! It’s an absolute joke. She recommended I get referred to Neurology for further tests but god knows how long that’s going to take! Then my follow up with the Urologist isn’t until August, which is only a telephone call anyway!

@coathangerdays @BlackKittyKat

Do you have any tips on managing it during holidays, days at the beach etc?

I really don’t want this to stop me from doing normal things so looking for ways to manage.

@CharleyC0956..the nhs physio had examined me externally and had said no prolapse..you cannot trust these people.. go for a second opinion if you can.

@CharleyC0956...where are you based...I am based in Leamington Spa...it would be nice to catch up for a coffee if you are close by.

@Lishhhh

Don’t get me wrong, she was lovely but she was crap! I’ve booked to see a private urogynaecologist on Wednesday. I’m hoping I can claim some of it back through work healthcare as I expect it to get very expensive if she wants to do any tests. I’m not expecting any answers as I still feel like it’s a medical mystery but it makes me feel better knowing I have appointments booked in, if that makes sense.

I’m near Preston :( the other two people I know who have this aren’t close by either. It would be lovely to meet up and have a good old moan about our leaky bladders!

@CharleyC0956 I hope all goes well with your private appointment...I do not have insurance so paying on my own...but again health is wealth after all...my stress incontinence Is still same and no improvement...have been doing pelvic exercises....feel so broken from inside...I really hope all goes well for you.

@Lishhhh

Exactly! I’ve been saving like crazy for a house deposit but if push comes to shove, I’ll drain my savings if it means I get better!
Same, I’ve had no improvement at all. Some days I think the leaking is getting worse but not sure if that’s in my head. I’m pelvic flooring like a mad woman using the Squeezy app. I was hoping the physio would talk to me about electric stimulation or using a pessary but nope, nothing! It was really rushed and I never got the chance to ask any questions.
One thing I have noticed, and I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing, I’m getting pains in my lower tummy. It’s hard to explain… it feels bruised but on the inside, and hurts when I poke it. Not sure if that’s where my bladder is!

Op I will send you a private message later if that’s ok, can’t at moment as on school run.