Prolapse and breastfeeding

[LouisaLovesMice]

I've recently had a prolapse and I'm four months postpartum. I'm waiting for a physio appointment but no idea how long I'll have to wait, and there's no way to find out. There's no possibility of going private.

I'm really scared it will get worse and want to do everything possible to avoid that. I'm following all the standard advice as closely as possible but can't avoid lifting altogether etc.

I know stopping breastfeeding can help reduce symptoms for many people. Ideally I'd wait and discuss this with the physio, but I might be waiting months for that so I really have to decide on my own. It would be better for me to switch to formula and for my DC to have a healthy(ish) mother, than for me to carry on BF and for the prolapse to get worse. But obviously I don't want to give up BF if it won't make any difference.

So I'm hoping for your stories - if you had a prolapse in the first six months after birth, did the symptoms reduce significantly upon stopping BF?

Or did anyone find that oestrogen cream helped whilst breastfeeding?

Hi,

I have an anterior and posterior prolapse (grade 2) since having my second baby. It has got significantly better over time and with some dedicated pelvic floor exercises (get the squeezy app!) and I've been breastfeeding throughout and still am 14 months later. I've seen two Physios and both denied that stopping breastfeeding would help. They recommended I carry on given the benefits to the baby would outweigh any potential positive impact on the prolapse (which in itself is harmless however annoying. Everyone feels differently about this though I appreciate)

No idea whether stopping breastfeeding will help, can't see how it would tbh. Have a look at mutu system, they have exercise adaptations for prolapse.

Look at Perifit. Might help.

My prolapse got better while I was breastfeeding. And has got worse at various points while not breastfeeding. Just my experience.

I had a double prolapse soon after birth, i breastfed for 2 years in the end and yes it did improve a little once I’d stopped but it generally improved over time anyway. It didn’t worsen throughout the time I was feeding. I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding earlier because of it so I just waited it out. To be honest the thing that made the biggest difference to it was buying a Kegel8 machine and following the prolapse programme on it religiously. I also second the recommendation for the Mutu system. Strengthening your core (safely) and pelvic floor and just time are what will make the biggest difference. Try not to panic. It’s horrible at first but it does get better.

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful. It's good to know nobody experienced worsening symptoms whilst breastfeeding. I think I'll carry on until I can see the physio at least. It's also great that it's possible for the prolapse to lessen with time - I thought from reading that they only ever stayed the same or got worse.

I actually have pretty strong PF muscles I think, in that I've always been able to control it fully, even right after birth. I can contract different parts of the muscles separately, and easily reach the benchmark 10 long / 10 short and many more. I did 50 exercises a day religiously throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Did anyone find the kegel8 useful if they already had strong(ish) PF muscles? @Hadenough21 ?

Thanks also for the perifit/mutu recommendations - I'll check them out ☺️

@LouisaLovesMice I think my muscles are pretty good as well as I’ve never once wet myself or even leaked, even during pregnancy or immediately afterwards, I can hold it for quite a long time so I am a bit baffled as to why I had a prolapse to be honest! I had a fast labour though and I did far too much lifting straight afterwards (stupidly) so I think things just got over stretched. It can 100% improve with time and then Kegel8 made a big difference to me even though I had no problems with continence like I said. Also recovery from pregnancy and birth is quite long, so things do continue to naturally improve over time anyway. The physio will be able to advise im sure but if you want to breastfeed then don’t rush to stop in the hope that it’ll make a big difference as it may not.

After doing the Kegel8 programme mine improved to the point where I couldn’t usually feel it at all unless I’d been doing some heavy lifting (which I avoid as much as possible). Im pregnant again now and I expected it to get bad in pregnancy but it hasn’t so far (third trimester). Im prepared that it might be worse after the birth but I plan to do the Kegel8 programme again the the Mutu system to re-strengthen so I’m not too worried. But basically yes, if you work on it then it can definitely get a lot better!

@Hadenough21 oh you sound quite similar to me so that's reassuring that you've found it possible to improve with working on it. I had a fast labour too, but two hours of pushing, so not ideal. I was very well behaved for a month or so afterwards - not lifting and doing housework etc, but then I felt great and started on yoga and walking miles and rolling on the floor with the baby.... I really wish midwives would mention that there was a possibility your organs might attempt escape if you did these things - I had no idea! I thought great, my pelvic floor feels back to normal so I'm good to get on with my usual activity levels. Woops.
I hope your pregnancy and birth don't cause it to worsen and that you get back to your best quickly. At least this time around you know what to do!

@LouisaLovesMice yes I agree it’s really annoying that it’s not talked about more! I know they mention pelvic floor exercises but it’s always said in relation to incontinence and that’s never been an issue for me so I didn’t worry about it. Then straight after birth I was lifting my toddler all the time, lifting the car seat and pram etc, crawling around soft play thinking I was totally fine. It makes me cringe now and feel really let down that we are not educated more on how to look after yourself after birth. This time I intend to rest rest rest and no lifting at all for a while!

I had one after ds1. Breastfeeding made zero difference to it. However I did become pregnant again when he was 8 months old and I’m sorry to say that because I had hyperemesis for the second pregnancy, every time I was sick I would wet myself. Sorry I know that’s grim and tmi. . It’s much better now though x

No no, thanks for sharing, I appreciate it. Sorry to hear you've had this, but glad it's better now. It sounds awful!

I have a stage 3 pro, surgery booked for two weeks time, I didn't find breastfeeding helped or made it worse but I guess I was already too far gone for that to help, 4 baby is now 18 months old, only thing I would say if you are still at a stage where remedy's to fix it avoid you getting to the point im currently at do it, purely as once baby finishes breast feeding your going to be the one left suffering if it gets worse Which a lot of the time it does if you don't take action for it and it's defiantly not much fun,

X

Thank you @MummaL32 I'm doing everything I can but it seems to be getting worse. I don't know what stage it is yet but I guess stage 2. It's so awful I want to die. It feels like my whole life is broken and over to be honest. I'm so fit, healthy and strong and I work hard at this. I had imagined a life where I'd be able to pick up my baby and cuddle him, roll on the floor, go for walks, do all the outdoor activities I used to do, etc. To say nothing of hoovering, shopping and generally being a useful half of my marriage.
I can't imagine what stage 3 must be like - I'm so sorry you've had to go through that 🙁 I hope your surgery goes really well and you notice a real improvement.

I have a prolapse caused by DD2'a birth, and giving up breastfeeding definitely improved my symptoms.

Thank you Covidwoes, that's good to hear. Seems a bit pot luck whether it makes a difference or not, so will cross my fingers it works for me!

Thank you, me too, I was the same as you doing anything was a massive struggle and I wasn't able to lift my baby up and to be honest haven't now held him for about 5-6 months
My husband does pretty much everything when it comes to lifting, have you seen a doctor? And spoke about a ring pessary ?
It doesn't take it away but will help with daily life temporary , walking etc, like you I am very active and couldn't understand how it happened to me, and majorly effected everything in home life so I completely sympathise x

That's so sad that you've not been able to pick up your child 🙁 I have booked a GP appointment but it isn't until next week. I can still walk but it just feels much worse after, and I don't know if it just feels worse, or if I'm actually making it worse, which obviously I want to avoid.
I actually suspect I have overactive PF muscles (which has lead to weakness and therefore prolapse) as I've realised I hold my PF contracted all the time. I have other symptoms of overactive PF too. So now I don't know if I should be doing the exercises at all, or working on relaxing it! I wish I knew when the physio appointment will be!
It's such a huge impact on everything you do isn't it? Like even nappy changes, or playing on the floor, or standing up again after. I feel like an old woman!

100% it effects everything!
And I've also realised since I've been quiet open (now I feel like I am not so ashamed) a lot of people I know are also going through the same thing or similar thing is women can sit and talk about there horrific births etc but never want to discuss a prolapse it's just not talked about like it's wrong, well that's how I felt when it first happened,

I did have one in 2015 after having two baby's back to back but it was small and was able to feel after about 6 weeks a massive improvement , but this time everything you do in life has just worsened it even hoovering is a nightmare and yes lifting baby in and out of crib and feeling like you need to cross your legs ,

Only advice I can give is push the docs as there in no hurry to seek help for it with covid that service is majorly limited and no one seems to care much for the fact your suffering ,

Let me know how you get on next week x

I think you're right - more people need to talk about it. I think I'll wait until I have seen the physio and got a diagnosis though! I have an appointment for April now, so not too long thankfully.
The GP was not helpful. He basically just said to go to the physio, which I knew obviously. Never mind!
I feel as if the prolapse has improved quite a bit, which is surprising. I was feeling that dragging feeling all the time, but now it's only maybe a third of the time and it's not as severe either. Not complaining, but very confused as I didn't think it was supposed to improve that fast. Especially as I haven't been increased my PF exercises as I think my PF might be overactive so I've been focussing on relaxing it. I have been lifting more carefully but that's it really. Weird!
How are you doing yourself? Your surgery must be very imminent? I've got everything crossed for you that it's completely successful and gets you the life changes you're hoping for xx

@LouisaLovesMice how are you doing now?