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Original poster

Pelvic floor!

57 replies

inthemaking · 17/10/2008 22:51

Mt pelvic floor muscles arent as strong as they are supposed to be and the doctor gave me some exercises to do and refered me to the hospital?

I am wanting to have another baby - do you think it would be ok to ttc?

OP posts:
MakemineaGandT · 17/10/2008 22:54

Of course. You can do your excercises whilst pregnant.

My pelvic floor is shot to pieces by the way but I am too lazy to do the excercises....

dontfeellikeit · 17/10/2008 22:54

I reckon I had some sort of prolapse after the birth of my first DS who was 9lbs. After the birth of my twins things are totally knackered!!!

Original poster
inthemaking · 17/10/2008 23:01

Well i only really noticed coz i could feel a soft lump inside me n i was asked if i could stop myself from having a wee halfway through - never had tried so next time i went for wee i couldnt! They said do my exercises n when i go to hospital they will give me more advice!

I am wanting another baby but didnt no if it would cause any problems!

OP posts:
suspookywoo · 17/10/2008 23:05

If you had major problems, you would seriously know about it. I have complete procidentia, so a weak pelvic floor would be bliss to me. BTW, I was 26 and a healthy weight when this happened to me, so get on with your kegels and shut up- theres a love.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/10/2008 03:52

that is a really harsh response to a perfectly reasonable OP imo, it's not her fault that you have a worse problem than her!

meandmyjoe · 18/10/2008 09:14

Oooo that's a bit harsh suspookywoo. OP is asking a very valid question.

For what it's worth I think most women's pelvic floor is shot after having a baby. My ds was a fairly big baby and I try to do the excercises when I remember. DS is 14 months now and I still pee when I sneeze!

suspookywoo · 18/10/2008 13:10

Ooh it was a bit harsh- sorry! Was on the vino.

expatinscotland · 18/10/2008 13:12

i'm thinking of getting one of those pelvic floor toners after this one is born.

coochybottom · 18/10/2008 19:43

Depends what type of prolapse you have. Because my womb tilts backwards it doesnt cause too much problem with my bladder but everything is falling out still. Saw consultant who recommended hysterectomy and repair operation if it gets so I cant live with it. Have decided to tolerate it for now. Dont fancy big operation.

Original poster
inthemaking · 18/10/2008 21:51

Coochy - my doc said that it could possibly be my womb tilting back - the hospital will tell me more!

Would that cause a problem having another baby?
I don't fancy a big op like that at 22!

OP posts:
coochybottom · 19/10/2008 10:13

I did have problems getting pregnant second time around (took 4 years) but was told I had unexplained infertility and did conceive eventually (naturally) with id twins. My 1st son was quite big and I do think I had some prolapse after his birth as I found it difficult using tampons. Since having the twins it has obviously got worse and I can see a lump coming out! . Sometimes it is worse than others, particularly if I have been on my feet all day(gravity!!). I can remember when I was tttc one doc telling me to try different positions!!! and when I have a smear they find it hard to find my cervix! However, it was not given as a reason for my infertility. I think it may have contributed thou. I wish it had been picked up earlier so that might be in your favour. Even after the twins no one took me seriously until 4 years later when it was well and truly knackered! Sorry for the graphic details. HTH xx

suspookywoo · 19/10/2008 10:13

I will answer you sensibly now I am sober. I have been treated for 6 years for mine and it is now a third degree prolapse/ procidentia (coochybottom- nice to meet someone else on here who's is as severe as mine, bloody awful isn't it). I went on to have a second child no problem, although the gynae did suggest that I had a c section which I did. The additional weight and pressure did cause the prolapse to worsen slightly however the Gynae and I have changed the way it is being managed and that seems to be working better. I have now requested to have the repair as I feel this is the right time for me. HTH.

coochybottom · 19/10/2008 10:21

Mine has been classed 2nd degree at the mo. Do you think it will gradually get worse? Am hoping to delay any major op if I can. Is there anything I can do to stop it geting worse? For my type (rectocele?) surgery appears to be the only option.

suspookywoo · 19/10/2008 10:27

Yours is the other type to mine, mine is cystoceole. I used a ring pessary for the last 6 years, but am now using 2 together as the prolapse was protruding even with the pessary. I researched this myself on the internet and suggested it to my gynae and it has made the world of difference. I also have a cube pessary, which I only tried out briefly as I am waiting for it in 'my size' , that worked really well too. There is a lot of info out there if you google. My gynae is wonderful, it is a specialised unit for prolapses in a womens hospital. I am the youngest patient by a good 40 years. Contact me on [email protected] if you want to talk further, it is my specialist subject

coochybottom · 19/10/2008 10:39

Great to talk to someone who knows. I felt odd one out when I went to the clinic too. I am 42. How old are you? I will be back on here later. Taking DTs to tennis soon. xx

suspookywoo · 19/10/2008 10:47

I am 33 now but 26 when it was diagnosed after DD's birth. I lift/carry in my job too which doesn't help. I can forget about it most days, especially with the 2 pessaries in, but its not great is it- DH doesn't like to think about it .

vickyplus3 · 19/10/2008 13:22

I have been wondering abouth this for a while. I am sure I did some damage pushing after a long labour and on an epidural. 'something' protudes and it certainly was not there before giving birth. When I went to the doctor for a coil fitting and a smear last year she said everything was fine and my husband says he doesn't notice anything (how can he not?). I don't always do my kegal exercises but do run and exercise core stability. However I can have a weak bladder, especially around my time of the month. When I was running a lot last year I found my pelvic floor could really hurt so that is when I starting doing more core stability on the advice of a friend, it helped with the pain.

Any similar experiences or advice? I don't think we will have any more children, my first two (twins) were deilvered by c-section so didn't have as much of a problem then despite the weight of pregnancy on the muscles!

suspookywoo · 19/10/2008 14:19

I can't run, everything inside moves! If something protrudes then that sounds to me like a prolapse. It is hard to diagnose whilst lying down and this is the reason your DH won't feel it- everything goes bak into place when you lie down. You could ask for a referral to a gynaecologist, who may ask you to 'bear down' whilst she stands beneath you as mine did.....and people think you lose all dignity having a baby- sheesh!

coochybottom · 19/10/2008 16:48

suspooky Can you explain how the pessaries work and do you think they would be ok for my type of prolapse? The consultant didnt mention them and I thought I might have read that they are not suitable in my situation.btw I found his examination of me really traumatic. He was a lovely man and there was another female doc present but I was quite tearful afterwards. By the time I got back in my car I felt a bit sick. Being examined from all angles was not pleasant and when my friends complain about smear tests I think "so whats all the fuss about!".

coochybottom · 19/10/2008 16:51

My 1st son was forceps delivery. My twins were a forceps and a ventouse. Not good for anyones pelvic floor eh?

suspookywoo · 19/10/2008 18:24

Mine is a uterine prolapse, so it is the uterus which has dropped down into the vagina, which makes pessaries perfect. They are circular and way larger than you would expect (like a bangle) and they stay in the vagina all the time. You are able to have sex and use tampons/mooncups etc as these go through the middle . I have found this website which talks about all the pessaries and specifies which type of prolapse they are effective with. The cube which I thought was fab, works with your type too. It may be more of a faff as it has to be removed at night and re-inserted in the morning. HTH

suwoo · 19/10/2008 18:29

I am posting with my usual name now, so this is me suspookywoo.

vickyplus3 · 19/10/2008 19:23

do you relly think it could be a prolapse ? You are right about lying down being unable to feel it but it is definitely there when standing. It doesn't protrude externally but it is clealry quite low. I didn't mention that my last DS was delivered with ventouse - can that make a difference?

suwoo · 19/10/2008 19:55

I didn't have an assisted delivery, but I can see how it might have an effect. From my knowledge (purely based on my own experience and research) it does sound likely. I would ask for a referral back to a specialised unit.

coochybottom · 19/10/2008 20:19

vicky I think it does make a difference lying down. I have a stage 2 prolapse and cannot keep a tampon in which really bothers me. However, I can use them at night as I am lying down. Mine is visible with a mirror when I am standing up. I have had 3 assisted deliveries and dont think they have helped.Along with me already having a tilted womb probably, it has all collapsed!I can live with it at the mo but it does get me down occasionally. I work out a lot at the gym and dont fancy the recovery n all from an operation. Plus no one to help with the kids while I'm laid up.