Merry Christmas! Is prolapse the norm?

[Ouchmyundercarriage]

Here’s a Christmassy topic: the state of my vagina since the forceps birth of my daughter 6 months ago.

The cut and tear seem to have healed normally but everything still feels uncomfortable and abnormal. The whole area feels heavy and like something is poking out. My GP says she can’t see a prolapse when she did an exam lying down but sometimes I can feel my colon through my vagina wall and I think I can also feel my bladder protruding down. It is uncomfortable to walk and gets worse if I walk any distance. I’ve been doing PF exercises since before the birth and after but doesn’t seem to have helped. It doesn’t seem to be better since the birth.

My question is: am I making a fuss? Does everyone who has a vaginal birth have these problems? That’s the impression I’ve been given by my GP and Midwife. Everyone says it will get better over time, will it? Is this just something all/many women put up with and don’t talk about?

Doesn't sound right to me. No back to the doctor or try to seek a second opinion.
X

*go

I have stupid nails on, can't do anything with them on!!

Ask for a referral to a gynaecologist. I had a small rectocele (bowel prolapse) after a forceps delivery which the doctor couldn't see, but the gynae identified it straight away and I had a little operation to fix it. The sooner they sort it out, the better, I think.

It's common, but doesn't mean you have to put up with it. Go back and ask to be referred.

My GP says she can’t see a prolapse when she did an exam lying down

Yes it's not the most helpful position to be examined is it? I had a prolapse during and after my last pg (DC3, but really it arose from birth of DC2 about a year previously).

I was examined at 6 months after DC3 and they said I was ok, just carry on with pelvic floor exercises etc. DC3 is now nearly 2 and I am completely fine.

The first few months after his birth were pretty hard going though, and I had a lot of issues. I think as you're not seeing an improvement now at the 6 month mark that you should go back and have it checked.

It does get better though

I had a prolapse after my first who was ventouse. It got better although I still struggle with tampons sometimes.
But the more important bit: I had forceps with my second. I went back to the gp at 9 months because I was still very wrong. I wasn’t incontinent but I dodn’t Have long when I needed to poo. The gp I spoke to did a good examination (good?) but said that it would take a long time to heal from forceps. I think their description of forceps might have been brutal!

My little one is now 2 and i’m Back to normal. I’m actually better than I was after my first.

So it’s not normal, not everyone has one. But 6 months is a bit early to have everything back to normal.

Merry Christmas! Kxx

Thank you everyone so much for your replies. It’s reassuring to know it can get better but also that I shouldn’t just accept it. Ok I am going to go back and ask for a referral on and hope for the best at the same time. I hope everyone has had a lovely day

No you need to go back to your GP and get a referral for postnatal physio. What you're describing sounds exactly like me - nearly 5 months on from a very long labour, forceps birth and large episiotomy which didn't heal properly.
I saw a physio in the weeks immediately after birth but my GP has referred me back after I went to her with all the symptoms you've described.
In the meantime I'm finding doing a lot of PF exercises using the Squeezy app and avoiding heavy lifting are helping a bit.
I think women are too good at putting up and shutting up and just trying to get on with it. Men would never put up with this level of discomfort! Good luck x

Sherrie Palm, the founder and director of the Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse (APOPS) will be discussing prolapse in the live Mumsnet webchat.
You can submit your questions here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/3144287-Webchat-with-Sherrie-Palm-of-Pelvic-organ-prolapse-support-organisation-Tuesday-23-January-9-10pm