prolapse - possitive stories and advice.

[Hippo2]

After have a very hard third trimester with my second baby.
Followed by tongue tie and the emotions to stop breast feeding at 2 weeks life suddenly was back on track.

Bang, just before 5 weeks postnatal I had danced around the kitchen with my daughter, long dog walk then a children's birthday party in the afternoon. All seemed fine.
That evening I felt that things didn't feel right, had a look and there starring at me was a back wall vagina bulge.
Going to the loo became difficult and eventually after lots of tears down the phone to the health visitor she managed to get me a doctor's appointment. I was examined and told to do lots of pelvic floor exercises and come back in 6 weeks if still not right.

I went home and managed to get an appointment privately with women's health physio in a weeks time, what if years of pelvic floor exercises and I had done it wrong.

Had 6 week check up, different GPS and told nothing out of the norm for this stage. Really when I have to push a bulge to have a poo.

Saw physio, she said back wall is lax, this what she likes to call it rather than a mild prolapse. She reassures me she is very optimistic and will have me lift and running about again, but it will take time as everything around the lax wall needs building up to lift everything up. No lift excepted when I need to with baby and swimming only. Back to see her in 5 weeks after very simple 3 times a day exercise.

In the mean time this has knocked me after everything else and now suffering postnatal depression. Back to doctors and pushed for a physio referral as she works at our local nhs hospital. Without being rude I have paid into the system for 17 years. Whilst there the GP made a comment that both GPS thought it was my front wall and not back when I was examined. Great physio was happy this was ok. Now something else to worry about.

Point is if you have managed to read all this and are someone who has come out of th e other side, please share your story as I need reassurance.

Yes I have been sent home with tablets and have a very supportive husband and parents. Working through all this. It's the prolapse that has really knocked me and so many negative stories if you google, which does not help.

Thank you for your time.

No one in the same boat. Or have I posted in the wrong place??

Didn't want to read and run, i've had this and was very upset about it at the time. I had a lower back wall collapse (for want of a better description). First felt it when attempting to go running about 4 months after baby born. I was referred to an nhs specialist physio- it may be in your case that they are waiting to see if it improves on its own before referring you? Don't know how far post birth you are? I went to the physio about every 4 weeks and was told to do pelvic floors (physio can check you are doing it right). If I'm honest i was a bit useless at doing the exercises (too sleep deprived to remember) but it all seemed to right itself after I stopped breastfeeding (at 14 months). Physio told me that when breastfeeding- don't know if you are- while your body is not pregnant it's still not back to normal. Obv don't stop feeding but just so you know. My dd is almost 3 now and altho it's still there it doesn't cause me any problems and I hardly notice it anymore, Physio told me about a third of women have some damage after a v birth but majority wouldn't even notice it. If you are really worried go back to gp and ask again for referral to a physio. Hope this helps.

Hope this helps

So sorry- didn't read your post properly. Ignore stuff about feeding. So sorry you've had a hard time. Insist on a referral to the physio- do lots of pelvic floors and try not to worry mine got much better over time and I hardly notice it now- it doesn't stop me from doing anything.

Pelvic floor and core strength exercises, and time will improve things. I have the same issue; my physio told me the vast majority of women who have had multiple vaginal births have some degree of prolapse. Unfortunately it's something people don't talk about, and therefore so many suffer in silence, and GPs often don't give good advice.

The other thing you absolutely need to do is ensure you are not straining on the toilet. I would recommend a spoonful of ground linseed on your breakfast every day. This was recommended to me and has been life-changing. You can get in Sainsburys or Aldi next to the seeds.

I've been told I have a mild prolapse after a big baby and some gynae surgery. I've spent years straining on the loo after my 1st dd and went to see the gp numerous times about my constipation with not much help.

What I've figured out for myself from forums and health websites has meant that I've greatly improved my overall health by eating well, movicol (dr prescribed) has helped when I'm very constipated and I keep that going for a while. As previous poster said linseed is great, not everything works for everyone though and just eating apples and having a glass of grapefruit juice in the morning seems to help me.

Pelvic floor exercises have helped but also so has improving my core strength by doing pilates - just make sure if you do this you tell the instructor you can't do any downward ab exercises, you can get alternatives. I'm doing some cross training work to keep cardio going and avoiding high impact exercise. So far I've seen a really great improvement and I'm hoping I can repair it all myself!!

Hi Hippo2

How are you getting on?
I've just been 'diagnosed' with s front wall vag prolapse. I say 'diagnosed' as consultant was reluctant to put a name on it and said it's way too early to know as I'm only 6 weeks post delivery.

I too am distraught and have had many meltdowns, hysterically crying that this is forever and I'll never feel comfortable again! I'm still feeling pretty ropey but have channelled some of that energy into finding out what I can do for the best.
I found this website really helpful www.pelvicfloorexercises.com.au the woman who runs it is a specialist in Australia.
I felt hurt and angry when drs said its normal, don't worry!! How was I not supposed to worry!
I'm seeing a physio for a pelvic floor exam on Thursday and have been told they will be able to give me more info on recovery etc. very nervous about what she will say.

Glad your Dr have given some tablets to help your mood (I assume that's what you meant) but tablets can only give a helping hand. I work for a counselling service in nhs and would recommend if you need it to go and talk to someone. It can't change what's going on but can give you an outlet and help you to develop ways of coping with this if possible.

I'm hoping its a positive thing that we have both been advised similar, that it can get better with time and plenty of pelvic floor!!
Happy to PM more about this and our progress if you like xx

Can anyone tell me how you know if your pelvic floor exercises are being done correctly?

Can anyone tell me how you can be sure you are doing pelvic floor exercises correctly?