Such a sore bottom

[Heepers]

I can't believe I'm posting this but I can't find anything online that quite reflects my problem - or maybe it's just piles.

Had a straightforward vaginal delivery 4 weeks ago and went to the loo next day with no problem. However slowly it has become more and more painful to do a poo - I get the urge to go but find it hard to empty my rectum (sorry this is grim).

I think I strained too hard and now everything is swollen and sore and my anus is a funny shape (long line, not a circle).

Does anyone have any experience of this? It hurts quite a lot and I am anxious about going to the loo etc. Have been taking fibrogel for the last few days but this hasn't really improved anything.

TIA x

I didn’t get this but I found fybogel wasn’t as good as lactoluse if that’s any use? If your actual skin is sore try baby’s nappy cream on it.

Struggling to empty can be a pelvic floor thing. Any bulging of the back wall of your vagina? Doing your pelvic floor exercises AND practising relaxing pelvic floor fully each day can help. Short term you can use a pad of tissue to support your perineum if that helps.

Hope it improves soon, post-birth bodies are a real trip!

Thank you so much for replying. I know I have a mild uterine prolapse so I guess it could be related to that. I'll try your tips for sure. It's such a bummer (excuse the pun).

Lactulose is great - read the instructions and take as often as it says and keep on it. Fibrogel helped a bit, not as much and tastes GRIM.
Drink heaps of water.
Prunes - have a few with breakfast.
Piles cream - apply frequently.

It is horrendous, and I think making your poo a little softer does help with not having to strain too hard. And gives everything else a chance to heal.

Feels awful at the time, but hopefully won't last long.

No worries (I’m in the prolapse club too) - if it is prolapse sometimes a finger inside your vagina helps support things and direct poo down and out rather than kind of sideways internally. The glamour, eh?!

Can a uterine prolapse cause symptoms like this??

No, but if your pelvic floor muscles are a bit stretched/managed from birth, your rectum will have less support. You may also have a slight rectocele (where your rectum flops/bulges into the posterior wall of your vagina). Chances are it’ll improve on its own as you recover from the birth, it is definitely not time to panic. X

Damaged, not managed!