Prolapse - future fertility - very sad

[AOMum14]

Hi everyone,

I am 7 days postpartum and fairly sure I have a bladder prolapse based on a huge bulge popping out of my vagina. I am seeing a midwife about it this week to get confirmation and a refferal.

I feel like this is going to affect future fertility as I feel this must be a bad prolapse if visable and this makes me so sad.

A bit of back story on me - in 2022 I lost my son at 33 weeks. The labour also caused some grazes and a small tear that needed stitches. The idea of doing my pelvic floor then was impossible as my challenge at the time was getting myself out of bed, dress myself and to continue to eat amidst the grief.

13 months later, I gave birth to my daughter very quickly. I became convinced I had a prolapse as I started to see the bulge. A Dr said I didn't have one. I tried to pelvic floor but quite honestly, I forgot most of the time.

Then, I got pregnant again in 2024 when my daughter was 1 year old. I tried hard with my pelvic floor but again, it was not a daily thing. I suffer from extreme anxiety in pregnancy due to the loss of my son meaning pelvic exercises and taking care of myself was difficult.

I am now 7 days post partum after another fairly straight forward labour. But it is awful down there. I can see the bulge very clearly. And I'm so upset with myself- why have I allowed my body to get to this point and why didn't I act?

I don't know if I'll have more children but there is something about the option being taken from me that feels traumatic. So I guess my question is - does prolapse effect fertility and anyone out there that can make me feel less alone?

Many thanks!

Hey lovely, I’m sorry you are going through this.
Things are still quite swollen after the birth at this stage.
Did you see a pelvic floor physio before?
I think that may be a good place to start.
They can assess and give specific exercises to help (rather than kegals which aren’t good for everyone).
Hope you get sorted.
I don’t think it will affect fertility, but maybe you decide a different birth?
This isn’t something you have done or caused, it’s just a thing that happened, and it’s really fucking scary right now, but it will be okay xx

I don’t want to mislead but I’m pretty certain a prolapse won’t affect your fertility. Hopefully someone will come along with more certainty but I had babies two and three after my prolapse. Things are still changing A LOT at 7 days pp as well. Try and be kind to yourself

This is far too soon. You'll be bruised and swollen. Your ligaments are still softened and you've not given yourself any chance to recover at all. It won't be back to normal in a week.

Please don't panic. It doesn't stay like that, honestly!

I don’t think it will affect your fertility, but maybe how you give birth if you have any more children.

Agree with the PP that 7 days is so early in your recovery, things will be so swollen down there it’s going to look like a bit of a car crash. The good news is that these things can be improved if you do have a prolapse, there are treatments available. Highly recommend going to see a women’s health physio for a mummy MOT once you’ve had your 6 week check.

Thank you everyone! I have booked in for a private physio on Friday to give me some spacific advice. Also, I'm just never going to look down there again!