Giving birth after prolapse - natural or ELCS

[splodge77]

I'm currently pregnant with 2nd child & suffered bladder & bowel prolapse with my first 4 years ago - have a ring pessary in situ to help with symptoms. I have option of ELCS this time because of birth injuries but not sure if I want to go down that road or risk another natural birth? Anyone given birth with prolapse problems want to offer any advice or tell me about their experiences?? Thanks

I would opt for ELCS without a moment's thought.

But if you're not sure, find out whether you are more likely to suffer another prolapse if you have a natural birth (I'm guessing once it's happened, the weakness is always there to a certain extent?). Then you need to find out what the prognosis would be IF you had a prolapse again. Would it be more difficult to fix? Would there be issues with continence, both in the short and long term?

No experience of prolapse but thought you may find this thread from a few days back useful to read about the ins and out of elcs from people points of view (showys posts in particular were very informative and nice)
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2208121-C-section-fears-killing-me

Personally I think I'd go for elcs in your situation. But if you opt for VB I'd definitely be asking the questions diving says above

Thanks for that link, really useful! I've talked at length with physio about how another birth might affect prolapse but there's really no way they can know - it might be that the damage has all been done & another baby might just slide on out no problem(!) or if it's a difficult labour it could cause further probs - no way of predicting really. I'm wavering towards ELCS but worried about how long I might have to stay in hospital after. I was in for 10 days with DS & it was pure hell - I really want to get home ASAP after the birth!!

I'm in a similar situation. I'm pregnant with my second and had a third degree tear first time. My feeling is, I'd rather take the KNOWN risks of a ELCS, over the UNKNOWN risks of another VB.

Like you say, no one can predict how it'll go. Baby could be born easily or I could tear just as badly again. I just don't want to take the risk.

The postnatal ward was hell for me too. I was in for four nights and was insane with sleep deprivation by the time I was discharged. Seems the norm for ELCS is around two nights, but some people ask to be discharged after one.

If its a planned c section (far less chance of complications) I think from what various people on here have said you're usually out in 2days, with some hospitals even doing 24hr discharge now.

C Section.

I'm in a similar boat except I'm pg with number three.

The damage was from my first (third degree tear) and the prolapse did worsen with number two.

But I'm opting for VB again. Why? Basically because I do feel the damage has been done already and I will probably need an op at menopause. I would rather avoid the longer recovery of a c section as I have two kids and zero help.

Finally, I feel my vag area is well and truly buggered but my tummy area isn't! I wonder whether my still strong tummy can compensate for the nether regions and if I cut away it's muscles then it might exacerbate it. That's completely unscientific though!

Rooner - muscles don't actually get cut in a c section, just moved. At least that's the method that's listed somewhere official anyway (preggy brain and cant remember where i actually read it).

Thanks for the advice & opinions. Well I still have plenty of time to decide as not due til May. Shall see how rest of pregnancy progresses with the prolapse, physio is talking about taking my ring pessary out soon - eek! Hope it doesn't all fall down (tmi!)

I had ELCS for this reason.

The obstetrician said pushing would make a prolapse worse. Why would I want that?

I had a prolapse with no 1, and was told a further natural birth would make no difference as it is the pregnancy rather than the birth which does the damage. I didn't believe them and insisted on an ELCS for DC2.

My prolapse is no worse and is possibly slightly better than after DC1. I feel I spared myself further damage and would recommend ELCS every time.

Sorry to resurrect a thread that ain't mine (I did post up thread).

I am pg with number three and it turns out this baby is big - 95th centile for head size. My other babies were not so big.

So I am really thinking now I should now push for an elective csection. I can't believe that birthing such a large baby is going to be good for my prolapse.

A few questions.....

What was recovery after your csection like? Despite my bust up fanny, I still have a lovely flat stomach - will that be gone forever after a csection? My prolapse has actually not got any worse during my third pregnancy so I am not sure how much I believe my consultant that it is the preg, not the pushing, that harms...

Thanks so much

I didn't have stretch marks after any pregnancies but I also didn't get a flat stomach back either. I have to confess I didn't try to though.

First birth was vaginal and second was CS. The CS scar is below bikini line so can't see how it could affect flat stomach - does it?

I'm the same dress size as I was pre-pregnancies but just have flabby skin that wobbles round the midriff now

I had a terrible tummy before and after section, so I'm not the best person to ask!

My prolapse improved during pregnancy - it gets sucked up. You only know really howitzer has weathered the storm after birth.