Second pregnancy after prolapse

[Luella123]

Hi there,

Looking for some advice...I am due my second in the next few weeks but am struggling with what type of birth to have or vaginal or c section.

My first birth went terribly - baby got stuck, pushed 3+ hours, episiotomy, ventouse and then removal of placenta under general anaesthetic due to suspected sepsis and baby ended up in NICU. As a result of all the intervention I ended up with a prolapsed urethra and some sagging of the anterior vaginal walls. I couldn't walk for more than ten minutes, so much discomfort- it felt like a tampon in the wrong angle. Really affected my mental health as I have always been super active and nobody had warned me about potential risks of prolapse.

It took quite some time for me to feel "normal" again with the help of physio. Symptoms eventually went away but my urethra is still visible if I look down there and won't be the same.

I'm now pregnant and due to give birth to my second and wondered if anyone else had experience of birth after they've had a similar prolapse? My preference is to have a vaginal birth as C section scares me and recovery is long. Would be great to hear from others with similar experiences as feeling really lost at the moment and unsure what the right decision is. Worried I could worsen the prolapse by having vaginal birth and that I will need surgery later on etc.

Thanks so much in advance x

Hey there. As someone who's had a vaginal birth and a section, I'd recommend getting a section. I strongly suspect I have a prolapse from my first birth experience and I do hear another birth could make it worse. My section was an emergency one but it was fine. Minimal pain on recovery. Did the exercises, rested up, felt healed after 4 weeks but took the full 6 weeks to make sure I was fully healed. No side effects, no issues at all. I was pleasantly surprised. I felt a lot more damaged after my vaginal birth tbh!

I appreciate it's different for everyone but just wanted to let you know my experience in case it helps. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

Hi, this article might be helpful to you. It basically says it's the first one that does the damage and the second one doesn't usually make it worse.

obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/uog.13252

Of course, you should go with your gut feeling. Sorry you had such an awful birth last time. FWIW I was similar and my second was fine. I actually feel better down there in some ways, don't know how.

I had a prolapse after my first baby and went on to have my second with no problems. It hasn't changed anything but it hasn't made it worse. I was worried beforehand though. I'm about to have dc3 and the worry is there again but I'm hopeful that it will be ok. Then I have a post natal apt already booked to check it out again and see where we go from here as this will be my last baby. My 2nd birth was much quicker and easier and I felt much better during and after as I knew what I was doing so much more and I'm sure this all helped so I wish you the same!

Echo PP that said somehow I look and feel more normal down there now too. Also no idea why. But I have very few days where I feel symptomatic rather than not thinking about it so that is a big plus.