Impact of birth injuries/prolapse etc

[QuentinSummers]

Just read this article in the Guardian and am shocked by just how prevalent prolapse are. This is a feminist issue surely?
Timely for me because I have some kind of issue and don't want to go to the doctor
amp.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2017/dec/28/vaginal-health-post-partum-maternity-rectocele

To add, I think that taking the fecal evacuation as an example-IF we monitor our diet and drink all the right crap so that manual evacuation isn't needed then THIS becomes a "new normal". Psychologically it's ridiculous. We're made to feel like we should be grateful it isn't "worse".

It only feels like a 5lb bag of spuds hanging from my nethers now, as opposed to a 3lb bag. Isn't that great??

I have a prolapse..not entirely sure which kind. Have been doing kegals since having my son but it makes no difference. Have apparently been on the waiting list for near 3 years now with no appointment to actually fix it. Its gross to go into such detail, but I actually have to press on my parts to have a poo. There is bulging out of my vagina...its so awful and it does affect my confidence a lot. I feel vile. DH says it doesn't bother him at all and reckons he didn't even know there was a problem til I mentioned it, but I am still so paranoid about it all. I do not enjoy sex at all the4se days as I am so conscious of it

Just had pelvic repair anterior and posterior . Third GP finally referred me and only did I then have a physical examination 3 years after birth of DS1 which revealed prolapse and stitching not done properly. I had been unable to do aerobics, running or swimming just felt odd even after DS2 birth. My advice ladies be persistent and insistent with GP and ask for physical examination . Do not give up, keep going to another doctor until you get referred. - I am 48 and want to stay fit and exercise for the rest of my life and be able to run around with my 6 and 7 year old. Good Luck!

Meant to read Pelvic Floor Repair

Batshite I asked for cancellation appointment and waiting list should be no more than 18 to 20 weeks. Find out name of secretary of clinic consultant team and check your federal has been received from surgery.

My perineum is an utter mess for poorly-understood reasons unconnected with childbirth. I think it's some genetic weirdness, as my brother has difficulties with his groin and suffers from wicked haemorrhoids, despite exercising loads and eating well.

The closest I've ever come to being offered treatment is a course of mebeverine to help with evacuation, which made me fart every time i bent over and made going to work very embarrassing.

I should have shares in lidocaine cream manufacture and gave up wearing light-coloured knickers years ago.

I too feel as if it's something I should just put up with, especially as others have it worse. Even if that does mean carrying numbing cream with me everywhere, and bleeding randomly.

I take medication that causes constipation so have to take movicol everyday. I have the plain one though, never tried the orange.

They don't take that seriously either, they won't consider constant constipation a reason to change my medication.

It's not always to do with pelvic floor muscles either. I'm having physio following my surgery and the physio says my pelvic floor is reasonably strong (3/5). But once the wall of either side collapsed it needed stitching back up.

Batshite that sounds like a rectocele - where the front wall of the rectum collapses into the back wall of the vagina. As you bear down, stool gets trapped in this bulge pocket; many women this have to "splint", by pressing and contorting themselves, to stop it bulging as you open your bowels. There are things to help, like a pessary or irrigation.

There's a window of opportunity when physio can intervene, but no amount of muscle strengthening can improve things once the ligaments supporting those muscles are stretched and damaged.

Kath Samson set up the campaigning and support group, Sling the Mesh, and was also named as one of The Independent's female groundbreakers of 2017. Lot's of support for women navigating healthcare for prolapse and continence there.

www.facebook.com/groups/784263765025642/about/

www.independent.co.uk/review%20of%20the%20year/review-of-the-year-extraordinary-women-2017-female-groundbreakers-sexism-me-too-feminism-sheroes-a8103171.html

Another poo-splinting rectocele sufferer here! My first birth was ventouse and marathon-length which I think caused it. Couldn’t have sex for over 7 months afterwards—no one could tell me why and I only realised what was wrong with me after extensive googling!

It got better after I stopped breastfeeding when DD was 2.5, (apparently the hormones during BFing make the tissues quite weak.) I didn’t really notice it for ages (another year or so) until I was preggo again with now 6mo DS.

ATM it’s considerably worse, even though I’m never ever constipated I still have to digitally manoeuvre on the toilet sometimes and I fucking hate it.

I’m just hoping it’ll die back down once I’ve put the boobs away but who knows. This is all despite being super fit and a strong pelvic floor.

to all who’ve had a shit time. This undervaluing of women’s health is a disgrace on so many levels.

There isn't a day that goes by that I regret not demanding a caesarean after 34 hours of labour. Unfortunately the doctors decided to give it another half an hour and then needed to use any methods available to get my baby out as I was too tired to do anything. 3 ventouse attempts. Then out came the forceps. My tailbone was fractured (undiagnosed for weeks) in the process leaving me unable to sit down for weeks - absolute agony. Yet all completely ignored and brushed over. 6 years on and nothing is the same. Going to the toilet. Running (my sanity). Sex. Periods that are so heavy as it seems everything just falls out. And then having my muscles described as "lax" but no help given as to what to do. I use an exercise toner and it hasn't helped. So here I am, miserable, but with no options. Every time I hear of a woman getting a caesarean I'm irrationally jealous - I know the forceps did the damage as one of the doctors present said she was horrified at the brutality she witnessed. I guess when they need to get the baby out that's what they do, but surely after 34 hours my chances of having the energy to push were zero? Whilst I'm so happy I have a healthy child, I feel angry that the "vaginal birth at all costs" approach has damaged me permanently. Maybe we should have a hashtag similar to metoo?

Forceps and speculums are pre-Victorian technology and should have been superseded long ago.

A woman I know from walking dogs together did not leave her house for about 2 months after the birth of her (perfectly healthy) son, due to a traumatic birth experience involving forceps. This was a woman who was healthy and active throughout her pregnancy.

MiaowTheCat I'm so sorry for what you've been through. I can't imagine the physical and emotional pain you must be in

This thread is eye-opening, and very hard to read in places. Can we flag it up to MN for consideration for a wider campaign?
to those who are suffering so much without adequate acknowledgement or healthcare. In the UK in the 21st century FFS!!

MiaowTheCat that is abominable. I'm sorry you are suffering.

Miaow :(

It’s a design flaw with the female human body. We have a void/cavity and ligament/muscle weakness is quite common. I know several women - myself and sister included - who are childless but have had both uterine and rectal peolapse without warning at 40-odd years old when orherwise slim, fit and healthy.

Healthcare workers and surgeons have been quite open about the fact that unless its completely fallen out, you just push it (womb/rectum) back up again until it wont stay up any longer and has to be either sewn in place or removed.

So not always birth related but definitely a feminist issue as men dont have their rectums fall out due to a design flaw.

... and if men did have their rectums fall out at 40-odd as a matter of course you can bet they’d be offered more than fucking mesh.

and if men did have their rectums fall out at 40-odd as a matter of course you can bet they’d be offered more than fucking mesh
Yeah that's the point isn't it? Not that it happens but that we are supposed to grin and bear it. Whilst simultaneously being bombarded with crap about the perfect (waxed, plucked, bleached and neat) vagina/vulva.
Can you imagine going to work and going "actually I need to sit down because my innards are falling out?"
My work does a lot about hidden disabilities but I've never, ever seen this discussed.

I used to have to lay down in the toilets because my innards actually were falling out, Quentin. Whilst also taking a rucksack full of catheters and irrigation tubes every 40 minutes or so to deal with emptying myself around the ulcerated and bleeding tissue. I was working at a very closely related medical organisation, that were using their disabled toilet as a store room and were of course, beyond shit in providing any understanding or support.

Quentin exactly! it’s the shrouding in shame of the whole situation. ‘Dont make a fuss dear, as long as your man can penetrate you it’s ok.’ ‘Just wear a pad.’

Ive had to lie on my back in air bycicle mode before now to let everything fall back into place and take the pressure of gravity off my insides.

I think the issue is double sided:

1. It relates solely to women so isnt deemed worthy of serious discussion.

1. It would cost billions to educate the public and healthcare professionals and deal with all the surgery and ongoing care needed.

hinged

Oh wow Miaow, that's awful. So sorry

Haven't really moved far beyond the days of Adam and Eve and "consequences" for disobedience (obviously the woman's fault) in the Bible really

There does seem to be a mentality that women should suffer; The Labours of Eve. Bizarre in this supposedly secular age. It seems to be a fundamental rule of society. You come across it with periods, childbirth, menopause, and any gynae problem. It seems to be hard wired.

It was the same with introduction of pain relief in childbirth, the arrival of the pill and now with hrt, there are always 'reasons' why it is 'dangerous' and you shouldn't touch it with a barge pole - then when you read about the increase in risks, lifestyle is a far bigger risk. There are risks in doing nothing. But 'interfering with nature' is Really Bad