Pelvic organ prolapse after birth

Like mentioned earlier, the french know the importance of taking care of women post partum:

This article highlights how easily women are just required to bounce back and be back at work after 3 months and carry on like nothing happened to their bodies.

jewishlinknj.com/index.php?option=com_co...%3Ahealth&Itemid=570

When I researched natural childbirth it seems as if most of the information I studied seem to indicate that your body will return to normal as before child labor. Somehow I constructed in my head that we were designed to give birth and therefore things are designed to go back to how they were before labor....Perhaps a bit naive of me but I wonder if some of the very pro-natural literature available is a bit silent on the true effects of labor on the body? Like the many sacrifices a mom makes for her children this is surely one to be added to the list although I was a bit naive to think that growing 2 babies will leave my body pretty much in the same state as long as I am fit. Granted that pelvic organ prolapse is not evident for all women after natural child birth but certainly on the cards for at least 50% of women (some may only experience prolapse at menopause and not like me directly after childbirth).

This article gives an interesting perspective on the aging of the Vagina and vulva through the years:

www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/what-happ...a-as-you-age/7113200

Hi Ladies,

Just a reminder to think about the health of your pelvic floor today?!

Constipation and hemorrhoids are common with pregnancy. Both these can put strain on the pelvic floor that can result in lasting damage to the pelvic floor muscles. Pregnant ladies, please do treat constipation effectively and do not just brush it aside as one of those irritating pregnancy symptoms. I know the pregnancy vitamins often cause constipation especially the iron. Movicol can be taken safely if diet and water intake is not managing your symptoms. Remember, NEVER EVER STRAIN on the toilet with a bowel movement!!

I remember Jana posted about squatting while on the toilet on Moomie a few years ago (I nearly fell off my chair!!), when I saw this video I just had to share!! A step stool is a good substitute for raising your knees higher than your hips if you can't get hold of a squatty potty.

Sensitive viewers - be warned.

This Discreetly fit facebook page has valuable information about Pelvic floor health. "Like" today if you want to know how to care for your pelvic floor. This affects all of us mommies here. Don't wait to take care of your Pelvic floor until it is too late! xx

www.discreetlyfit.com/#content

Hi Trinity,

Thank you for your kind words. I will certainly consider the surgery once I reach the 2 year evaluation mark. Since I have a grade 3 prolapse I have been told there is no way that my cervix is just going to move up again without surgical intervention and even then things might not work.

Thank you for sharing your own experience. I think it is great that a Physio sees a woman just after birth and makes her aware that her pelvic floor has just undergone a major "workout" no matter what type of birth you had. The days following the birth one should take care and rest as much as possible (I was feeling so great after the natural birth I was overdoing everything - those post hormones are seriously dangerous making you think you are super woman!!). I guess it didn't help that my Midwife told me that I will feel almost normal again by Day 3....Since I was discharged 2 hours after the birth and sent home I was thinking: "wow, this natural birth is just amazing compared to a c-section?!". One should always remember that a baby took 9 months to grow it is going to take a while for everything to become strong again and in the mean time one should take care of yourself.

The international forum that I am part of is working very hard to bring attention to caretakers like doctors and midwives to become more aware of early symptoms and ways to perhaps prevent it. This is in the UK, don't know if anyone is dong any similar projects here in South-Africa.

One of the most important things that one should probably be aware of is to make sure constipation is treated effectively (Movicol is good) during pregnancy and that straining with bowel movement should always be avoided. So many ladies battle with constipation during pregnancy and my experience was that doctors don't treat it aggressively enough as if it could lead to possible long lasting complications.

Hi Gloei,

This is so sad what has happened to you and I sympathize. I really hope you will get theraphy and maybe surgical solution to remedy the POP. It is really brave what you have done sharing your story like this and it will help many.

I didn't know that this actually happens, I remember watching a show on TLC about unusual conditions and this woman who had had 5 children's Vaj-j was "falling out" and it happened after having her last child. She had to get surgery to fix everything and she was okay after that. I thought it was one of those 1 in a million cases thing and certainly didn't think about it again after that. I am surprised at how "common" you seem to be describing it happens.

I think midwives and doctors need to bring attention to such things especially if one is experiencing symptoms.

I had a c-section 4 months ago and my doctor brought a physical therapist the day after my op, the lady showed me how to get out bed, do exercises to my arms, legs, and abdomen(to get blood flowing and avoiding blood clots). Most importantly she showed me how to do kegel exercises/pelvic floor exercises (exactly like the ones on the youtube vid with the pillow). She didn't hold back and told me about strengthening the vaj-j for sexual activity and all that . She came to see me everyday for the duration of my stay at the hospital.

I think all doctors and midwives should do this, make sure patients get this therapy as soon as they give birth! We cant just have such serious complictions going unspoken of when it seems they are "common". I think they owe it to us to let us know, no matter how embrassing the topic might be!

Hi Ladies,

I am still a bit baffled that no-one else has stepped up and joined me here?! Having heard how many new ladies my Physio gets monthly with POP I KNOW I am not a small minority.

I find that ladies here on Moomie who had natural births don't share much detail (that I have read) about the healing process post partum. I guess that was why I was also a bit surprised by the recovery after the birth as I realised I haven't read much about the recovery period. I guess moms don't have time to hang around on forums making chit chat about their pelvic floor with a newborn in the arms. Or the state of their vagina that is...

Hope you are all thinking about your pelvic floors today??!

Here is a funny but sadly very true blog post about pelvic floor rehabilitation in France. Brilliant that everyone has to do this. YOU SHOULD TOO!! Don't wait for things to fall apart after having a baby to repair of what is left of your lady bits. I think it is great that all moms who had a baby (even via c-section) strengthens their pelvic floor muscles as pregnancy puts lots of strain on ligaments and muscles.

LOL

www.scarymommy.com/the-vagina-games/