Prolapse during pregnancy, any experiences would be great

[*Beema*]

I found out yesterday that I am suffering a uterine prolapse, great at 14 weeks

It is a horrible when it feels like your insides are falling out through your vagina

I start physio on Tuesday, I have to work on Kleugal (sp) exercises, I can only spend short amounts of time on my feet as everything starts to fall, resting often and when I can, putting my bum up on a pillow and lying down, or kneeling then going flat on my tummy with my arms flat on the ground (a yoga move I did during my pregnancy with DD )

What did you do or not do during pregnancy?
Were you able to strengthen the muscles?
I may have to go down the path or a perssarie ring (sp) if we can't strengthen the muscles, what impact did this have?
Were you about to deliver via VB or did you need a CS?

Any answers or experiences would be hugely appreciated.
TIA xxoo

[squidipa]

hey sweet as ya know i have been there 4 times now, i also had a ventro suspension done to repair it after the first prolapse.

What did you do or not do during pregnancy?
No yelling or lifting heavy things i had to stop lifting the kids so where ever possible stop lifting nakita No vacuuming mopping either. sit down and get ehr to sit on you or climb up.

Were you able to strengthen the muscles? the prolapse is due to OVER stretched and or relaxed ligaments no i could not strengthen them but i could strengthen my pelvic muscles to stop it dropping out so much but in my case it did not work. it was like a golf ball hanging out. I too suffered early on and even now it still has not gone back up like it did with the others so i may need another ventro suspension done.

I may have to go down the path or a perssarie ring (sp) if we can't strengthen the muscles, what impact did this have? unfortunately for me the ring did not hold and slipped down and i had to remove it

Were you about to deliver via VB or did you need a CS? I was gonna deliver vb before prolapse but under excellent advice and knowing my future i decided with the advice from my great gynecologist to try to preserve as much as possible so as i could hold future babies this is why i have had 1 vb then 4 cs's.

Anything else i can help ya with sweet???

[squidipa]

i have a bit more time here, your right it is horrible this feeling u and i share. personally its made we dig deep and question things about me being female and my whole future and babies. I feel ripped off as im sure u do too, i know all so well this feeling biug huggles for you. I just wanted to say im so sorry you have this issue to.

[*Beema*]

Thanks for all the info Squidipa

I had my physio appointment yesterday and it was a great appointment, the physio is really lovely and she has had two prems, 34 and 36 weeks and she looks after a lot of my OB's patients all high risk. She is really supportive and said we can still achieve a natural delivery and she understand why I want to go that way if possible, as I know it will help in getting Flickers lungs ready to breathe. But she is also going to be there post natally to get me back together again no matter what happens. She said that all my muscles have healed very consistently from the two tears and episiotomy that I had with DD, she said usually she can tell, but mine has healed extremely well

She said that I have a significant prolapse, but I still have good strength in the muscles, probably too powerful but I don't have the endurance, which is why they are failing. So I have exercises and breathing to work on and I need to focus on how to do them correctly, most of them I was doing everything really well, it was I just forget to breathe at the same time with some and that is what we are working on.

So I am definitely working on my breathing and exercises so I can avoid the perssarie ring.

I also mentioned what my OB said at the end of my last appointment that I had a significant amount of CM around my cervix and she said "ah you are already primed ready to go them"... yes.... not really what you want to be at 15 weeks :, but at least we are aware and watching for all the signs, such is life...

I am going back to see her in two weeks so hopefully we have some improvement then.

I have also found the just sitting doesn't stop everything sliping more throughout the day, I actually have to lie down and elevate my bum or go on my knees and lean forwards in forward Virasana.

[*Beema*]

Delete, double post

[squidipa]

sounds great vic

the extra CM was a nightmare 10 changes of undies a day before my op, it was depressing. it may all be better after flicker is born

[belfie]

Beema - I had a moderate cystocele (bladder) prolapse half way through my first pregnancy... will be back tomorrow to tell u more! This is to remind me!

Totally agree they are a right PITA (well A is not quite right is it!), big

[belfie]

Ok i'm finally back (where did that week go? ). In the interim, I've actually made it back to my physio to discover that my cystocele prolapse is still the same (moderate), but I also have a mild rectocele prolapse too. I was convinced it was heaps worse since being pregnant again, but she's assured me that the actual prolapses are no different, it's just the weight of bubba causing me more symptoms, plus pregnancy blood flow/changes making it all more uncomfortable (bah!). So I'm totally with you on HATING the feeling of your insides falling out - I find squatting or sitting on the toilet very very uncomfortable, and definitely worse during PG).

So answers to your questions:
What did you do or not do during pregnancy? I don't think I've changed from what I couldn't do during non-PG, basically told to avoid coughing (chronic), constipation, heavy lifting (defined as having to hold your breath for a big lift effort). . I also found that copious vomiting doesn't help either . I'm finding that being on my feet bothers me much more than it used to, plus i'm regularly picking up my toddler (about 12-13 kgs) which I'm sure doesn't help. I haven't been told to avoid any housework, but I think I like the idea... . I also have a DH who is prone to a bad back, and currently has a neck sprain... so I'm doing everything atm *sigh* with frequent "rests". I agree that sitting isn't always enough, it has to be a full lie down. Easier said than done some times.

Were you able to strengthen the muscles? I've sustained some nerve damage to my PFM from my last birth - so my strength (on each side of my PFM) is rated by my physio as 4.5/5 and 2/5 respectively). My physio encourages me to work on that weak side but we've not had much success (over 18 mths), and she says that's why I'm having more continence related problems atm . As she explains it (and you probably know) - the actual ligaments that have stretched can't be strengthened, all you can do is strengthen the pelvic floor muscle that sits underneath and attempts to hold everything up/in.

I may have to go down the path or a perssarie ring (sp) if we can't strengthen the muscles, what impact did this have? I also considered a ring last PG but didn't do it in the end. So saying it wasn't as bad then cos I didn't have the nerve damage. May do it this time.

Were you about to deliver via VB or did you need a CS? I delivered VB (suffered the prolapse half-way through my last PG). My phsyio thinks I should go CS this time - she thinks another birth like the last is too risky. My obs is hedging his bets, but agrees that forceps should be avoided (last birth: GD on insulin, induction, epi, failed suction, forceps).. Apparently once you get to 2+ PGs, the actually weight of bubba during the PG does the damage with the prolapses anyway. So they find that the delivery method doesn't necessarily make a massive difference (apart from the fact that forceps are known to be more likely to cause issues). In my case, I've also got a marginal placenta previa this time, plus waiting to see if I get GD again - both of which may sway the case for VB vs CS. So it's a wait & see game. I'd suggest that may also be the case for you. It also depends how many more childen you want too as to best method to avoid exacerbating the prolapse. Did you get yours after the birth of your first child?

I have to say it's a right foul thing to have - it's not like you can have a whinge to your neighbours about your vagina falling out today...

Squidipa - I'm curious, with the ventro suspension, was it a big op to have it done? And how much difference did it make? I've been told that there's no point having anything done until I've finished having kids but my prolapse is only moderate, maybe that's why?

Thinking of you both & sending "keep it all in" vibes!

Cheers,
Belfie