OMG - is this a prolapse?

I'm really freaking out here. Things don't feel at all right down there & I'm really starting to worry. I know it's only been 2 weeks, but by afternoon I am feeling VERY uncomfortable, and I can't even go for a short walk without considerable 'discomfort'. I feel as though there is something about to come out of my vagina.

I have had a look the last few days, and there is definitely 'something' right there inside. But until today I wasn't game to feel. Well I did & now I'm really panicking, as it was quite hard. I think it must be my cervix? I'm really freaking out here & am so frustrated that I can't even walk around much. I was so looking forward to the wonderful fast recovery of a vaginal birth, but I feel as though I can't do anything for fear of making it worse.

Oh, and when I do my pelvic floor exercises, it actually hurts, as 'it' is so low that I think I am squeezing something that I shouldn't IYKWIM. But if I do them first thing in the morning it seems OK.

Please help!!! :(

Hey Linda

if it does not feel right, then you should see your dr...not wait for the 6 weeks checkup

depending on the type of delivery you had can affect the tone of the pelvic floor...an instrumental delivery places more strain on the pelvic floor

a true uterine prolapse is not as common as many dr's like to make out...but it may be a small prolapse of your posterior vaginal wall, which would cause that discomfort and a feeling of fullness

remember it takes a few weeks for things to start feeling ok again...if it is causing discomfort doing your pelvic floors, perhaps try working on your posture to strenghten your pelvic floor...draw the navel back to the spine to activate the abdominal muscles, which in turn improves the tone of your pelvic floor

I hope this helps :)

xx yogababy

Hun, even if it is a prolapse, it may only be a 'slight' one and (provided you're doing your pelvic floor exercises) they often resolve themselves over a few months. Worthwhile to see your dr, also ask to see a physio who specialises in postnatal physio. Good luck - don't fret! :)

Hi Linda
It does sound a little like a prolapse however without being able to see it I can’[t say for sure. You have only just given birth and your pelvic floor muscles are still a little weak and stretched. It could resolve itself in a few weeks but if you are uncomfortable then a trip to your doctor would be a good idea

Oh no. :(I thought as much. Thanks so much for the quick replies.

I've got the MCHN coming on Tuesday, who I know also happens to be a private midwife. So I'm going to ask her to take a look. Then I'm going to try to get in to see my OB.

I know this sounds like a really silly thing, but I have been SO excited about getting back into my running, and now I'm scared that I will have to wait for AGES. I feel right now that if I was to try to run my entire uterus would fall out! :o

Hi Linda
I think I would give running a miss for now. The jaring of your feet hitting the ground will be very uncomfortable. Perhaps you could try power walking.

Hi Linda - you poor thing!!!

I've seen a friend go through the same thing and it's not pleasant at all. She too was ok in the morning but as the day progressed things started getting worse and by the end of the day she was pretty much confined to the lounge. After suffering from this for a good 9-10months she was advised to go in an have what was to be a minor operation to fix the problem (prolapse) however for her it only made things worse and she is now waiting to have some more permanent surgery done.
Sorry i don't want to scare you at all but i really think i'd be getting it all checked out sooner rather then later.

Goodluck sweetie.

Hello!

I wouldn't worry too much at this very early stage!

I have a prolapsed bladder since the birth of my daughter 10 months ago, they are still saying it will improve a lot over time and will not even contemplate surgery, I have to go back for a review in January, but they fully expect it will improve a lot by then.

Please don't get too worried after only 2 weeks, everything is still very stretched out and your body is full of hormones which make everything more relaxed down there! But do keep doing the pelvic floor exercises, but don't overdo them like I did, I ended up in real pain from cramping down there!!

Marion

OMG westy - you've really got me worried now! :( I couldn't handle this for months on end.

Thanks Marion. So what does a prolapsed bladder feel/look like? Is it similar to what I've described?

Alan - I definitely won't be running yet, but will be really disappointed if I can't by 6 weeks. I feel like I've been waiting forever to get back into it, and now it's going to be even longer. Just doesn't feel fair.

I just remembered..I was in hospital for a week after having my DD...when I squatted down to get my stuff out of my locker to go home I wet myself as my pelvic floor was so weak at that time..this soon improved within a few weeks and I have had no such problems since, so I really think things will improve so much over the next few weeks for you!!

A prolapsed bladder just feels like a bulge hanging down to the outside when my bladder is full, especially when I am standing up, and looks like that too. If I tire out my pelvic floor with too many exercises or trying to "hold it up" all the time, I get the uncomfortable feeling you mention and find it hard to walk around. But to be honest most of the time I don't notice it now.

I think the best solution is to do your pelvic floor exercises but in between try to relax about it, I found if I thought about it and worried about it I was clenching my pelvic floor subconsciously and made it much worse.

I'm sure you will see improvements very soon. My GP didn't even believe I had a prolapse as they are very uncommon at childbearing age, and our muscles recover much quicker and pull everything back up, according to the hospital.

I know its very upsetting though :(

Marion

x

Sorry Linda, i didn't mean to scare you !!!

Everyone's different so don't worry too much you may find in a few weeks things settle down...which i hope they do. I think part of the reason my friend had such a bad experience too was partly due to the size of her babies & it never had a chance to completely heal before she had her second one.

Hi Linda,

I have recently been diagnosed as having a "moderate" prolapse.

I experience very similar symptoms to what you have described (more detail in my post asking if 'anyone else has a stretched vagina after giving birth?' - something I've now figured out can be a symptom of prolapse).

I think that if possible, you really need to get to see a physio asap. I also think that if you can, try to see a physio that only deals with post natal issues. It's expensive, but if you can't find a good one attached to a public hospital or something, I think it's worth paying one privately - a good investment my partner says!

I saw a council physio initially and although she said that I had a prolapse and that my cervix was sitting much lower than it should be, I found that she really wasn't that helpful at all (which was really depressing). I don' t know how I would have begun to recover with her as she sent me away with no additional exercises, information or hope really! Have since been to see a private physio that has some sort of post graduate qualification in vaginas and she has been absolutely fantastic.

I found that I really had to try hard to get help for the problem. When I discussed the feeling of pressure and discomfort with my ob at my 6 week check up, he examined me and was quite dismissive, saying that it looked like a normal post birth vagina. When I talked to my gp about it, she wouldn't even examine me as she said there was 'no point' as even if something was wrong she wouldn't be able to refer me to anyone until 6 months after my baby's birth.

Until really recently I felt incredible pressure everytime I was on my feet for anymore than about 30 minutes. I found that this feeling of pressure and discomfort actually increased and got much worse as the months progressed after my birth. I had a 9 pound baby, really long second stage, a 2nd degree tear, pushed for over 2 hours and a vacuum extraction. The physio told me that all of these factors probably damaged my nerves.

She said that as the months went on my nerves have started to recover which made the symptoms of the prolapse suddenly feel much worse, even though the prolapse itself was probably much better than it had been after giving birth. My scar started to hurt much more, sex was really painful and I even had trouble with something as simple as walking around the supermarket.

Although I had been doing my pelvic floor exercises religiously and it turns out correctly, I'd only really been doing quite limited exercises. I've recently started going to pelvic floor/pilates classes designed for post natal women as often as I possibly can and I can't believe the difference within a matter of weeks. For the first time in months I can now walk around for a number of hours without feeling like everything is going to fall out.

I also felt/feel depressed about not being able to go running (or swimming), and must confess that I've found it harder to keep sane. Running and swimming for me used to be not just a way of keeping fit and healthy but a bit of headspace to myself. I miss it even more now that I feel like I'm "on" for my baby 24 hours a day.

The physio said that one of the things that contributes to a prolapse is damaged ligaments (which can't hold everything in place anymore) and that although it can be incredibly difficult to fix ligaments that have been stretched, it was possible to get your body to compensate with muscles. She said that running at this point might further damage my ligaments and that I should only do low impact excerise (although quite frankly I've reached a point where I'd be happy with standing up without feeling uncomfortable right now)! She didn't give me any reassurance that I'd be able to go running again, even though I specifically asked her if I would be able to in time.

Am still struggling with the whole thing and kind of muddling along in terms of looking for answers. I have found that aside from the physio, the biggest support that i have received has been from women online here and in one other pregnancy website. It's been an absolute godsend as it's kind of one of those topics that you can't really talk about in public. It's been good to know that they are women out there who have experienced symptoms identical to mine and have really improved with time and pelvic floor exercises.

I can't believe the improvement that I've had just in the last couple of weeks since seeing the physio and going to classes. I've also bought myself a fitball and incorporated some of the exercises into my routine at home. If I put my finger in my vagina I can't feel my cervic sitting really low anymore and the physio agreed that it was now sitting more or less where it should be. My vagina is still not what I would consider to be "normal", but I feel much more positive about it all since geting proper information and a strategy to deal with it.

Good luck! I totally empahtise - it's bloody awful having these symptoms, but for what it's worth, you're not alone. Hope you're doing alright and that things improve for you.

Bea - I've only got a minute now - but just want to say thank you SO much for sharing your experience. I have got a lot out of reading what you have said. I don't know what is around in my area in the way of specialist physios (small town), but it's good to know about.

Linda,

I ended up with a minor prolapse after my sons birth. Probably had a lot to do with a vac extraction (instrument births have higher rates of prolapses), and that the midwife made me push for over an hour when i had no urge cos the baby was posterior.

I also had that achy, pressure feeling in the beginning, but i found it after thinking i had pulled a stitch and saw it in the mirror.

I was in a bit of a panick as a few years ago my mum had a severe prolapse operated on. She told me it just appeared like 10+ years after having her third, she left it for a very very long time, and then got the operation done. Commonly they just do a hystorectomy, which my mother refused, and just had it stitched back into place. She hasn't had any problems since.

Mine got a lot lot better with time, and i think after about 3 months it was basically back to normal. When a lot of the relaxin etc gets out of your system (which i believe can take around 6 months), you end up with a lot stronger ligaments able to hold things in place.

My obs said he wouldn't do anything until i was 40 and finished having kids, but at least we are both aware of it, so will try to make sure i don't get another after this baby.. But like i said, i think my is 100% normal now.

I would find a good physio to help, and try to avoid running etc, as these first few weeks are critical for getting it to try and correct itself naturally.

HTH?

ETA: there are a few different types of prolapses - bladder, rectal, vaginal vault, cervix etc - depends what part is hanging down basically. oh and my colorectal surgeon was interested in what type i had and if that contributed to the fissure - just thought you might be interested on that side of things.

That is really interesting Yael in regards to the 'other' areas. I also wondered if my history in the other department may show that I have a weakness or susceptability (sp?) in general.

I am feeling a bit better now. I called around to my OB, my GP and the maternity unit, but none of them would see me. In the end I went up to emergency & saw a Dr there. She said she thought I may have an infection, but TBH I think that was just because she wanted to 'diagnose' something & get me outta there. I asked her what the heaviness was & what I could see, and she said I have a prolapse of the vaginal wall, but said it in a way as though that is perfectly normal & nothing to worry about. ??

Hi Linda,

It's good to hear you've been to have it checked out.

I think that's one of the things i'm finding difficult with my experience is Ifind it's hard to gauge what a "normal" post natal vagina should be like and compare it with the symptoms I've got. I think I put my faith in people like my ob who said it looked normal, but in fact, months later I learned that it was not normal at all.

I can't really figure out or get my head around what normal is. I don' t know if other women who've had straight forward births feel that there vagina is any different or can wear tampons with no troubles. I've read a couple of posts where a number of women say they can't wear tampons since having children, but I don't know if they've all got minor symptoms of prolapse or if tampons don't sit right for most people after having a baby? Is it normal to have a prolapse of the vaginal wall after giving birth?

I guess that's what I was referring to in my earlier post when I said I'd found it difficult to get help. I don't understand how my ob and gp (who didn't even look) could say it was all normal and yet months later 2 seperate physios say that I have a prolapse.

I think it's possible to see someone like the doctor you saw today who tells you it's "normal" and then realise months later that you still have a problem. (Am hoping this post is coming out ok as I have a grizzling, wriggly baby on my lap so am finding it difficult to concentrate - don't know if I'm making any sense or if it's sounding all doom and gloom which it's not meant to)!

I don't know what sort of birth you had and the chances are that you've had you're baby so recently you'll probably dramatically improve over the coming months. However, if I were you, I would keep pursuing it until you get to see a physio and have a pelvic floor exercise program written specifically for you. If I had have insisted on seeing a physio (which I've since learnt you don't need a referal for) I might not be sitting here 6 months later unable to wear a tampon, swim, run or some days even walk around the block! A trip to a private physio cost me $80 and i reckon it's worth every cent!

Obviously you need to allow your body a bit of time to heal, but don't let them fob you off! Good luck!

ps. Like Yael says there are different types of prolapse - I think mine is a uterine prolapse.

Thanks Bea - you're post totally makes sense. I did only give birth 3 weeks ago, but still just don't feel 'right'. I will see what happens at my 6 week check up & go from there now. I hadn't even thought about tampons! I imagine that in this state tehre is no way one would stay in! :o

Hi Linda,

I have a minor prolapse of the front vaginal wall, which allows the bladder to sag in, and results in a feeling of bulging or heaviness.

Unlike others I can't see mine hanging out or anything but first noticed a strange feeling of "something there" about 3 weeks after birth of my 2nd baby in April.

I knew it was a prolapse as I have read a lot about it and my mum had one with me too.

I had a great labour and birth experience 2nd time around and recovered really quick, even DTD after only 12 days, was so pleased with my recovery, then all of a sudden noticed this odd feeling one day and my heart hit the ground.

A trip to OB at 3.5 weeks post natal confirmed it. He said it's really common, something like one in ten women, with the number jumping up to one in 2 or 3 around the age of 50!

In my case he said it was probably the birth of my first baby that did the damage: she was 4.2 kilos and I pushed for 2 hrs.

But I just wanted to say that it's now 4.5 months on from the birth of my 2nd baby and I really can't feel anything wrong at all. No stress incontinence, no feeling of bulging at the end of the day now, and am doing full on pelvic floor exercises as specified by a proper "womens" physio that will help keep me toned and feeling pretty normal down there. I felt normal from about 12 weeks.

Sex is fine, if not better, and my body feels good again.

So I just wanted to tell you not to stress. I'm not a runner like you but reckon you'll be fine if you just give it time. 6 weeks might be a bit ambitious, but who knows, we're all different. Sounds like you were pretty fit pre preg so you should bounce back and be normal soon.

Hang in there and good luck. And go see a special physio... it did wonders.

:)

Thanks heaps for letting me know that CL. I think that mine is a vaginal prolapse too, that's what the dr at A & E said. So glad to hear that it isn't giving you any more trouble now either. So are you running again now too?

Hi Linda,

I don't have anything to add re: prolapses except :hug: :hug: Good luck with the specialist and i hope you'll start to feel better very soon.

Anyway i thought i'd post because i sympathise about the running. I did a half marathon last Sunday on a stress fractured foot (which i'd had for a coupla weeks and shouldn't have run on, but it was for charity, and my body is NOT the type which can handle distances over 10k, so it was only for once, ya know?) and i'm now looking at 3-5 weeks no running to let it heal and then very short runs to start back. I know that's nothing compared to half a pregnancy off, but i do feel for you (and going from running 20-30miles a week to nothing is KILLING me! LOL).

At the moment i'm in the pool 3 times a week and as soon as the foot is no longer painful when i press the fracture site i'm going to try bodypump (hopefully when the new quarter starts in October) and maybe combat or RPM. As it is, i'm hoping to be running 5-7.5k a couple of times a week again by Christmas, and i'm doing at least 2 10ks next year. But i thought i would post and offer my sympathy and also, if you want, in a few weeks, once everything's been checked out and you've got the all-clear to exercise, the offer to swap/discuss pool workouts and training tips?

Take care

Bx

Thanks heaps Bec - Wow on your 1/2 marathon! You're a champ!! I can't believe you did it with a fracture!!!! I'll PM you (when I can use 2 hands :rolleyes:) because I'd love to 'train' with you!!!

I just went for a 1/2 hour walk & it actually feels pretty good. So I'm feeling very positive. :)

Wow! These symptoms you girls have talked about is what I am experiencing!!
The Dr told me on Wednesday that I could have a minor prolapse. I had a 3rd degree tear. Its been 11 weeks since DD birth and on Wednesday I had to have some scar tissue burnt off. But I am also having the heaviness/bulging at the front....is this right, its right in the front where the pubic hair is? (inside of course LOL).

Could the scar tissue also be causing the uncomfortableness? I get the heaviness and bulging, but also I get a pain right inside. My Dr said she couldn't see anything which is good.

I just want it to be over, I can't stand for more than 5 mins without being in pain, or walking around. I can't do the grocery shopping or stand much to make dinner....I am so over it.

I like the thought of the pilates classes....does anyone know of any for post natal in the Narre Warren area in Melbourn??

Think I may have developed a prolapse yesterday. I was coughing last night and something just did not feel right. I started to feel as though there was something sitting at my vaginal opening, had a feel and it does feel different to touch.

Shocked that something would develop now and concerned about what is happening as I don't want this pregnancy to be affected. My bowels have been a mess lately and yesterday I finally got some good movement happening, so I am wondering if I have strained too much.

Oh well I better head off to the doctor.

First of all Astrid, I can so sympathise with bowel problems in late pregnancy. Agarol and water, water, water and pears are good. As is going to a female physio and getting her to show you the right way to "strain". I WISH I had known. It would have made things SO much better in the last months of pregnancy.

Linda - I am wondering how you are going now? Like you I found I had both anterior and posterior vaginal wall prolapses a couple of weeks after giving birth. It felt like I had a plum-sized bulge falling down into the entrance of my vagina from the front wall. I did pelvic floor muscles til the cows came home and had a physio confirm I was doing them correctly, but unfortunately for me these vaginal wall prolapse got worse. My physio thinks that I might have done more damage by pulling my dining room table (which is on wheels and something I didn't even think twice about doing) across the room.

To all of you living with prolapses - I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW BAD PULLING THINGS TOWARDS YOU IS FOR PROLAPSES. ANY ACTIVITY THAT RESEMBLES PULLING WEEDS IS REALLLY REAALLLLY BAD for making prolapses worse. As is getting constipated and straining. Most prolapses occur after a bowel movement. So my other piece of advice is make sure you never ever get constipated if you have a prolapse.

Anyway to cut a long story short - I was very careful, and very constrained about not doing too much, and religious about my pelvic floor exercises. I tried not to be too heroic in anything physical and waited patiently for the time when I would wean my DD and my hormones, and hopefully my vaginal walls would improve.

When DD was 8 months, AF came back. Five days later I suddenly had this weird sensation that I had a champagne cork just inside the entrance to my vagina. I quick self examination confirmed my worst nightmare I had a uterine prolapse as well. My physio told me that it is quite common for prolapses to suddenly get a lot worse when AF returns.

Luckily for me the front wall prolapse actually blocked off the entrance and meant my uterus and cervix didn't fall out completely. Then for a very long and emotionally tumultuous 13 days I had to not lift my child or do anything too physical while I waited to get into my ob. He fitted a pessary - which worked reasonably well but I knew things were very bad when it kept slipping (and I just turned 41) so I scheduled surgery. I am now recovering from a manchester repair. It has been 3w2d since the op. It is a LOT worse than childbirth. But hopefully I will be able to resume some sort of normal life by Christmas.

Any of you that are finding things tough going should seek out the insertion of a pessary. When I had mine fitted, I walked out of my obstetricians office and felt vaguely normal for the first time in 7 and a half months. It was terrific, although shortlived. Pessaries work for about 3-4 out of 10 women and are a great alternative to surgery for women with moderate to severe prolapses who haven't finished childbearing.

Unfortunately for me, my child bearing days are now probably over.

I am really pleased to hear that Pilates and Pelvic Floor exercises are making a big difference to some of you younger girls. I do shudder though, Linda, at the idea of your going running. It sounds like a really bad idea to me. I can tell you from personal experience that having the possibility of your whole uterus coming out of your body is enough to put you into shock. I think you should just hang in there and be very gentle about things for a bit longer.

Brilliant thread! I have wondered about all this after the birth of my 4th. Things don't feel like they used to down there and I'm convinced I have a mild prolapse now... guh!

Just a warning - might be TMI all though out this post

Well, i have some fantastic news to share with you all

Looks like my prolapse is back :( All I want to do is cry...I had one after my first (and i was told it was pretty uncommon to end up with them after your first child), but then it cleared up by itself (maybe i did a few kegels but not very many), and i was hoping it was just the vacuum extrac and the pushing for 2 hours that did it

This time i had the perfect birth, pushed for 10 mins (4 times in total), although it was a pretty quick delivery especially due to the cord being tightly around her neck 3 times.. I ended up with a smaller first degree tear than last time (i actually had 2 last time, in different spots).

Anyway, I'm not like 10 days after birth and 2 days ago i thought i would check how my stitches were, as bits of them were beginning to fall out. And then i saw i think a bigger prolapse than last time. There is like no hole there (sorry for TMI), its like covered by i guess part of the vaginal wall ??

Funnily enough, i had no heavy sensation like i did last time. But then i was walking slowly around the shopping centre with DH today for like 30 mins, and i started to get a bit sore and achey down there. I also def. had a sensation, almost like i had a tampon in that wasn't in far enough, if that makes sense? And it felt irritated, i guess because bits that are normally inside were touching/rubbing against my pad??

Do i bother to go to my GP, or just wait for my 6 week check up with my obs (for him to say again, do pelvic floor exercises and I'll fix it when you have finished having kids!). I think i might start using my epi-no to try and make sure I'm doing them properly, and in a few weeks I'll head over to my physio.

I'm just worried it will get worse and worse with each kid - which scares the hell out of me! My mum needed major surgery to hers (after only 3 kids, and i want 10!), they wanted to do a hysterectomy, but she ended up just having it stitched back in place. Even when I've finished having kids, i still want my uterus!

And I'm worried it will be sore and achey and uncomfortable for the next 20 years until I've finished having kids.

I wonder if its because in general physically i had a really quick delivery and have been feeling fantastic. I haven't been overdoing it, but i still have to pick up my toddler and have been running around with him and stuff. I wonder if that has had anything to do with it, or if given my history it would have happened anyway?

Ok, got to go have dinner... anyone have any advice to cheer me up??

Hi Yael. :hug: hun, it's no fun :( You could see a doctor earlier but they might ask you to come back if it's not resolved by 6 weeks...?

Look up Mayan womb massage online. It's not a difficult technique and can help the uterus to sit where it's supposed to. Do the kegels REALLY religiously, i can't stress that enough - in the early weeks they're a woman's best best best friend. No, they will not "fix" all prolapses but many prolapses are temporary anyway and doing kegels hastens the recovery and helps maintain it.

To avoid prolapse surgery in the future you can work on your pelvic strength now and until the next bub. The epi-no should be a good start, you can also buy other pelvic floor toners, your physio can recommend one. The pelvic floor is like any other muscle - you can strengthen it hugely - body-builders who can lift 150kg once only lifted their coffee to their lips - it's the same arms, just a little work.

I did my kegels SO religiously during PG and since DD's birth Yael, i can't tell you - 10 and 20 times a day sometimes, hardly a day passes when i don't do at least 2 or 3 sets. Once it's a habit it's so easy! Sex is better, orgasms are better, stress incontinence isn't on the radar and 2 months ago i ran 13.1 miles without an ache in that area. It is only kegels for me.

Now i DO have a friend who has a weaker pelvic floor, and she has to work hard after her babies to get her tone back but she CAN do it. Anyone who doesn't have paralysis can improve pelvic floor tone, it's like any other form of strength training - dedication gets results.

As for your mum, well, i don't know when that was, but i'll tell you now that they don't try to get pre-menopausal women to have hysterectomies for prolapses nowadays. Post-menopausal, yes, because older women are at increased risk of cervical and endometrial cancers and the uterus isn't "doing" much, but in pre-menopausal women it's a last resort. Your prolapse would have to be persistant (having already resisited surgery) and severe (with your cervix out side the vagina for instance) before hysterectomy was considered.

I think they don't like to do a repair while you're still wanting to have more kids (because the repair can come undone at the next birth and it's harder to keep doing them) so kegels are the way to go just now. Kegels are a long-term proposition. It is so frustrating to be doing anything again and again and not seeing results but those results WILL some. There ARE NOT people in the world who lift weights every day and don't get stronger, your pelvic floor is designed to hold everything in there in place and it can go on doing that.

It is only 9 days since you gave birth!!! Give yourself a little time and squeeze squeeze squeeze those muscles.

:hug:

Bec

Oh geez, thanks for this thread girls - I thought the only thing your kegels was for was for bladder strength - I had now idea that prolapses could occur!! I am kegelling like mad right now :(

Wrote a long post last night only to have the whole thing disappear. Very frustrating!

Yael, just wanted to say am so sorry for you to hear that your prolapse has returned. I completely understand the desire to cry and seem to do so myself on a regular basis! I also have an epi-no, and have been worrying that it might have contributed to the prolapse in the first place. Although I haven't found any information on the internet anywhere to indicate that might be the case, since using it I have heard a few negative snippets. For example, have since heard that the Royal Women's in Melb ran a trial and decide not to recommend using it (but i don't know why - Moderators do you know anything about this)?

Kar, I was wondering if you could tell us anything more about your surgery? I fear that I'm heading in that direction myself as I can't possibly imagine living with this for years on end (and it's already been over 8 months). What is a 'Manchester repair'? What sort of a prognosis have they given you if they expect you to be able to resume some sort of a normal life by christmas? Are you able to have a normal sex life after surgery? (Although I tell you I don't have one now anyway, and think I'd almost be happy to settle for walking myself right now)! Can you wear tampons? Do high impact exercise like running? I hope you don't mind me asking 20 questions, I haven't been able to find any information online from women who have actually undergone surgery. I feel so down about it any additional information would be much appreciated.

Ps.

Kar, I was also wondering why a prolapse can get worse after your period returns? I haven't got mine yet and am feeling very nervous now at the thought that this could possibly get any worse.

Thanks guys for the reply.

Bec - my mum was post menopause at the time, but still had a Manchester repair done. I know hers was quite severe, but she tells me she only got it 10 years after having my brother, and left it for like 8 years before she had it fixed.

I really do need to start with my kegels - I'm just had other problems since birth - came home from hospital with gastro (trust me, not what you want with stitches around), my stitches have fallen out but the wound is still bleeding, and my anal fissure is back - and surprisingly i still feel 300 times better than i did after DS birth!

I think i will go see a physio about doing them properly first, and then take it from there.. I know I have to do it, or i will have to live with the consequences. I've always have a cr@p pelvic floor, pregnancy/birth has made it worse, but its the stress incontinence that gets me.... I had a severe chest infection for weeks when i was around 33 weeks - by the end i gave up trying to hold it in when i coughed, and i just don't want to feel like that anymore! 25 and i wet myself every single time i cough/laugh/sneeze etc.

Bea - I only used my epi-no a few times with DS, and i followed what i thought was their instructions (they claimed to Kelly i used it wrong, but I've asked a few ppl what they thought of the wording, and everyone sided with me).. to cut a long story short, 2 weeks or so before his birth it caused me to tear (freaked me out seeing all that blood etc, and then i was worried that i would re-tear during labour), so i gave up. Never used it with DD (didn't want to go down that road again), but if you don't inflate it you can use it for PFE, an inflated for birth training. Not sure about RWH, but my obs works there so i will ask him about it when i see him. I will also ask my physio.

OK, now for my current problems - might be TMI...(warning)

My bleeding had stopped 100% by Tuesday - day 10 (it was very light from day 8-10). Anyway, day 10 in the afternoon i go to the toilet, and when i stand up there is a stream of blood coming out of me. Not ultra fast, more like a stream of wee, but its blood... have to stand there for like a minute or so if i had timed it, maybe less, but i def. had to stand up for a while waiting for it to stop (there was no break it the stream, but it also wasn't like a huge gush like i was bleeding to death)... Freaked me out a little (but stupid me thinks, "i;m not bleeding to death, I'll be fine").

I checked again like 10 mins later, wasn't having a stream of blood, but was having some blood loss (bright red obviously). Same thing happened the next day (wed). Tues & Wed were probably like the same amount i had day 2 after birth. Over the course of Tues - Sat/Sun i was having bright red loss, enough to properly fill like 3 pads over 24hrs. Mon, Tues, Wed i was still having bright red loss, but probably not enough to fill a pad, but enough that i def. knew i was still bleeding (more like day 4/5 after birth).

Wed i saw the MCHN and asked her about it. She said the bleeding i had on Tues was enough i should have gone to emergency about it, but if i started bleeding again (i hadn't bleed that day until i saw her, but that evening i did bleed - again, enough to make a decent stain on a pad) then i should go to my GP, or call my obs.

She thought it was the prolapse, making my uterus relax a bit, and thats why I've started bleeding, because they said it was basically fully contracted when i left hospital, but she says sometimes with 2nd babies the uterus gets a bit lazy, and contracts, and then later relaxes. She didn't think it was placenta fragments, as i feel fine and haven't had clots and have a great milk supply.

Today called the GP, who isn't in until Monday, and I've had a bad experience with the other female drs there, and didn't want to see a random male one. My obs doesn't consult today, and i didn't think it was bad enough to page his emergency number, but will call at 9am tomorrow and see if i can go see him tomorrow.

Has anyone had this before?? Should i freak out?? Is it related to my prolapse??

My prolapse has been bothering me today, just this annoyingly uncomfortable sensation of it being right there.. its almost itchy in a way. But surprisingly not achey like last time.

Thanks everyone for all your support... I was told it was uncommon to get them after first kids, but was probably because i had a vac extraction with DS (posterior). I was hoping it wouldn't come back this time, so I'm a bit down about it being back again, along with all my other problems :(