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.