Today the lovely Laura of Fit Bumps & Mums is back with some more words of wisdom about your health following birth. Laura is a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in Women’s Health, a qualified Pilates instructor and Fern is a regular attendee at her classes. I’ll hand over to Laura to talk about yet another subject that a lot of us probably don’t want to think about. Feel free to ask Laura any questions you may have.

As much as I don’t want the whole world to know about my ‘down there’ issues I figure as a Women’s Health Physiotherapist if I can’t talk about it…who will?

In preparation for the birth of my baby I bought the most beautiful Silver Cross coach built pram, the most stunning but least practical purchase I have ever made! So, at about 10 days postpartum, I decided to take my lovely pram into town for a walk around the boating lake, my husband was still off work I could load it into his big car. As my husband carefully put it into the boot he asked me how I was going to get it out at the other end- to which I replied my friend would do it. When I arrived my friend was running late so me being me (impatient) I got the huge heavy pram out myself! If you are ever in this situation DO NOT DO THIS!!!

A couple of days later I started to feel something different, not particularly painful but a heaviness ‘down stairs’. I tried to ignore it but it was impossible, if felt just like a tampon which had slipped down. I so wanted it not to be true but I called my colleague who agreed it sounded just like a prolapse!

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which structures such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall, out of their normal positions.

The only other person I knew who had had a prolapse was my friend’s grandmother! I was totally devastated. I knew what I had to do- rest, for me this is near impossible. My Mum insisted on coming places with me if she knew I had to carry the car seat, which was invaluable although I felt useless at the time.

A GP or a physiotherapist could not assess me for 6 weeks, to allow for postpartum healing to occur, and I felt these would be the longest weeks of my life. I just told myself I had to rest and do my pelvic floor exercises as much as I could.

I kept bursting into tears- the thought that this could happen at 25, I felt that my husband wouldn’t want to have sex with me and I would never be able to do any of my hobbies like running or the gym again.

I am lucky that because of my training I knew that what I felt was a prolapse, I knew I had to rest, drink plenty and eat well to avoid constipation (which inevitably adds additional strain); and most importantly I knew how to exercise my pelvic floor.

Gradually over the next 2 weeks things got a lot better, I progressed to walking pushing my more practical pram on the flat and then increased to hills and before I knew it I had no symptoms at all.

Pelvic organs are maintained and supported in position by a combination of fascia, ligaments and the pelvic floor. These can be weakened, elongated or even damaged by childbirth causing one or more of your pelvic organs to displace downwards or ‘prolapse’.

50% of women who have had children will have a prolapse but only 10% will ever seek treatment.

Symptoms will vary but may include:

  • A sensation of a bulge or something coming down or out of the vagina, which sometimes needs
    to be pushed back.
  • Discomfort during sex.
  • Problems passing urine – such as slow stream, a feeling of not emptying the bladder fully, needing to urinate more often and leaking a small amount of urine when you cough, sneeze or exercise.

    • Listen to your body, do not ignore it, but do not panic! If you have had symptoms like this or are concerned in the slightest, it is definitely worth seeking the advice of a Women’s Health Physiotherapist, they will be able to asses you and provide an appropriate course of individualise treatment or refer you on to the correct health professional.