"pelvic floor trauma"--is my vagina deformed or is this normal after a vaginal birth?

[ecstatic_awareness]

please help me get some peace of mind for my imminent labor, ladies!

crazy question, i know, but it's my biggest fear about this UC. since i haven't gone for any prenatal care at all and haven't been seen by anyone "down there" since my 6-week postnatal checkup with my firstborn (now nearly 3), i'm wondering if everything is normal or not. especially since previous midwife had me unnecessarily and unnaturally do A LOT of forced pushing when my body wasn't ready. and i'm starting to hear more about "pelvic floor trauma" and wondering if it will prevent this birth from going smoothly.

ever since the birth of my son, my birth canal has been...let's just say VERY DIFFERENT than before birth. wider from side to side. and the walls, especially the front wall, seem to be bulging into the birth path. it just feels strange. so sex has been weird for the past couple years but oddly enough i wasn't too concerned about it until now. with a baby due any day now, i find that THAT'S my big worry in the middle of the night. i called my midwife of choice to see about having a checkup before the baby comes, but her office is closed until tuesday and there's a chance i could go into labor before then, so i was hoping to get some peace of mind by hearing from fellow mamas who also experienced something similar.

THANKS, MAMAS!!!!:

[babymonster]

Do you think you could have a slight bladder prolapse? I have one after DS's birth, although it doesn't really bother me.
Check out the pelvic organ prolapse thread in birth trauma, and also www.wholewoman.org
From what I have read, if you have (or are worried about) prolapse, the best thing to do is wait to push until it is unavoidable, and try to breathe the baby down as much as possible - stuff I am sure you would be doing anyway

[KristaDJ]

Sounds like my girly parts and I birthed my UC baby just fine without even pushing and one skid mark

[ecstatic_awareness]

yes! i think that IS it. bladder prolapse. no biggie. definitely explains the incontinence! ;D and after reading up about it and seeing that there's no need for treatment of it, especially if i'm going to continue having future vaginal births, my mind is set at ease. thank you!!!

[zoebird]

right, and i believe that there are exercises that you can do to help with the prolapse anyway.

you'll be fine. the main thing is to listen to your body, your instincts and do that!

vaginas are pretty amazing. LOL

[deymm]

Originally Posted by babymonster

Check out the pelvic organ prolapse thread in birth trauma, and also www.wholewoman.org

The site is www.wholewoman.com