Bladder Prolapse

[MotherWillow]

Mods: I put this here because I was told it was a result of childbirth. I would like to hear what the birth professionals have to tell me about it. Thanks!

Does anyone here have any experience with bladder prolapse?

I've been having some stress incontinence, lower back pain. and some discomfort since my last child was born. I have two children that are 21 months apart. With my first child I had a horrific hospital delivery with an episiotomy and tearing that required over 100 stitches and another surgery to correct.

The other night I noticed that I had soft tissue protruding from my vaginal opening. This felt like a ball in my vagina. It protruded all the way out when I would bear down.

I went and saw the OB/GYN today and he says I have a Grade 3 Bladder Prolapse.
He says I need to have surgery to correct it ASAP.

I am completely freaked out that I have a bladder prolapse at 25 and by the thought of surgery.

Can anybody tell me anything about this? Also how will this surgery effect any future pregnancies?

[Usually Curious]

No advice, just a hug. I had what I thought was a bladder prolapse but my mw checked today and she said she thinks that it's more likely a raging bladder infection that's making my bladder swell and start to prolapse.

All this to say, I'm so sorry, I understand all the thoughts that are going through your mind right now. I hope that surgery will be your solution, if that is what you want.

I'm doing kegels religeously.

Oh, periodically, when it gets really bad (low) I lay on my knees/chest w/my butt in the air. Gravity pulls my bladder back up and after a few minutes I do some kegels in hopes of encouraging it to stay up there! As an aside, that position feels great on my back, butt and thighs so it's an enjoyable but awkward position.

[sevenkids]

I have found acupuncture to work wonders for getting internal organs back to where they belong after birth. I'd recommend giving it a good try before resorting to surgery.
Kegels also work, combined with acupuncture.

[smcsmith]

Well, it appears my story probably isn't as different as I had feared. I discovered my prolapse (cystocele and rectocele) a few months after the birth of my third. I cried and felt like I was a complete failure as a woman for months and months, finally finding the whole woman website and feeling some sense of hope. My mom also had prolapse (I think she had the cysto, recto, and uterine, if it's even possible to have all three) and had the surgery done a year after the birth of her fifth baby. She was told at the time that it was the only way to prevent a hysterectomy. Anyway, I thought that she would be sympathetic and understanding of this whole thing, but really, she just tried to tell me it was no big deal and the surgery was not as bad as it sounds.

To be honest, there are days when I would gladly have the surgery. I also have a severe diastasis, and the same pasty, collagen deprived skin that has left my pelvic floor droopy also blessed me with some pretty horrendous stretch marks and saggy leftover belly skin. My dr told me she often operates with a plastic surgeon to fix both problems at once. How vain do I sound for admitting that that makes the surgery, dare I say it, appealing?

Anyway, fast forward to now: I am almost 13 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby. So far, no problems. My gut has slowed down (all that iron and the other ailments of first trimester wreaked a bit of havoc), but most days, I'm not noticing the prolapse too much. Sometimes, going from one position to another, I think I feel leaking, but I can't tell if it's urine or something else (TMI, I know, but hey- we've all been there, right?). Well, I have been kegeling at every red light (and then some) and just hoping and praying that I can keep things where they belong. I started seeing a chiro too. I even printed out Christine's FAQ from the Whole Woman website so the chiro could help me achieve the right postures. Maybe he isn't the right practitioner for me, since he still hasn't gotten around to actually reading the info, but still...
I wonder if PT is possible during a pregnancy. I'd love to try it. Anyone have any experiences to share?

I talked to my OB about ways to make this pregnancy less traumatic. She seemed open to trying alternative positions for delivery (she even offered side lying and all fours on her own!). I'd like to also try just "breathing" the baby out. I wonder, though, has anyone had an OB go along with this? Hospitals are notorious for the whole pushpushpush thing.

Well, I've rambled enough for my first post, but I just wanted to say how incredibly grateful I am for finding this site. I too felt like an outcast. I never expected to feel like such an old lady when I was still so young. I could just hug all of you for making me feel normal again.

Thanks!!!!!

Take care,
Sarah