Is POP in pregnancy where it will be at after birth?

Submitted by mumwithone on December 4, 2007 - 12:32am
Body: 

I was just wondering if any of you ladies could fill me in on your POP during pregnancy compared to after birth. My POP, all three, have moved a bit further south during this second pregnancy.

Did you find it stayed where it was during pregnancy after childbirth or did it go back up a bit after the birth for you? I know everyone's different, but it would be good to get an idea of what to expect.

I thought maybe things would have 'lifted' a bit now I'm in the second trimester because the midwife said it was at about 12 weeks that the uterus moves up. But everything's still shifting further down and walking 10 minutes to my daughter's playgroup was difficult today, even with the V2 on.

granolamom

December 4, 2007 - 7:22pm

in the beginning of my pg I had awful morning sickness which, coupled with my extreme food aversions, made my rectocele and also the cystocele worse. but once that subsided (4 mo? 5? I forget) everything lifted up and I felt awesome, until maybe the end of the 8th mo? when everything felt heavy, swollen and low.
after the birth I felt GREAT but by 2 mo pp I felt the cystocele was more prominent. now, at 7 mo pp, the cystocele is where it was before I got pg, and that's a very good thing. I haven't gone looking for the rectocele and it is completely asymptomatic.

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with yours. are you getting off your feet enough? I was lucky this last pg, my older kids were all out of the house for a few hrs every day so I was able to rest and take the load off my feet for a while. It makes a big difference.

mumwithone

December 5, 2007 - 5:03pm

Thanks for always sharing your experiences with me Granolamom, it really helps to hear what others have experienced and done.

I had a better day again yesterday, no problem going for a walk. At the beginning of the day it was up as high as usual but then dropped again by the evening. It's still low again today.

I have a two and a half year old at home with me full-time so it's pretty hard for me to try and put the old feet up and rest the body during the day. She's dropped her day nap so it's really go, go, go unfortunately. When I had the morning sickness I put a video on for her during the day so I could rest a bit. I think I should start doing that again so that I put my feet up at least once a day. That does help a lot.

It's great to hear how you went. I just get scared that it will keep getting lower but on a positive note I haven't felt any worse than when I first had my daughter so I know it can improve over time.

louiseds

December 6, 2007 - 1:40am

Hi Mumwithone

Another idea for you. These little people are very demanding, and rightly so. You may remember my posting about the mattress on the floor of our kids' room that they used as toddlers so I could lie down with them and read or breastfeed them off to sleep? This meant that they could get out of bed safely when they were ready to come out.

If you had a mattress on the floor somewhere in your living space you might be able to have a flop down on it every now and then (as opposed to putting your feet up - it's all relative!) during the day, so you can keep an eye on DD as she plays. Let her know that you need to have lots of rests, and that you can get down to her level and talk / play with her. I am sure she will be delighted to have you at her level.

I know that it is not practical to load a washing machine or go shopping lying down, but you might be able to find some things you can do lying down. I also remember somebody suggesting teaching their little one to climb up to them so Mum didn't have to lift the child continually.

Good luck stretching your brain and becoming a floor dweller.

Cheers

Louise

mumwithone

December 6, 2007 - 8:20pm

They're wonderful suggestions and any are always welcome Louise. It's a little about 'thinking outside the square' isn't it? I will do the mattress idea because I want to try that with the new bub from day one so I'm not lifting the bub into and out of the cot until he or she is walking. So, I'll definitely be able to use it long-term as well. It would be perfect because we have floor boards at home.

I have a great fold out couch where the TV is so my daughter and I have a lie down each day. She's pretty good at understanding I need to rest, even if she's jumping on me I'm still lying down a bit. I just need to remind myself to do it instead of doing a million other things each day. I find it hard to give myself the time to rest. The old female guilt thing does come in a bit so I have to get over that one!

At least I don't lift her at all anymore and I have a wonderful hubby who does the big grocery shop for me so I'm not lifting too many heavy bags. I found that one a real killer for the POP (partly because of lifting my daughter into the trolley to even go shopping.)

mumwithone

December 10, 2007 - 10:00pm

I just wanted to update because I complained about my uterus not 'moving up' as I'd expected. Well, at 15 weeks I now can't feel it. The cystocele and rectocele are still low but no sign of my uterus. Woo hoo!