Exercise

You found something special. This is a wealth of wisdom and spirit.
You will find the gamut here... and see how important and healing it is to have
true understanding and compassion. I've been wondering lately if a pre-requisite
for POP is being an utterly dynamic Woman. This place is thick with them.
Zelda

Hi Chickenj

You'll probably find that a lot of the things that have been mentioned to you as 'Don't do's' will melt away in time. You are still a new Mum, and your body may take over 12 months to get back to pre-pregnant state. It has been stretched and rearranged over 9 months of pregnancy, and though it may feel normal now you will probably find it will keep changing towards norrmality for some time yet. You just need to be patient and kind to your body so you don't overdo it while the bod is healing.

Once you grasp the finer points of posture and understand how your body works from Christine Kent's book, Saving the Whole Woman, ed. 2 (available from the online shop part of the website) your body will tell you whether or not you can do a particular activity. I have cystocele, rectocele, and uterine prolapse which, after three years of WW, only bothers me just before a period and during the first couple of days. I can do everything I want to within reason, except for long periods of jarring exercise, and heaving rocks and big tree branches around. I have learned to keep my pelvic organs in the safe place over/in front of my pubic bone instead of over my pelvic floor, so when I do something strenuous they more or less stay where they are instead of descending and straining the damaged fascia which support them.

Once you can trust your own judgement of what your own body can do safely, the fear of damaging it further just dissolves, and you can confidently exercise and do a lot of things again, even if you have to move more consciously and accomplish tasks by a different pathway (eg using your brains instead of your brawn, and learning to ask for physical help which is often very difficult for a strong woman to do.) Life gets better with knowledge.

The ballet workout in Saving the Whole Woman is safe. Christine's women's yoga is safe. Most forms of exercise are OK for most women, but there may be particular types of movements that you won't ever do, or do differently, or use a different piece of exercise equipment or a softer surface etc. Once you understand the principles of guarding your pelvic organs you will know by gently trying things at a low level then extending the levels as you feel comfortable.

Almost all women doing Wholewoman work experience good and bad periods. You man experience further descent of your organs in time, which is a big shock, but it does seem to reach a point where it all stabilises. I can't tell you when that will be. I think I am there now, three years after finding WW and probably 25 years after the first signs of prolapse, but I am now very close to menopause.

Cheers

Louise

Just wanted to say hi and welcome. I have been here just over 3 months now and am still learning so much. My prolapses are still finding their settling place so I am still taking things very easy.

All the ladies here are so great and have much advice and support to give. With regards to the exercise I hope that once you have given yourself time to heal that you can find something that you really enjoy or can go back to what you were doing albeit with a different approach.

Best wishes,

Anita

congratulations on the new baby & welcome to the site!
louise already gave you fantastic advice, so I don't have much to add.
only to repeat that 4 mo pp is still early, you're body will continue to change (in a good way) for the next few months. being active is good, but don't overdo it. 4 months is still early, especially if your baby is like mine and doesn't sleep much at night.
personally, when I was 4 mo pp I enjoyed walking outside. don't know where you are, if its warm enough to go out with baby, but fresh air was good for my spirits and walking (in good posture!) was good for my prolapse.

I love the snow and the way it makes everything so quiet and calm after it has fallen, we don't get much in the UK. I used to live in Canada (Calgary, Alberta) and the winters were bitterly cold and LOTS of snow. I miss it ... sigh ...

Your post has made me yearn to go back.