3 weeks postpartum with new rectocele

Submitted by mom24boys on March 5, 2008 - 7:57am
Body: 

Hi! I just had my fourth son 3 weeks ago. I had a cystocele after the birth of my second son which was very minor. It got worse after my third son but then was better where I would only notice it at certain times of the month when my estrogen was lower. It did not go past the labia or create any other problems. I never had a rectocele before.
After the birth of my fourth son three weeks ago I had problems having a bm. After 2 weeks postpartum I noticed more of a bulge happening with the cystocele that felt very weird before I had to have a bm. I then noticed that I had a rectocele by feeling inside of my vagina. It is very weird! I have never had this before.
I don't have to do anything to have a bm, my body does it on my own.
My question is, will the rectocele part go away?
I know that the cystocele will get better as it has in the past. But I really really really don't want stool being felt bulging into my vagina!
My cystocele is a little bigger after this baby but not much more than it was last time.
Please help, Thanks so much!

granolamom

March 5, 2008 - 1:11pm

hi, and welcome to the forum. anything's possible, when it comes to the rectocele. the fact that your previous cystoceles got better on their own makes me think that no.1 - you will likely heal well again and no.2 - the rectocele was probably years in the making

I'd definitely stay hopeful and positive, and absolutely try to encourage it to go away! my best advice is to read up on the posture here, get christine's book if you can (saving the wholewoman, the second edition) eat well and never never strain on the toilet.

I only have a minute now, but wanted to say hi, stick around and ask any ??'s you have

and congrats on the new baby. 4 boys must be a party! I have 3 of 'em (and a girl too).

mom24boys

March 6, 2008 - 7:35pm

Thanks for your response! :)
I really hope it goes away...I really don't like the idea of a rectocele at all!

granolamom

March 7, 2008 - 7:11am

for me, the idea of a rectocele is worse than the actual rectocele. mine hasn't gone away, but it gives me no problems whatsoever.
it took me a looooong time to move from 'I just want my old vagina back' to 'I can live well like this, I have no pain, no incontinence and sex is great. I'll take it!'
so even if yours doesn't go away completely, its possible to still be ok.
the psychological impact of prolapse can be just as bad, or worse, than the physical.

mom24boys

March 7, 2008 - 5:00pm

Thanks Granolamom!

I don't have any pain either or incontinence. I also can go to the bathroom without "splinting" if that's what it is called. So I am thinking the grade of it can't be too bad.
I will have my postpartum checkup in three weeks and find out more then.

thrlxjodi

March 9, 2008 - 9:59pm

I have a fourth degree rectocele that emerged after the birth of my 9 lb 7.5 oz son. I thought I was going to die living like this with fizzures and bulging. However I never learned the posture. I started eating better and more fiber and doing pilates... I only splint once a week if that and it never bothers me any more! 3 wekks is a short time to evaluate. It took 9 months for your body to get this way and it will take nine months to get back.
-J

louiseds

March 9, 2008 - 11:30pm

Himom24boys

Thrixjodi is right, you know. It takes many months, maybe over a year, for your body to recover from pregnancy. Don't think your body may have stabilised and won't ever get better until at least 12 months postpartum. However, give it the best care you can in the meantime, and you are giving it the best chance.

I have rectocele, which became evident about 4 years ago when I was having marital difficulties and was under a lot of stress, which resulted in constipation and a lot of straining. Well, the marriage is now better, the constipation is gone (and I can manage it OK without straining when it does come back the odd time. I now never strain on the toilet.) I also have cystocele, but have had it for longer than the rectocele, and my uterus fell down just over 12 months ago. The rectocele is rarely a problem now. I have had to splint only once in the last 3 months which is OK. I have been doing WW techniques for 3 1/2 years now. I have learned how to empty my bladder fully, and a radiographer has endorsed that. WW posture keeps everything forward of the pubic bone, and life goes on.

The big test was yesterday, when I went on an 8 hour rough ocean journey and vomited on and off for about 6 of those hours and slept the rest. Seriously, it was not nice. I did have some bladder control problems, I must admit, because I couldn't get my head around the way the toilet door opened, while I was wobbling around feeling like I was in a cement mixer, and spent most of that time with a full bladder, and leaked a little while I was hoiking over the side! Anyway, today I am still feeling a little delicate, but am on my way to full recovery, apart from the sore rib and tummy muscles. Today the prolapses are behaving themselves fine, so I think WW techniques have passed the big test for me. I hope they can for you too.

We have a term called 'nature's pessary', which is when the prolapses are all jammed at the bottom of the pelvic cavity, pressing against each other, and keep themselves inside without any help, except posturally. It sounds horrible, but often the worst time for prolapses seems to be the initial descent, when it is all changing and moving down. Once they all get to the bottom it is often actually better, maybe because there is less internal movement. By that time women are also used to the feeling of prolapses and have built a level of confidence in their bodies which reassures us that they won't exit, because we understand the mechanics of it.

Welcome to the not-so-slippery slope. ;-)

Cheers

Louise