When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
If you are already a registered user you may now log in and post. If you have lost your password, just click the request new password tab and follow the directions.
Please review and agree to the disclaimer and the forum rules. Our moderators will remove any posts that are promotional or otherwise fail to meet our guidelines and will block repeat offenders.
Remember, the forum is here for two reasons. First, to get your questions answered by other women who have knowledge and experience to share. Second, it is the place to share your results and successes. Your stories will help other women learn that Whole Woman is what they need.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, welcome! The Whole Woman forum is a place where you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of thousands of women around the world!
Best wishes,
Christine Kent
Founder
Whole Woman
louiseds
September 15, 2009 - 2:22am
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CS after POP
Hi Mom30
I am surprised that nobody has responded to this one. I was under the impression that many elective cs ops are done if a woman has experienced previous problems with vaginal birth that have resulted in damage, and don't want it to worsen.
This should bring it back to the top for further attention.
Louise
Christine
September 15, 2009 - 10:24am
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tearing
Mom...just curious...what were the circumstances of your tearing? Did it happen spontaneously or was it the result of an episiotomy?
mom30
September 15, 2009 - 5:00pm
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Episiotomy, and then it
Episiotomy, and then it tore. Now, I have about a 1/4 inch of rectal prolapse from it but just during a bm. Plus, I have been having ongoing digestive issues. I've been without gluten for about 4 months, much better but, not all the way. I am just about ready to go off all dairy (again!), while being off the gluten this time. Hopefully, I will get some relief from the soft, sticky, undigested! It's getting very tiring, physically and mentally. Plus, it really does interfere with everyday life pretty bad.
I am all natural on just about everything, but since both of my babies were large, I just was hoping to save myself a little more down there. I feel like the digestive issues have aged me there by ten years or so!!!
Christine
September 16, 2009 - 9:44am
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the preciousness of the perineum; algae oil
Hi Candice,
Oh you poor dear...this is not an easy decision as we all know from other mommies in your situation.
From the beginning of WW, I have wanted our efforts to include a global movement to preserve the perineum of women everywhere. That is where so much of our trouble begins and almost all of it is totally unnecessary.
Here is a link to a personal account of fecal incontinence, perhaps the most debilitating and life-altering condition known to woman. It is not a condition known to man because the highly evolved anal sphincter system is extremely strong and withstands just about anything *except cutting/tearing!!!!* I thought this article was pretty dreadful in that "the trauma of childbirth" was pointed to as causative, when in actuality it is the *significant injury inflicted upon women by the standard practices of obstetrics* that leads to this level of trauma. I said so in a response, which the author chose not to post. The tone of my comment was typical Indignant Christine, but not indecent in any way. The system is brutally unjust in how they control information.
I think Alemama is a great pioneer in birthing with perineal tears. I can't really advise you one way or the other, but deeply believe that naturally positioned childbirth should not worsen your rectocele.
Regarding your intestinal trouble, I highly recommend algae oil on a daily basis - at least a tablespoon a day (I break it up morning and night). There is a long story about why this stuff is a miracle to humankind, which is the underlying story of my latest dvd project. I developed so many strange symptoms over the last very few years - with the decline of estradiol - and believe I could have been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome just a few short weeks ago. It is all resolved and I feel great. I felt a definite difference when I switched from fish to algae oil, which is pure and unprocessed (good fish oil has to be highly processed to be rid of toxic metals and chemicals). It is the exact same DHA as in fish oil. The fish eat the algae, the big fish eat the little fish, and we consume the oil from the big, predatory and endangered fish's liver. Anyway, DHA is highly bioactive and the gut needs this stuff to function properly. We used to get plenty of Omega-3 from food, but those days have gone.
Take your time in considering your next birth plan and I really hope to hear in the next weeks and months that your long-standing intestinal difficulties have improved.
:) Christine
kiki
September 16, 2009 - 2:04pm
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algae oil
how is algae oil different than just taking algae powder? i've never heard of that--sounds fascinating!
mom30
September 16, 2009 - 2:09pm
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Thanks for the response!
Thanks for the response! Gosh, I feel really bad for that lady, that has to be just awful! But, I would realllly hate if that happened to me. Sorry to be selfish. I will definitely check out the algae oil. My mom has Sjogren's too. I really feel like so much of this stuff has to do with our diets. (she has prolapse too) The thing with my digestive stuff, is that from all of the hard to expell bowel movements (i.e. sticky soft stuck etc.), I have (what I think) is maybe part of my large intestine coming into the top of the vagina from straining. Whatever it is, I can feel it either when constipated, or right before I go. It is on the lower left side. If I reach up the vagina, I can feel it way up at the top next to the uterus.
Christine
September 17, 2009 - 10:49am
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oil vs powder
DHA oils are extremely fragile and destroyed with heat, light, and oxygen. Dried form does no good. :)
Kiki...there is only one company in the US and Canada supplying all algae oil to distributors. I don't know about Europe, but someone is doing this there too, no doubt. A short internet search should reveal where you can find it. xC.
kiki
September 17, 2009 - 1:45pm
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algae oil
no, doesn't seem to be here... that's a big shame!
just out of curiousity, is it e capsule of oil or liquid?
Judith
September 17, 2009 - 4:25pm
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I've tried too
to find a source of algae oil in the UK and nothing's come up. I'll keep searching, if anyone else knows please do let us know. Judith
Christine
September 17, 2009 - 4:50pm
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algae oil
I can't imagine Flora (link below) wouldn't ship worldwide. Don't know about tariff laws re: supplements though. And there's the issue that the bottled oil needs to be kept refrigerated.
Amazon carries these capsules that we've also used with great results.
Judith
September 18, 2009 - 2:12am
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Thanks Christine
That's brilliant, good news for us in the UK, Kiki, amazon.co.uk stock them. Judith
alemama
September 18, 2009 - 8:14am
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not me.
I would not elect to have major abdominal surgery. When you say rectal prolapse do you mean your rectum is prolapsing or do you mean a rectocele? I don't know much about a rectal prolapse.
The reality is that you have to consider all possible outcomes and you may tear again- and you may not. If I were of the type that didn't want to risk it- well I wouldn't get pregnant.
I will say have your perineum evaluated by a professional- (I'd go with a midwife) they can look at flexibility of tissue and amount of scar tissue.
Since your first tear was because of trauma you probably will not tear again with a gentle water birth type situation (unless the tissue is just really unhealthy).
For me, I would adopt another baby before I had an elective c-section.
kiki
September 18, 2009 - 4:30pm
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algae oil
Thanks Judith--that's brilliant!!!
Christine, how much DHA do you need a day? my fish oil supplies a ton, these much less, so not sure how much you need to really be taking from your research?
thanks!
Kiki
Christine
September 22, 2009 - 8:24pm
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how much DHA?
Hi Kiki,
I'm still working on this! I do know there are no pat scientific answers just yet. I'm taking two tablespoons a day, which I think is in the ballpark for a 150 lb woman.
Will keep you posted.
Christine