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Hello Everyone,

I have just found out that I have a cystocele and I was very disturbed by what was going on, especially when I didn't know how or why this was happening. I've ordered some of Christine's items and I'm eager to learn more about how to move my body correctly since I've been doing it all wrong for most of my life. I never realized (obviously) that what I was told and taught about what was good posture (tucking my butt under and sucking my lower abs in) was just the opposite. So now I realized I've done this to myself.

I've said goodbye to my old ways of standing, sitting and even sleeping. And here is where my question/need for some input from all of you out there that know more than I do comes in...so, when I find myself in the middle of the night, sleeping on my back (which is how I used to sleep before I was aware of the cystocele), I have to talk myself out of an anxiety attack. This may sound silly, because maybe I'm overreacting. The thought I keep having is this: Avoid having your body in any position that may encourage the bladder from being kept toward the front of the abdominal wall. Another example is when I took my dd to the movies the other night and I spent the entire time worried and preoccupied that the seat I was sitting in was like a bucket and practically impossible to sit properly in.

Should doing ANY activity lying on one's back be avoided? Whether it be sleeping, stretching or exercise?

Thanks!

Hi besthealth. No need to worry! I'll start with sitting at the movies. Not the best possible chair for your prolapse, BUT if you can just stuff something soft behind your lower back for support, you can keep some semblance of lumbar curvature and that's what counts. You should drive that way, too. You can get some kind of cushion for your car, and when you are going out (like to the movies), wear a sweater or sweatshirt or tie one around your waist, and you'll always have something to stuff behind you for support.

Don't worry about sleeping. Your prolapse isn't really affected by lying down. It's the force of gravity, your breathing and your upright posture that count. We are using these three things to help keep our organs forward in the belly and pinned over the pubic bones if possible. You can't compromise this when you are lying down, so sleep any way that is comfortable for you. As Christine says, the important work is done when we are upright. You've made a great start - glad to have you here and hope you'll keep us posted. - Surviving

Hi besthealth and welcome,
same Q I had when WW was knew to me...Back sleeping is absolutely fine as the abdominal organs are not subject to gravity or intra- abdominal pressure as when up and about. Many women say that their pops are not as noticeable in the morning when they get up. What I also have learned is not to sleep on very high pillows as it compromises the alignment of the spine. If you find yourself panicking again, practice belly breathing on your back in bed - it is a good way to fall asleep and very calming, and the WW way to breath anyway as by doing this it encourages the abdominal organs to sit forward in the relaxed lower belly, protecting them from intra - abdominal pressure.
A number of Christine's exercises/ stretches are done on the back or side, as full human extension, can be achieved for the ladies who can't do it as yet standing up, and muscles and ligaments are lengthened and strengthened.
As you go questions will arise, and you will also observe benefits that I am often ecstatic over! Keep observing and asking Q - the search box can also reveal great info from past threads, the resources section has videos, and I just googled "youtube has Christine Kent Posture" and a list of her youtube videos came up.
This is a journey, take your time and do the posture and work and like me you will not look back!
Best wishes, & big hugs
Aussie Soul Sister

Hi besthealth,
It doesn't matter what position you lie down in, because this is when the pressure is off our organs.
It is when we are up and moving around that it is important to hold our bodies in Whole woman posture. With our belly relaxed and our chests held high, we should be able to move and pin our organs into the lower belly with the intrabdominal pressure with each breath we take.
Now for sitting, in order not to be slouching, it would be good to get a small pillow to support your lumbar curvature. As to the movie theatre, you could even roll up a sweatshirt or coat if you don't want to be obvious.
These things take time, and time we have, so don't overdo and try to force things. I came here with a profound uterine prolapse and have found that even that is not an emergency situation. I just do what I need to do with the tools that I have learned in Christine's work and from this forum.
This can be overwhelming at first, but you will find that you can live with this and feel better about yourself as you do the work. Best wishes to you!

Ha! We all said almost the exact same thing! Yeah! Whole Woman!!

And at the exact same time. Great minds think alike.......

Hi Dearest S60 & AG,
This makes me feel that we are almost talking with each other - so wonderful.
Big hugs,
Aussie Soul Sister

I'm so grateful to have wonderful people to turn to when questions & worries arise! I am a very independent person and I'm very strong in my beliefs. And one of my beliefs is that even the most independent people need others to depend on! Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge with me, I feel so calm and relieved!

So here is another question that has been swirling around my head... if we are to be in the WWP with letting our lower bellies being relaxed, what happens when we do need our lower abs to engage or support us in activities? The reason I'm confused about this is because I've been keeping tabs on myself over the past few weeks and I'm ALWAYS catching myself with my lower abs sucked in without even realizing I'm doing it! So at what point am I to know that it's ok for my lower abs to be engaged in a way that won't contribute to any negative consequences? For instance, when I was raking the other day, I found myself tensing my lower abdominals...I wasn't sure if I should force my belly to relax?

Whole woman posture is always our default. The action of raking does generally break the posture, because of the angle at which our body ends up taking. The best thing to do with these kinds of activities is to limit them to smaller sets of time rather than all at once. I used to do my yard work within a day or two, I have now stretched it out to over a week.
Try to hold the posture the best you can, no matter what you are doing. Tightening those muscles just forces our organs away from our lower belly and into the vagina. We don't want that!
Part of all this is also trying to get our minds into a different way of thinking. Stop, take some deep breathes into your lower belly and just relax it imagining your organs taking their place in your lower belly.
Give yourself time, these things all come with patience and time.

Hi besthealth,
Great observing! The way to counteract it is to lift the chest strongly after relaxing the lower belly - don't push it out just relax it, and belly breathing will help as you can't do that with a tense lower belly.
I caught myself recently after thinking it is easy, but that is how I correct myself.
I also find it good to visualize the pregnant belly with the baby in the uterus positioned in front of the pubic bone. In the non pregnant state , the organs are positioned the same way just less exaggerated, in front of the pubic bone in the relaxed lower belly.
As you get used to the posture you will find that when in wwposture the whole muscular abdominal wall has become a longer & stronger with no physical effort from you at all, in contrast to sucking and tucking which I found exhausting and that can lead to chest breathing, mouth breathing and so many health and stress problems, as well as pop and hip issues.
After learning the posture I am working my way through the DVDs and doing some slow deliberate walking, which has strengthened & balanced me in a way that I have never been before. Take your time and you will know what to work on next - your body will tell you.
Best wishes,
Aussie Soul Sister

I find that when I'm in the WWP, pulling my breath into my lower belly is difficult. I feel like the breath will only go down as far as my upper abdominals, just under my chest, never quite reaching my lower belly. Any suggestions? On a positive note, deep belly breathing is very successful while lying down at night before falling asleep.

;)

besthealth

Stretching those muscles out after a lifetime of tightening and sucking in can take some time. I found it got easier the more I did the whole woman exercises. They really focus on the correct breathing we were always meant to be doing in the first place. Be patient, with practice, this will come too!

I was glad to see the discussion about proper sleeping positions. I had thought that sleeping on the stomach would compress the belly and force the organs backwards, while when sleeping on the back gravity would do this. What about this tilt board that's advertised to let you be totally upside down for a few minutes a day?

I was glad to be able to relax re sleeping positions. I had worried that sleeping on the stomach would compress the belly and force the organs backwards, whereas when sleeping on the back gravity would have the same effect. I have seen ada for a tilt board which allows you to be completely upside down for a few minutes a day. Has anybody tried this?

Prolapse management begins when we are up and about doing our daily activities. In whole woman posture, with our belly relaxed, shoulders down, chest lifted up, our organs nestled up into the lower belly where they are pinned into place with intrabdominal pressure with each breath we take. Hanging upside down isn't going to achieve this same affect.
The human body was meant to be moving. It can be a great relief on our prolapse after a nights rest, but if all you did was lay around, your prolapse would definetly get worse.

Absolutely. The organs have fallen back, and need to be urged forward by posture and breathing and the forces of gravity. Better (and cheaper!) to just get down on hands and knees for awhile. - Surviving