Walking, cannot get comfortable...

Hi Nicola,

Gosh...you kind of have to work with it for awhile. So many women find it very difficult and uncomfortable at first. Here's my recommendation: Just concentrate on the upper body posture and pointing your feet straight ahead. The rest will follow. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry about your prolapse. Here is an abstract from an article a friend sent to me:

"We present a case of a patient developing uterine prolapse during pregnancy. The cervix reached the introitus at 10 weeks gestation and subsequently protruded progressively as the pregnancy advanced. The patient was conservatively treated with bed rest and the main maternal and fetal risks are avoided. At 4 months postpartum follow-up there was no evidence of uterine prolapse."

Guariglia L, Carducci B, Botta A, et al. Uterine prolapse in pregnancy. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2005 Jul 13; 60 (4) 192-194.

I don't have access to that journal so can't know more details, like how the woman delivered.

Here's another from the same batch of abstracts:

"We report on a patient with pelvic organ prolapse complicating third trimester pregnancy treated by concomitant cesarean hysterectomy and abdominal sacrocolpopexy. A 30-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with uterine contractions in week 35 of gestation. Pelvic examination in the dorsal lithotomy position revealed a stage 3 pelvic organ prolapse. A cesarean hysterectomy was performed. After hysterectomy, the vaginal cuff was suspended to the periosteum overlying the sacral promontory. Cesarean hysterectomy might be a therapeutic option for women who have completed their families and are suffering from severe pelvic organ prolapse complicating third trimester pregnancy, particularly in developing countries where access to health care is limited."

Meydanli M, Ustun Y, Yalcin O, Pelvic organ prolapse complicating third trimenter pregnancy - a case report. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2005 Nov 29;61 (3): 133-134

Two cases, two views.

For sure stay in close contact with your care providers and make sure they are okay with your walking.

Christine

I know it’s hard to hear “don’t worry” again, but Nicola this is so prevalent it can almost be considered normal. The well-known urogynecologist and author Linda Brubaker highlights several studies showing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree rectoceles present in asymptomatic women – women who had no idea they had a diagnosable condition until they were examined in blind studies! She says, “It is certain that some anterior rectal wall movement is normal during straining, but the point at which this movement should be considered abnormal has not been established.”

It is the rectum that is the problem in rectocele and not the vaginal wall! Actually it is a circular chronic situation where increases in intraabdominal pressure cause the rectum to press against and stretch the back vaginal wall. As the vaginal wall gives way, the rectal wall has more leeway to balloon anteriorly. Then the vaginal wall gets stretched even more. And if it is the actual interior rectal wall that is feeling pressurized, the same treatment would be appropriate.

All that is needed to break the cycle is a very good diet, absolutely NO straining on the toilet (I know you’ve read these words a hundred times, but rock slightly up onto your feet) and keep the pressure off that area by balancing your weight over your pubic bone. We are meant to carry the bulk of our intestines out in front and when we don’t these sorts of pressure imbalances occur – but the toilet seat is by far and away the major cause of non-obstetrically induced rectocele.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskins
and Grantly Dick-Read's Childbirth without Fear.

Dick-Read's book is far and away the most incredible book I've ever read on Childbirth, from the pioneer of modern "natural childbirth". I got some incredible tips on birthing from Ina May's book.

As for the toilet, I don't sit on it except for a bowel movement. Even then, I balance slightly forward on my feet to take the pressure off the perineum. For urinating, I just half-squat over the toilet. My thighs are stonger than they've ever been in my life, and all of those little bits of unwanted cellulite are gone with the strengthening!

I myself wonder about pregnancy with prolapse, so you will have so much to teach us as you journey through it. I wonder if Jane has seen your posts and will pipe in here. She's been through it, too.

I wonder about another pregnancy ... but we've got three great kids, so that may be it for us. For now, I'm focusing on healing.

Marie

Hi Nicola

This is going to sound a bit wierd. As you know, I am not at all pregnant, but I have experienced that horrible feeling of fullness. You might be able to alleviate it by, ummmm... tipping yourself upside down somehow, and allowing all your pelvic contents to kind of slide upwards (ie downwards) towards your belly button. I am actually not sure how you could do it in a very pregnant state. Pelvis higher than chest would probably suffice. <:- i="" find="" that="" my="" horrible="" fullness="" feelings="" go="" away="" if="" do="" this="" not="" immediately="" but="" within="" a="" couple="" of="" minutes.="" just="" allowing="" everything="" to="" kind="" slide="" back="" where="" it="" should="" be="" seems="" straighten="" rectum="" out="" so="" the="" stool="" can="" along="" and="" more="" easily.="" personally="" feel="" rectocele="" is="" like="" kink="" gets="" blocked="" easily="" at="" bottom="" pipe.="" course="" christine="" absolutely="" right.="" high="" quality="" food="" goes="" in="" amount="" water="" you="" drink="" degree="" stress="" avoid="" will="" stop="" from="" happening="" first="" place="" sometimes="" life="" perfect.="">

I also find gentle pressure with my thumb on the back vaginal wall (ie thumb inside vagina) has a similar effect, ie straightening out the kink.

I suspect Christine won't like my third suggestion, which is yet another variation on moving the pelvic contents around. When I am sitting on the toilet, I also find that rocking forwards into posture, then briefly slouching right back, then repeating a few times, often moves the pelvic contents around a bit and can free up the stool so that it can be passed freely. This works for me. Just remember not to strain. Straining doesn't help at all. I think it may work because the pelvic floor muscles kind of massage the stool as they change in shape with the changes in posture as I rock, and that helps to break it up and move it along. Hope this is not all TMI!

If you feel like you have been bound up for a few days it might be an idea to go to the doctor and get it sorted. You can do without this discomfort. I know that when I get constipated I get lower back pain, and all my muscles in that area go into spasm. This means that I cannot get into posture properly. It is all just too tight. That means that my prolapses start to move down again. The only answer is to get unconstipated then have a relaxing massage to get my muscles loosened up again.

I am sure you will work this one out Nicola. Just count the sleeps. It will eventually pass. Keep loving your little boy, and take care.

Cheers

Louise

Oooo, sounds pretty good to me too. There is a similar yoga move, however I am not sure what yoga is recommended during pregnancy. Hey now I come to think of it, that is exactly the position I was in, though back to front, and up on a delivery table, when the midwife called out, "Dr S isn't here yet, and you can't have a baby in that position dear!" so I just stayed there, quite comfortable, till Nic was ready to come out a bit more.

Whatever you do though, the principle is to periodically get all your pelvic contents moving back upwards towards their original position where they can stretch out a bit. It really is a wonderful feeling to just take the pressure off for a bit.

It is unsettling when the only certainty you have is that the baby will be born, and all else feels very unpredictable. In reality, nobody does know what will happen to their body after birth. All you can do is to look after your diet, and your body, stay as fit as you comfortably can, clothe yourself comfortably and ride with the wind a bit until your time comes. It has always been thus, and we are very lucky today to have such high probability of a healthy mother and baby at the end of it all. I know that won't stop you worrying, but it is about all I can offer. Take care.

Louise

Hello,

I am 14 weeks pregnant, and am pretty sure I have a moderate rectocele as well as a tipped uterus and prolapse although I have not had any "diagnosis" lately. I have checked myself and my uterus does seem to be higher now than in the first few weeks of my pregnancy, but... My question is, my cervix seems to be touching the back wall of my vagina (in a rectal area) and it does feel uncomfortable. My main concern is the position of the cervix, I am kind of worried about the rest of my pregnancy. Will it line up right in time for delivery. I do have an appt. with my midwife this week and will defintely bring it up, but I just wondered if anyne else has had this feeling?

It's all very tightly packed, Bigmomma, and everyone's cervix lays against the back vaginal wall/rectum. I would think the sitting and standing postures would be very helpful at this point by balancing the center of gravity more toward the front.

Thanks for your response Christine, it did reassure me that everything is not too out of whack! I have just never had such a feeling of "togetherness" with the whole area before, I guess it is just my prolapses. This is my fifth child, and I do feel that everything is lower each time. I have been using the posture for a few months now (since I first found this site) and did actually feel a difference almost immediately. I think I read that you said that the problem with a rectocele is actually the rectum and not the vaginal wall. In your experience, is it possible to "pull it back" with the posture. I have also started walking every day and that seems to help it. What have you found to be most helpful?
Thanks again~

The front of the rectum bulges into the back wall of my vagina. My doctor (HMO) wants to put collagen from a pig between the walls. She said that they take all the pig cells out. It worries me using this type of collagen. I wanted to know if anyone knows of some other material should be used. Why can't they use my own collagen?

I put toilet paper on my fingers and push on the back wall of my vagina. I usually do not have too much of a problem. I also rock when sometimes. I try to eat well which helps. I also massage my abdomen to help.

Is anyone else facing this type of surgery? Some things I have read the women have had all kinds of problems and others have had not problems. I am 64 and find that I am questioning doctors more and going back and forth about being willing to have surgery.

I had a rectocele repair 3 weeks ago and i feel fine. I don't know what all the fuss is about, it only takes about an hour to do, here in the UK we don't mess about with herbs and all sorts of nonsense, just have the surgery and get on with life I say!