I was just told I have rectocele. please help!

Submitted by sing4god on October 15, 2014 - 8:56pm
Body: 

I am 28 and I am 4 weeks postpardum with my second baby. I have rough pregnancies. I was supposed to have a second csection but miraculously I had a vbac very quick labor. I did tear and had episotomy because of baby's heartbeat going down. But It was a dream come true! But now I have this bulge right at the opening of my vagina and its so uncomfortable and if I am on my feet awhile and do certain activities like mopping I hurt and ache and have to sit. this seems so unnatural. I feel like my insides are going to come out. When I went to my OB he couldn't see the bulge. I was like what?? He had me bare down and I guys he saw it. Then said I had rectocele. It will heal on its own. And that's all he said and sent me off. He gave me no info our anything. Im afraid of something horrible happening. From what I have researched this can be lifelong issue? What can I do to get the bulge to go down? Anything? I feel so discouraged. I had the vbac but now I still cant be normal and the care for the house and my babies fully. The joy of my vbac has been dampened and i feel so sad about it but am thankful! and what about intercourse with my husband? I definitely want to try the posture video. I am very much into more natural options. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get through this what to do to get the bulge down? When is it safe to have intercourse with my husband? Should I do less activities.? Sorry if this is too long.

Forum:

Surviving60

October 16, 2014 - 5:16am

Hi sing4god and welcome. Post partum prolapse is very common and it might very well resolve on its own. That's pretty much what happened to me, though i didn't really have a name for my bulginess. This was before the internet! I figured it was normal to feel weird after giving birth. It went away and didn't return until after menopause. But prolapse can manifest itself at any stage of life.

You have a great advantage in that you can work on making this posture correction now, while your body is still in the process of remolding itself following birth. The recovery period is really as long as two years. Coming off of pregnancy when your body has already been carrying the organs forward for 9 months, is a great time to start.

Sex should not be affected, though 4 weeks seems too early to me. When it's time, if there is discomfort, some lubrication and trying different positions can help. The organs are always on the move. Communicate with your partner, as he is likely to be less aware of the changes than you might expect.

While you do need to rest as much as you can (which I realize isn't much, in your situation!), it's really when you are on your feet that you are doing the important posture work. Posture, belly breathing, and gravity all work together. You will teach yourself to protect the lumbar curvature as you go throughout your day, and that's what helps pin the organs into proper position.

Good luck to you and enjoy your babe. You will be fine. A little knowledge and understanding, coupled with action, makes all the difference. - Surviving

wholewomanUK

October 16, 2014 - 9:28am

Hi sing4god,
Welcome to the WW community. I'm so glad you four this site - and you've come to the right place for answers to your questions.

Firstly - rest assured this approach will help. This approach is safe, natural and most of the women who've been on this forum, thousands of them, have reported that this approach has helped them. Many like myself, have described this approach as a 'lifesaver', as they have benefitted so much. This approach is a self treatment, self healing approach and many women describe feeling generally better. Not surprising perhaps as it is a holistic approach.

I think many people under-estimate the impact of pop on many women. At the same time what the medics offer is usually pretty limited; nothing, keels, pessary or surgery. However WW offers a thorough explanation of what causes pop, how the female anatomy works and the pelvic organs are supported and how to treat prolapse and improve/recover symptoms.

As Surviving60 says, the organs are mobile, (they have to be because of pregnancy). That's one reason why women can be vulnerable to pop. The good news is that just as the organs can go out of place, the organs can go back in place - or at least in a better position,

The WW posture and exercises encourage the organs back into optimum position, was well as optimising general health, including hip joint health which is also often vulnerable in western cultures.

I recommend you seek further WW info; look around the web, past posts, the library int he WW bolt etc. I also recommend if you can, to invest in some WW resources. Christine and Lanny have been working flat out in recent years to offer women a wide spectrum of learning resources, so there's something to suit everyone, inc. an online course 'destination', dvd's for information and exercises, the book for in depth theory, advice and support and a group of international WW teachers for hands on teaching and support. I appreciate you've literally got your hands full at the moment. However - when the time comes when you can listen, watch, read or participate in any of the above - I thoroughly recommend you do so. The sooner you start to engage with this approach - the sooner you will reap the benefits.

Wishing you all the best,
Love, wholewomanuk

Oh and p.s.: sex is good for pop - so long as it's right for you.
Stress is bad for pop - so if it's causing you stress - wait until/if/when you feel happy to have sex.

youngmomof2

November 1, 2014 - 9:33pm

I feel your pain. I am 5months postpartum and have what I believe to be a rectocele. I also had a vbac. I had a hard time at first beating myself up for not going to for a repeat c-section and avoiding all of this, but then I remember I choose a vbac for the health of my baby and I don't regret. You are still so early on a lot can change. I keep remembering it takes up to two years for your body to come back after a baby so hang in there:)