Over it!!

Hi Rachel and welcome. It seems to me that although you have found the Whole Woman site, you haven't checked anything out here.

I don't think you will find Michelle Kenway's approach much different from that of the other PTs you have gone to. They all have a kegel-based approach. You and me and countless others have already figured out that kegels don't work; they actually make things worse by pulling the prolapsed organs further INTO the vagina, instead of away. Pessaries also will do more harm than good in the long run.

Please spend a little time reading around the site. Start with the home page, go to Resources and watch a video or two, go to the Wholewomaninc YouTube Channel, and get an idea of how our approach differs. We are all managing prolapse naturally and comfortably and without fear and PLEASE no surgeries ever! - Surviving

Lots of great advice all ready, Rachel.
I just want to add that I know this can be so overwhelming and confusing at first, but once you start reading Christines materials and getting a better understanding of what true pelvic organ support is, you will be amazed at the relief you will start to feel. And, don't feel like you need to just rush into this work either; take your time with it, study as you go along, work on the posture once you get a good understanding of it.
It took us time to develop prolapse and it will take time to alleviate those symptoms and get back into the normal posture we were always meant to be in.
Take a deep breath! You have made the first best step by finding this site.

I'm new to all of this but just wanted to say hi and second the excellent advice to give this route a try. I stopped kegels altogether at around 3 months pp when I felt my bladder pulling lower into my vagina. Scary. Now I've yet to really delve into the ww programme but even sitting up in the posture on a firm surface for an hour or so helps me when I'm feeling at my worst. Search the posts. You'll find answers and stop looking for them elsewhere. As a fellow sufferer of bowel issues I know how lousy this can feel. It makes me so angry that the world over women have to deal with this and are then poorly treated by medical professionals!!!

Welcome Rachel83,
I am not a new mother but remember vividly my birth experiences and prolapse issues along with worsening hip stability and pain. WW is very holistic for our whole bodies and well - being.

Belly breathing is an important part of WWP and has amazing benefits.

It helps shape our WWPosture - restoring the lumbar curve, and allowing room in our abdomen for the various organs including the bowel to have the room to function freely, while being protected from intra - abdominal pressure.
It is much more energy conserving, and tension free, than holding it in which results in chest breathing, which causes tension in the upper body, shoulders,neck and head.

It is a wonderful relaxation, centering and meditative tool and so useful for going to sleep at night.

It is a very spiritual connection with our womanly selves, back to our original breathing.
Observe your baby and how she breaths and holds herself in posture, natural, strong and relaxed and in the moment...

All the best with this journey, - you have found the right place to be and have more years than some of us to enjoy and learn this wonderful holistic approach.

Aussie Soul Sister

My heart goes out to you, I exactly how you feel, I have been there, you're in the place, this forum will help you along the road to being in control because it sounds like you are where i was , a feeling of not in control of what was happening to my body, the posture the exercises will, change your life, honestly. I was in so much pain, I was limited in what I could do, I was heading toward depression and then I found WW. I was also told to do kegels and honestly they made me so much worse that I had t be catheterized to pee for two weeks, went back to my OBGYN and was told keep doing kegels, the kegels were just putting more stress on my poor misplaced rectum and bladder, straining the already stretched muscles, so stupid knowing what I know now.
My bladder was in such stress my urine was blood stained, yet no infection, all from kegels,
they then misdiagnosed me with IC, just to give me a diagnoses,
I had no relief until I started the Fist Aide for prolapse, and gently starting pelvic rocking, it will take time to learn the postures and exercises but it will become second nature, there is hope, there is healing and you will be in control of the entire process.There is no magic pill, but there is you, yourself and the strength you have within will conquer this, Your prolapses will not disappear but the postures will ease them back into proper place and you will learn to make their presence less hindering and less painful. You will learn what you can and can't do, honest, please be strong, as your organs fall in place and healing take place you will find yourself able to do much more as long as you keep posture and do not suck in that tummy, ever!!!
I will keep you in my prayers,

Welcome Rachael83, I'm sorry you are going through so much.
I have a stage 3 cyctocle and stage 1 rectocele and am a 2 month newbie to whole woman.
The book is great but I found the DVD to be easier for me to use.
I didn't develop my pop after a birth but I had achy feelings and it felt a bit like my insides were ripping out.
I've been feeling much better since I've been doing the WW exercises and taking walks trying to stay in posture, plus throughout the day. I also rest when I can and take lots of Epsom salt baths. Somedays are better than others but now there are times I barely notice my pop.
It may be hard to believe that posture can be so profound but read as much as you can from what Christine has to say and you will get the picture.
Best of luck and keep checking in.
Best bets

Hi Rachel,
The Saving the Whole Woman book, First aid for prolapse dvd, and baton are really a great start into this work. Getting a really good understanding of this work will help you the most in the long run, and the book provides that. The DVD gives great practical advice for day to day living and has exercises the really do help strengthen and lengthen the body into whole woman posture. I didn't have the baton at first, and tried to do the exercises without it. I always felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle without it, so I bought it and was not disappointed.
The key here really is about getting the pelvic organs moving away from your vaginal outlet and into your lower belly with whole woman posture. And, kegels are based on tightening a supposed pelvic floor with a hole at the bottom of our bodies when in actuality our vagina opens to the back of us, and is normally a flattened tube. You will learn all this in your study. But the work is up to you to do. Those of us that have spent time doing this work can tell you that it is a far cry above doing any kegel based exercises.
Best wishes to you.

Hi Rachel,
The first aid for prolapse DVD has some ballet type moves that Christine modified in the whole woman way to help lengthen and strengthen the body into posture. There is dancing in one section which is quite lovely. It takes some getting used to, but is very beneficial in so many ways.
I was actually very interested in yoga, so afterwards. I added all the yoga dvds to add variety, but they all have the same purpose, strengthening your body into whole woman posture.
I want to add that the posture is the key here. That is something you should be working on all day wether doing the exercises or not. You can even do this by taking nice long walks, paying attention to all the principles of posture as you go along.

Dear Rachel83, Yes- the book/dvd go into great detail and depth and I found them to be beyond helpful. One of the best investments I've ever made.

I just wanted to add that I know all too well how it feels to be dealing with this in your early 30's. I too prolapsed after my second birth at that age. I went the medical route at at time (urogyn visits, pessary fittings, PT pelvic appointments, etc) and to this day I regret all the time, effort and money I spent with that prolapse focus rather thank the WW prolapse focus. Even with the book/dvd purchases, I would have saved SO much $. I would also have been at home, focusing on my newborn and beginning to reshape my entire body in the way it was meant to be shaped rather than the medical path which, at best, leads to a masking of symptoms and no true healing.
Please know in your heart that you are SO not alone. Many many women find themselves at your age dealing with this- though it is rarely ever spoken of. I only wish I had started this work in my early 30's post-partum rather than a decade later when I prolapsed again. While it is never too late, the younger you start, the better. As hard as it is to believe now, WW work returns our bodies to the way they were meant to be and we are all the better for it. Take heart, it's early days and they can be so hard, but you are not alone. Please feel free to check out my old posts- my first entry was one year into WWW. It's incredible how far I'd come in that year. If you throw yourself into this work, I too believe you'll be amazed at how much of a difference a year can make (improvements happened right away and throughout the year, but I found a year to be a really incredible bench mark). We are here for you!!- gr8fl