Hi Friends!!! Gulp...pregnant again...

hi sheppie
congrats on the pg!

re: your question..what to watch for - constipation! relatively common during pg, it is NOT your friend! if you are still nursing, be sure to stay hydrated.

what should you be doing? try to stay in posture as long as you can, eat well, rest, and enjoy your pregnancy! also start thinking about how you want labor/delivery to go (line up support people if necessary and think about various positions with regard to prolapse).
what should you not be doing? firebreathing, unfortunately, shouldn't be done during pg. plie's are good. stretching out while on your hands and knees is another one that was wonderful for me while I was pg. and of course, no straining on the toilet.

I know close to nothing about fistulas. so I'm no help there.

how far along are you?

oh man- I will swear up and down that having 3 babies in three years caused my prolapse (well and my massive tear)- but man do I love the close spacing of my children. It is wonderful. they play so well and really relate to each other.
I am pregnant now too and this will be my first pregnancy to *know* about my prolapse. I know I had it after my second was born for sure - but at the time I thought it was normal swelling and it went away ( I couldn't see it)- only to be found after my third was born- and it has gotten much smaller (not visible again) and is now getting more noticeable again.

So here are the things I am doing or plan to do: no pushing birth at home (probably in the water)- no heavy lifting right now- good food- plenty of rest- a strict recovery period (if I tear this time I am going to let it heal naturally by keeping my legs together for a few weeks)- and then I will manage it like I have for the last 2 years or so.....

That's it- explore your birth options and really educate yourself.....

Hi Sheppie

Congratulations, even if it was a bit of a surprise! My third pregnancy was a big surprise. I thought I had some nasty virus, but it turned out a lot better than that! It's always exciting when one of our Wholewoman family is having a baby. We will wait for progress reports. Now you know what you know I am sure it will all go well, even if your POP's worsen for a bit over the next few weeks.

Cheers

Louise

Hi Sheppie

It is hard to say. I figure that there is probably a healthy amount of bulk for each body. If I feel too bulky on the outside I figure that I am probably too bulky on the inside as well, and I certainly notice it if I have to squat or strain to do something. Women who lose weight often seem to say that POP is worse, maybe because the 'nature's pessary' plug is smaller than it was when they were overweight, but maybe because they have lost weight so quickly that their connective tissue has not had time to adjust, and everything is a bit loose on the inside, as it is loose on the outside. Your lumbar curve will naturally increase as you become more pregnant and throw your bladder forwards, and your uterus will eventually grow upwards and out of your pelvic cavity (too big to descend). I think pregnancy is constant change and adjustment. There are so many factors to consider with weight gain during pregnancy. I'll leave it to the expectant Wholewoman to explore this further.

Re CS, I figure that they have to cut some fascia to get to the uterus anyway. There is little point in further compromising the fascial structures of the body more than they are already. Remember that women's bodies were designed to give birth vaginally. There has to be a pretty pressing reason to do it any other way, but that's just my opinion.

I am sorry you don't live in a very (umm) progressive part of the world. I am sure you would not be the first woman at the hospital to refuse to lie down and you certainly won't be the last! Who do they think you are, a baby??? All you need is to provide them with a brief opportunity to monitor the baby's heartbeat regularly if they must, in between contractions, familiarise yourself thoroughly with the principles of birthing in a position other than lying down on your back (which is anatomically much better for both you and the foetus) and let them know beforehand, in writing, so they can prepare themselves. It is your labour, not theirs!!! Negotiate it all beforehand. Go for it. Many of us have been there and we will all be rooting for ya!

Cheers

Louise

I don't know if it makes it worse but if you can keep the numbers down all the power to ya.
I know I tried, but with each pg I gained between 45 and 55 lb (and that's with really watching my intake and exercising 6times/week up until 37 weeks). so don't stress out too much about it.

and sorry you're not in a more progressive place. do you have any options?
I know that some hospitals near me (I'm in NY) pretty much ignore written birth plans if it doesn't match their 'protocols'. they always have the little disclaimer thing, that states they have final say about pretty much everything. another reason I chose a homebirth.

and whats with the 'if you keep the pg'??? that's probably one of the most insensitive comments I've heard in a while. (up there with the time I was doing rounds in an acute care setting and the attending says to the resident -in the patient's presence- 'well, he's the amputee we did last week, doing well, but you know these diabetics, they don't hold onto their legs for too long. a toe today, a below the knee tomorrow, hahahaha')