any tips how to protect PF during labour post prolapse?

Body: 

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and also just last week diagnosed with grade 2 cystocele and grade 3 rectocele. I have loved reading all the fantastic posts on this website and feel inspired by how amazing all you women are.... but I do have a burning question I can't seem to find an answer for. I am 40, have 18 mnth old and feel if I am going to give her a sibling it needs to be asap. But with prolapse, I am terrified. Specifically I don't want to have CS, but how can I go through vag delivery without worsening my pop (have read horror stories online) ? Would anyone who has had a baby after prolapse be able to recommend ways during the actual birth to protect your pelvic floor? I have found Julie Tupler's book, Perfect pushing (where you use your transverse abs to push out baby), and also intend to check out Christines book/dvd. At my age I can't fence-sit about getting pregnant too much longer - but I am scared silly and too paralysed to take the plunge... Would be very very grateful for tips or advice any of you could offer, especially if you have been there, done that. Thanks in advance!! :)

hi there and welcome

I only have a minute, but track some of my posts in the pg forum. I've had two babies since finding my prolapse and am no worse off for it.
in a nutshell, plan a homebirth. stay active during labor/birth. birth in a tub if that's your thing, or on your hands and knees or some other postion that keeps the bladder forward. push only when and how your body/baby demands. I found that no matter what I read or thought was 'right' each situation necessitated something different. my youngest was really different for me, I thought I knew how to do birth, her being my fifth baby. but she pushed herself out. I could feel her kicking up at my uterus and she pretty much flew out. at the end I involuntarily gave the hugest push (I was planning a no-push birth like my fourth) and there she was, intact sac and all.
trust your body, give it room to do what it knows how to do.
the best thing really, is to learn the posture, firebreathing and nauli before you get pg so that you will feel confident that you can manage any setbacks you might have pp.

Can anyone here suggest why choose water birth instead of hands & knees besides the love of the water and relaxing effects of the water? Would water birth be more gentle on prolapsed organs or would hands and knees be a better position? I am scared too, that my organs would fall out, but trying to stay positive and figuring out the ways to protect my organs during the birth.
I was in the tub with my first baby, but the hospital staff did not know how to properly use it, so they told me that my baby is too big for the water birth and put me on the table for the very long and hard pushing:-(

Thanks granolamum for your response & encouragement. I think my trust in my body is pretty minimal at this point. I was trying to trust my body with my daughter, to 'breathe her out' which is what a course I'd done prior had recommended. But didn't end up having an urge to push at all, not at any point, so it had to be done at m/W suggestion. I do hope that if there is a 2nd time around, I might not have to fight so much against my natural inclination. HappyMama sorry to hear you are also worried about another baby. mine was a waterbirth too and even though it was more comfortable in the water I've often wondered if that somehow got me TOO relaxed (espec. as I slowed down a lot in 2nd stage after very quick 1st stage) so that I ended up having to push against my body - eventually also on my back so I could brace against the sides of the tub - to get bub out. I don't know.

I think once you get used to wholewoman you will begin to develop a whole new relationship with your body. you may begin to trust one another again : )
wondering why the mw didnt suggest you get out of the tub and walk around to 'unrelax' you? maybe that's something to think about for next time...