When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
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Remember, the forum is here for two reasons. First, to get your questions answered by other women who have knowledge and experience to share. Second, it is the place to share your results and successes. Your stories will help other women learn that Whole Woman is what they need.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, welcome! The Whole Woman forum is a place where you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of thousands of women around the world!
Best wishes,
Christine Kent
Founder
Whole Woman
wholewomanUK
September 18, 2012 - 7:03am
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Blissful rest
Hi violin1,
Welcome to the WW community - and congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby.
I remember that stage well - and oh it can feel so tiring and hard work at times. I completely agree, you need to feel happy and safe in the knowledge that you can rest easily and comfortably - and as often as you can!
Firstly, when you're lying down you can basically relax and don't have to think about WW posture in the same way that it's important to do when you're upright (standing, sitting, kneeling etc). The intra-abdominal pressures are different when we're lying down and its ok. So just enjoy lieing down in any position and have a great rest! Some women say they find benefit in raising the bottom of their bed up a little, so that they are lieing down slightly inverted so that gravity draws their pelvic organs up in their bodies a bit. I've tried this and actually quite like it too - but haven't done it for a while since my symptoms have improved.
If it's comfortable for you to breast feed lying down, that would be a good position. I found this position very restful when I breast- fed - some years back now!
The semi-reclining position, if that means sitting and leaning back, is not a great posture for prolapse. That causes the lower back curve to flatten and your tail bone may tuck under, neither of which is adviseable for prolapse. When you're sitting, I wonder if you can breast feed in WW posture; with the lower lumbar cure in place? You may find a back support helpful. I have a lightweight mesh one that can slip over most chairs very helpful in providing lower lumbar curve and back support. It helped me to maintain WW posture when sitting for long lengths of time.
In our family we used to have a lovely large old wooden framed 'nursing chair',' specifically designed for women to breast/bottle feed their babies. I remember the back was quite upright and had broad solid arms. Thinking back it would have been a great chair for breast feeding. I reckon there's a still niche in the current market for 'nursing chairs'!
Good luck in your quest for comfort and rest. Lots of practical research required!
With love, xwholewomanuk
Surviving60
September 18, 2012 - 2:11pm
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Hi violin and welcome.
Hi violin and welcome. Congrats on your little babe. WWUK has give you good advice. You don't necessarily have to give up the recliner completely, if it's great for nursing, as long as you stick something behind you for support of the lower spine. But that angle is definitely not one that supports lumbar curvature and pelvic support.
Although any sleeping position is OK for prolapse, you might find some comfort lying on your side with a pillow between your knees. This is a nice stabilizing position for the pelvis, hips and spine, and if you are at all inclined to any pain in these areas, this should feel good.
At 4 weeks you have many ups and downs ahead of you as your body heals. It can take up to 2 years to return to normal (or whatever the new normal is!). Now is such a perfect time to adopt WW posture because you have been carrying your organs forward for the last nine months. You can encourage them to stay there, a golden opportunity that some of us missed, because our prolapses didn't manifest until later. Good luck to you! - Surviving
Bluesky
September 18, 2012 - 2:23pm
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Except!
Except sleeping on the tummy...
Surviving60
September 18, 2012 - 2:32pm
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Tummy
I don't think sleeping on your stomach is a problem if it is comfortable for you. You might think you're squishing your organs, but at the same time, they have gravity in their favor. As Christine says, it's when you are upright that the important work is being done. - S60
KiwiSarahsa
September 18, 2012 - 3:07pm
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Strong flow
Hi violin1, congratulations on your new baby! I too discovered my prolapse postpartum - what a thing to add to all the other new mum stuff we have to deal with! Once my milk came in I had a really strong flow too, and fed my baby in the reclining position you're describing. It wasn't great for my prolapse but I figured it would just be for a short time - and it was. At about week 6 the flow would only be strong first thing in the morning, so the rest of the time I could feed sitting up in WW posture for as long as I could maintain it. By week 10 it had totally settled down. Everyone's different, it might take a different length of time for you, but usually the longer you breast feed and the bigger your baby gets, the more efficient and easier it gets. WWUK's suggestion to feed lying on your side is a good one too. Now my babe is 4.5 months old my challenge is his weight! When he's having a long feed I need to support the arm supporting his head so I don't hunch. With the reflux, that will hopefully improve too. My wee one was dreadfully 'colicky' at first, poor thing was often distressed and we didn't get much sleep at all, but as his digestive system has developed we have all gotten happier! Good luck to you both!