Had surgery...(didn't know there was any other options) Now full of questions

Submitted by M Mommy on January 10, 2013 - 1:58pm
Body: 

Hello, I'd like to thank you for this informative website. I have spent literally all afternoon reading everything on here...interesting!! Here is my story, what I am wondering now after you take the time to read this...can practicing the posture even help me now? When I was 25 I gave birth to my son who was 9lbs. It was a horrific birth, 100% induced in every possible way, all pain meds on board, 48hrs in labor which left me exhausted and I had no idea what to say by that point...so I agreed to whatever they were telling me and they delivered him "high forceps" with a full epirdural block, I felt nothing until they tore him out of me...Thankfully he was hardly bruised or scraped and healthy as can be. I was too uninformed during delivery to know I had other options from the get go. 4 mths PP I noticed a substantial bulge, freaked out, went to my Dr...it was a cystocele. It went from Grade 2- 4 in 3 yrs, I did kegels (which I now hear is NOT what you should do) and I tried to even do basic exercise. I could no longer function basic daily duties. I was left feeling hopeless, on medication for depression and with a very active little boy I made the decision to have the surgery - the specialist agreed only if I said I was done having babies. I was 29 by then and so consumed by this prolapse that I agreed to have a tubal ligation done at the same time as my prolapse repair and TVT (transvaginal tape). Recovery was a nightmare, nobody told me I would have to self-catheterize for up to 3 weeks...my prolapse went from a grade 4 to a grade 1. It hardly bothers me anymore thankfully but had I known then what I know now, I would have went another route...My husband and I want to have more kids so badly, I am now 33yrs old. My Family physician said there is no reason why I cannot have another baby, she recommended I get a consult for a tubal reversal. She did warn that a vaginal delivery could be a bad idea and said if I go through this, I should really consider a c-section. I am in Canada. Everyone I tell my story to seems in disbelief, they also think I am nuts to risk damaging the repair I have had done. Has ANYONE had anything similar to this happen? I can't find anything online to match my ordeal, I am currently waiting for my appointment with the surgeon who does reversals...I know surgery is so risky, am looking for any info really - is it too late to practice this posture since I have had surgery including the TVT? Thank you. I am very healthy now and medicine free, active and in a great place. I feel ready to have another child, but scared of the ramifications should we go forth.

Forum:

Surviving60

January 10, 2013 - 5:29pm

Hi M Mommy - I'm not going to comment on the issues of vaginal versus c-section after repairs. I just don't know the ramifications. There are teachers and other more experienced moms on here who might have some interesting insights. However, I don't think we have too many members here who are post-repair and considering having more babies. As you point out - most who go for these repair procedures do so after they're done with their families.

Although your situation is slightly special, Whole Woman posture is good for ALL women. It is not just about prolapse, but about the health of the hips and spine as we age. If we restore the lumbar curvature that was trained out of so many of us (were you taught to suck in your gut and tuck your tailbone? I sure was!!) then as we age our spines will not have to try and compensate by forming a hump at the top. Our torso will be properly seated over our hip joints, making us less vulnerable to a host of hip issues. And of course, you still have your uterus which is the hub of pelvic organ support, so by adopting posture you give the round ligaments of the uterus the opportunity to pull the other organs forward. You may not achieve the same results as if you'd never altered your pelvic dynamics, but it will be good for you nonetheless.

Hope you get some answers. It's a complicated situation! - Surviving

fab

January 10, 2013 - 6:15pm

For a start it looks like you realize how really fortunate you are that a forcep’s birth did not injury baby and that this medical manoeuvre would have taken some considerable skill on the part of the doctor. Also, that it would not have been performed unless there was a dire need for it from both your and your child’s point of view. That said, yes I can see what an ordeal and shock it was for you as you say “they tore him out of me”.

As to having more children once you have your tubal reversal, I understand the urgency of your decision, as if trying to conceive is left too much longer then you may have difficulty, depending upon how early menopause sets in.

You will know well the reasons for the difficulty of birth in your son. Is this situation likely to be repeated?

A lot of women when it comes to birth look to the welfare of the child first and then their own welfare second. With the experience of your first birth behind you, I would suggest there is no space for weighing one against the other, both will need to be considered equally. Just to put caesareans into context, often the mother of twins will have the first birth naturally, only to have the second by caesarean because of the position of the second child.

It really is important to talk to women who share a similar experience to yours, and one may come on here, and to consult very fully with your birth helpers. I would hope you could call on the experience of your first birth helpers to give you some guidance here, and then seek a second opinion.

Best wishes, Fab

M Mommy

January 11, 2013 - 10:54am

Thank you for the feedback, I am pretty sure I won't find anyone with a similar situation to offer guidance and I believe the Dr's will just do it regardless and see what happens...I am guessing it is probably not wise for me to get the reversal (another surgery) and then risk damaging what has been repaired with a pregnancy (more surgeries), possible c-section (another surgery)...it's just an ugly endless surgery cycle and I should consider myself lucky to have one healthy child and be in a better place now physically. Yes I do stand and sit with good posture as Surviving60 mentions and will make a conscious effort to do so at all times. Thank you again.

MsNightingale

January 11, 2013 - 1:15pm

You are young at 33. If I were you I would take some time to reflect on all of this. Make a decision to not make a decision just yet. Maybe take the next few months or more to gather all the information you can. Find the best possible doctor in your area and have a consultation. Take time. There are so many ways to build your family. This is one and it may be the right one. You can also play with the numerous other possibilities in how you might bring another child into your beautiful family. Give yourself time to make these important decisions and explore all the options. Wishing you the very best!

Sammy

March 15, 2013 - 11:28am

For me it seems that choices when you weigh both sides, and the choice is made, the 2 sides still exist and whether we made the right choice is irrelevant. One of my mother-in-laws last wishes was that she had had more children. Doctors could have realized that you were under stress and could have helped you through one problem w/o creating another

alemama

March 19, 2013 - 8:01pm

But I say go for it! If you want more children and they are calling to you, then go for it.
Just be sure you don't have stars in your eyes! The pregnancy could cause your surgical repair to fail, you could have at least as bad or worse symptoms of prolapse as before and that's before the birth (vaginal or surgical- both will have complications in your case).

kam2481

May 31, 2013 - 9:33am

sorry no advice but i understand how u feel. im 32 n have one child who is nearly 10 months old. last month i noticed i had a bladder prolapse grade 2.....3 wks later and its a grade 3. i did want surgery cz i was freaking out but here in the uk gps etc are not very clued up on prolapse. i managed to see a gyna who just said to do pelvic floor exercises n not lift anything heavy!! most unhelpful!.
im still considering surgery as an option but im trying to do the ww postures to see if i benefit. i too would love another baby but terrified of making my prolapse worse. iv heard women can have c sections if they have a child after prolapse repair but not sure about pros n cons vs vaginal delivery?
wot kind of surgery did they do? whats tvt used for? sorry im new to all this n still trying to find out info n get my head around it all x

Surviving60

June 1, 2013 - 10:46am

Kam, we always want newbies to realize that they are not giving up the surgery option by trying something else first. But once they take the time to read and study Christine's body of work, most women will conclude that surgery is the absolute last thing they want to do to their bodies. A grade 3 cystocele is totally manageable with diligent WW work which you will do for the rest of your life. But if while you are learning it (which takes TIME and dedication) you are at the same time thinking to yourself, "how's this going, is it time to schedule my surgery yet?" then you cannot possibly be giving postural work a fair chance. You are still PP and only discovered your prolapse a month ago. Please do your research carefully because there is a lot of misinformation out there. - Surviving