postpardum exercises okay?

Body: 

I had my second child one week ago and am experiencing extreme uterine prolapse. I've had much difficulty the with being able to urinate the past few days due to the prolapse. I am breast-feeding. I just found out about this website and the book which I ordered and should be receiving any day now. I was seeing a physical therapist for pelvic floor exercises before delivery, and she told me that everything needs 6 to 8 weeks to heal before she recommends doing pelvic floor exercises. From what I understand from reading on this website, it seems that the exercises recommended here have more to do with strengthening the core than the pelvic floor. My question is is it safe for me to do the exercises outlined in the book so soon after having a baby?

Personally speaking from my own experience after having 5 children/vaginal births, I would wait on all exercises until the 6 to 8 weeks as recommended.
Difficulty urinating is just part of the symptoms of childbirth, my suggestion would be to wait and stay off your feet as much as you can. Rest and heal, mothernature will help with the rest. This is your time with your baby. How old is your first child? And can your husband or a friend help??

I cannot comment on exercises but I think rose 54 is correct, however, I can give you a hint which might help you with urination. Instead of sitting on the seat, with your behind over the toilet bowl, bend and lean forward. This might make your bulge go in and will make the flow easier. Some women push the bulge in if it does not go in by itself before urinating.
Sometimes the flow is slow so you might have to stand and then try again.

Or you might find that if you lie down for a while, the bulge might go in so then go straight to the toilet before the bulge descends to block the flow.

I wish you all the best.....enjoy your baby even if life is difficult for your right now. From what I understand, many young mothers do very well to reverse the prolapse so be optimistic; the rest of us that don't have youth on our side are happy for stabilization of symptoms.

(If I remember correctly, Christine told me that the DVD "The Second Wheel" is for new mothers....maybe some else who reads this can further comment.)

Yes, the second wheel yoga DVD is for post partum mothers; although I have it, and really enjoy doing the exercises on it. I don't know when post partum mothers can actually start doing these exercises. Maybe someone who knows will comment further on this.
Luckily, younger women seem to have an easier time of improving symptoms, so your chances of getting your uterus back up there are very good. I do t think it would hurt you at all to start working on the whole woman posture. That would be a good start while you do your reading and figuring out what whole woman is all about. Congratulations on your new baby!!

There's a video on this website somewhere which shows Christine's "new kegels" and how to do this. This is essentially the first part of the First Aid for Prolapse DVD, and constitutes what I managed to do for the first month or so postpartum. The book is really good - packed full of information - but I found the FAFP DVD to be the best way to exercise for me, especially postpartum. Honestly, I'm too impatient to try and figure it out from book instructions! However the workout in book and FAFP DVD are very similar as far as I can tell so if you're not spending any more money, the book will certainly suffice with a bit of patience. I gradually built up to the whole FAFP DVD workout, then around 4 or 5 months PP tried the Second Wheel Yoga DVD, which I have come to love.

Congratulations on your baby's safe arrival!

I agree with all of the above....but let me add that at ONE WEEK post partum, exercising should not be a huge priority. Your babe, getting some rest, and starting the posture, that's plenty! Stand up, relax your belly, pull up your chest, shoulders down (not back)......and get the sense that your lower spine is curving nicely and that you are making room in your relaxed belly for those organs to rest, instead of invading the vaginal space! This is Whole Woman posture. Try it, start getting used to it, because you will eventually LIVE in it once you have given your mind and body a chance to absorb all this. Now is a great time to start. I wish I'd started when I was where you are now. Relax, enjoy the babe, and don't rush into getting all physical yet. - Surviving

Gosh yes, Surviving is absolutely right. One week is no time at all. I did nothing exercisey for the first week or two.