Greetings! 31 yr old mama having bladder issues....

Submitted by Crunchy Christi... on December 4, 2015 - 2:40pm
Body: 

Greetings, Ladies.

I am a mother of two (3 1/2 and 12 months) and I have a prolapsed bladder.

My labor with my first was a very prolonged, very intense, vacuum assisted vaginal birth (we attempted a midwife-assisted home birth but ended up doing a hospital transfer about 40 hours of labor.) I first noticed the prolapse about 6 months after my son's birth, but it wasn't bad enough that I really worried about it. I had my second little one at home a year ago and that didn't seem to worsen anything.

However, I've recently (5 months ago) started an intense, high-impact exercise program, and in the past few months, my prolapse has gone from barely noticeable to ohmigoodness what have I done status. I've also started using a squatty potty.

I have an appointment with my midwife next week. I've also read Christine Kent's book and am 2 weeks into doing the wombdance every day. I have started modifying my intense workout so that I don't do any jumping around. I also stopped using the squatty potty because I didn't feel like it was helping me empty my bladder completely every time.

My son was jumping on a trampoline today and I couldn't jump with him. 4 months ago, I was jumping whenever I wanted. So, I'm feeling a lot of grief, confusion, fear, you name it- I'm feeling it!

I've lurked around on the forums for a little while and it seems like Christine Kent keeps reiterating that the exercises are more about a holistic overall lifestyle change than about something you do for a few months that fixes you.

Still, at 31, I'd like to believe that there is a "fix" out there, and that someday I might be able to jump on the trampoline with my son again. Some hope would be nice. Can this improve, or is this just a new normal?

Forum:

Crunchy Christi...

December 4, 2015 - 3:03pm

Oh, and I already don't eat processed food or dairy. We utilize doctors as little as possible. I'm at a "healthy" BMI of 24, but could probably still lose 10-15 pounds if that would help. I'm also breastfeeding my year old baby and I don't know what role those hormones could play in all this.

Surviving60

December 4, 2015 - 2:55pm

Just a quick note because I have to run. I didn't see "posture" anywhere in your post, and that is really what the WW work is all about. It isn't an exercise program as such, and certainly not a quick fix. Are you familiar with WW posture and how are you taking to it? More later; others will post too, we have lots of young moms here. - Surviving

Crunchy Christi...

December 4, 2015 - 3:02pm

Surviving- I am still adjusting to the posture thing. I assume you mean utilizing the Natural Healing Stand as much as possible and sitting on the floor cross-legged instead of on a chair? I'm getting better about those things, but I'm not 100% in the habit of it yet. Or am I not understanding what the WW posture means?

Aging gracefully

December 4, 2015 - 3:36pm

Hi Christi,
You said that you have read Christine's book? If you have the book with you, go to page 125. There you will find a description of the whole woman posture. This is the posture we are all trying to get back to, our natural posture that we need to try to maintain throughout our day, and the rest of our lives for that matter. The exercise provided are meant to help strengthen and lengthen the muscles needed to hold posture, and are very beneficial in that and our whole body well being.
It can be and has been for many of us quite a change from what we have grown used to in today's suck and tuck society, but once it really sinks in, you will also see the far reaching benefits of this very important work.
Best wishes to you.

Surviving60

December 4, 2015 - 4:24pm

It sounds like Christi only has the first edition of the book (orange cover). Time to update your library. Lots of ground covered since that book came out! - Surviving

Surviving60

December 4, 2015 - 6:00pm

Jumping is one of those activities that is actually quite beneficial for prolapse PROVIDED that you are in excellent WW posture, because the organs are being held forward and the jumping accentuates those dynamics. But it isn't for WW newbies. Get the posture down first. - Surviving

ActiveandLapsed

December 7, 2015 - 1:36am

Hi Crunchy Cristi,

My story is similar to yours with a mild prolapse not bothering me and then it getting worse one day (and then I found WW - thank goodness).

Definitely get rid of the squatty potty and adopt the LoPo postion and/or the twist if you like. I have posted on the twist and there are lots of post on the LoPo bit. It's especially important if you get constipation at all - mine was diet related but it sounds like you have a diet that works for you.

Re the hormones, do not stop breastfeeding until you want to. It made absolutely NO difference to my prolapse when I stopped (I did not stop because of prolapse, things ran their course and the time was right for me). I am quite certain that nature would not make prolapse worse with breastfeeding - it makes not sense. Maybe it even helps the healing (I do not mean going back to no prolapse).

I do not jump on tramps and do not do quite a few things with my kids that I would do pre prolapse. I don't say this to be negative but I am being real. I make the choice not to and my kids have adapted. It is a process to accept this though but I make other memories with them. I think it is an individual thing to find what is comfortable for you to do and not do.

I second getting onto any resources you can. Christine is learning and adding things all the time.

Crunchy Christi...

December 8, 2015 - 6:07pm

Thank you for the kind comments and understanding.
You ladies are correct that I have the first edition. It sounds like I need the updated one! I just ordered the First Aid for Prolapse DVD and one of Christine's Yoga DVD's.

I don't know if it is anywhere in her information or been covered in any threads on the forum, but throughout my day, I am usually carrying one or more small child and nursing frequently. I have been trying to adopt the posture and am getting more used to it, but have had to modify for a babe on the hip. I presume that women in more natural cultures would nurse their babes most often cross legged? I will search through the forums myself, but if anyone has information on how to modify these common positions while using the WW posture.

Surviving60

December 9, 2015 - 5:10am

Sitting cross-legged in WW posture is great, but I think that nursing a babe while sitting cross-legged on the floor would be tiring......hard to maintain lumbar curvature unless you are already very very strong in WW posture. Instead just consider a comfortable chair that gives you support if you place a pillow or cushion behind your lower back. You can experiment. Not a soft couch or bed that collapses your spine. Holding and carrying a baby in correct posture is actually good for prolapse because the extra weight accentuates the vaginal walls flattening and closing out the encroaching organs. It takes practice to build up confidence though. Keep going! - Surviving

Sunshine and Rain

December 9, 2015 - 5:11pm

Hi, thought I'd piggy back on this post and ask: what about using back support while sitting in a lazy boy? I try to do this and can definitely maintain a lumbar curve, however sometimes I recline very slightly (with the back support) and rest against the back of the chair. Is reclining to a greater than 90 degree angle bad even if I am maintaining a lumbar curve?

Surviving60

December 10, 2015 - 11:18am

If you are using back support, and you are not feeling a strain in your pelvic organs while sitting in this way, then in my opinion you're fine. No one, especially a new mom, can maintain perfect posture all day long. I personally will admit to sitting in this type of position for some amount of time virtually every evening. We aren't aiming for perfection, but to learn and understand the principals of pelvic organ support and to apply them to daily life as much as possible. Eventually you will decide for yourself, how much you need to do in order to continue seeing improvement. Those with a more profound prolapse may need to crack the whip on themselves a bit more. For me, after going on 6 years, I'm pretty used to my fluctuations as I go throughout the day; as a newbie, you are still figuring that all out. - Surviving

Sunshine and Rain

December 10, 2015 - 2:45pm

Thank you for the insight, it is really helpful- and a nice reminder that I cannot be perfect all the time ;)
-Sunshine and Rain