perineal massage

this keeps coming up amongst my pregnant friends. I, too, had been shown how to do perineal massage while pg in hopes of avoiding tears. I did this with my first, and I tore anyway. The next time around I was seeing a mw who said perineal massage hasn't been shown to prevent tears but it couldn't hurt. I didn't do it during pg #2, did it during #3. I'm not sure which birth left my perineum in the sorry state that its in, probably a combo (#1 was lithotomy position with epidural, #2 got stuck, his big head on a cervical lip, and #3 was the full squat episode)
Now I am wondering if maybe its not a good thing to stretch the perineum that way, wouldn't that make the tissues less resilient?

Trampolines?

I mentioned this in my post over in the post partum forum....my doctor recommended a trampoline as a way to tone my muscles, apparently my vaginal walls are stretched thin from childbirth & I'm having some bulging & aching issues.

Has anyone used one? Does it really *not* make things worse?

Thanks! ~Erin

Christine, a couple of questions for you:

1. First, I've been pondering the role that hormones play in the day to day experience of different symptoms of POP (specifically, the draggy days, where everything seems lower). Sometimes, almost magically, everything seems to "lift up" for some number of days, without necessarily any rhyme or reason. I know that hormonal balance is delicate and ever changing. Your thoughts?

2. I've been trying to envision exactly what it is that the postures do to reinstate the natural female design and pull up the organs that have prolapsed. I understand that in the natural design, the organs are protected in the front part of the body from intraabdominal pressure. What I'm having a hard time envisioning is how, once the organs have prolapsed, they are protected, or how working on the postures is physically helping with the prolapse.

Back from my Dr visit

Hi everyone. Well I went back to see the Dr today for the results of my test and they said I did not have urethra diverticula but I did have blocked skenes glands so they ended up having to open the glands up. Not a very fun thing to have done:(((((((((( My glands were so infected that I had an abcess that I had no idea I had. The Dr ended up cutting open the glands and draining it all out. He said I would have a hole in my glands for a few days until it healed ( which I have no idea how long that takes ) Now I am taking amoxcillin for a few days so I dont risk getting an infection, I'm still kinda worried about getting Toxic Shock Syndrome because they had to put gauze in me so the wound wouldn't get infected. He then went on to talk about my prolapsed uterus and I told him right away I wasn't interested in a hysterectomy but only natural cures. I go back to see him in a week to see if I am healing ok from that incision on my skenes glands. I am still wondering how I ended up in that position. Don't ever want to go through that pain again:))

sleeping positions

just wondered. which is best? sleeping on your back, your side or your tummy?
i have been trying to sleep on my right side because my womb is falling towards the left. i think i may try my tummy to see if this encourages the 777 axis that christine talks about.

Can anyone offer advice and or experience in having a pessary fitted?

I saw my physical therapist this morning. I have an all around pelvic floor weakness as well as probable nerve damage causing my prolapse. We have worked out a series of yoga and other floor exercises which are strengthening my pelvic floor and with that strength in place, I would now like to start running moderately again. I think a pessary might offer some good support while running and would like to explore being fitted. My PT couldn't recommend anyone in our area, but had the names of some doctors about 2 hours away. As I know that it can take a few different fittings, does anyone have any advise for me before I initiate this process? Any specific Q's you would ask when selecting a doctor?

Had My 8 Week Post Partum Appt. - Christine, Question

I had my pp appt yesterday – I’m just over 8 wks pp now. I told my doc about the bulge & she felt while I was laying down & bearing down. She said she felt no sign of a cystocele or rectocele & said my uterus was pretty high up there (perhaps higher because I wasn’t standing.) She recommended Kegels & thought that the vag. wall was just stretched as a result of birth (3 births) & that it could regain it’s tightness – well some of it – LOL!

This is pretty sad – my doc asked me to Kegel while she had her fingers inside of me & I did & she said, “okay, do it now” & I was!!!!! Guess my muscles could use a bit of a regular workout! Can someone explain how to do Kegels properly?

Breastfeeding and prolapse

I am almost four months postpartum (after my fourth child) and have a cystocele. I have been having treatment on a neotonus chair since I was five weeks postpartum to strengthen my pelvic floor muscles and there has been some improvement in my condition. However, I've been told that I am unlikely to completely recover until I stop breastfeeding. I'm nervous about stopping breastfeeding in case it actually makes no difference and then I have lost that precious experience with my baby, especially since I don't plan to have any more children. However, I'm finding it hard living with this condition and feeling that I'm missing out on being able to do the things I used to be able to do with my older children, like playing soccer.

new member

Hello to anyone.

I am a brand new member. Self-diagnosed with a stage 2 cystocele. Have not been to a doctor yet. What do you recommend I do first?

I am 56 years old.

d-mannose side effects?

Hi everyone,

I woke up with UTI symptoms at 2am and immediately took 2 teaspoons of D-mannose followed by one teaspoon two hours later, again two hours later, etc. The UTI symptoms VANISHED which is amazing to me. However, I feel really nauseated. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks,

Ann

Pages

Subscribe to Whole Woman Village Forum RSS