Whole Woman Village Forum

Hi Christine,

Many blessings to you on the opening of the Whole Woman Center! The place looks just gorgeous and you looked so happy & radiant cutting the ribbon at the door! I haven't posted in a while and have a question. I've had three recurrent bladder infections (3 months in a row). Actually, I'm on my third one right now. Ouch! Each time I get one, my doctor prescribes Cipro, because that's what seems to work best for me. I know that I may not always be emptying my bladder completely each time. Would you say that taking D-Mannose every day just once a day should be sufficient to keep these infections away? Also, when you speak about the different ways of emptying the bladder completely -- do you mean every time you urinate you must be dilligent about doing this? Sometimes I feel like my bladder is empty -- only to return to the bathroom a short while later to go again.

Christine,

First of all thank you for your book and video and especially for this forum which confirmed for me that managing my condition (cystocele and uterine prolapse) non-surgically does not qualify me for the "lunatic fringe."

You mention that certain yoga and pilates postures can trigger prolapse. I have practiced Kundalini yoga sporadically for several years. Which types of postures/exercises are to be avoided? All of the doctors, nurse practitioners and physical therapists I've asked about this just say to avoid heavy lifting - which is common sense even for women without prolapse! I practice yoga to keep myself fit - I certainly don't want to do anything inadvertently to make my condition worse.

Hi, I recently joined & have been lurking. I am 29 yrs old & just had my third child 5.5 weeks ago. About 1.5 weeks ago I noticed some "ribbed" tissue at the entrance of my vagina. I don't feel any "bulge," just some sagging tissue. I also don't have any incontinence issues.

How do you tell what type of prolapse? Can you have just a sagging front vaginal wall without having a prolapsed bladder or urethra?

I have not been for my 6 wk post partum check up yet & am hesitant to mention this to my ob, fearful that the only recommendation would be surgery (even though it doesn't seem too serious.)

Hi Everyone,

I’m wondering if the butt-against-the-wall exercise I gave a few weeks ago for rectocele has been helpful at all. I know mommynow, granolamom & Marie were trying it and it would be great if you could give us a bit of feedback. If you think it’s helpful, I’ll post it permanently in the Tips section. If not, it was worth a try anyway.
I hope you all are doing well.

Christine

I just wanted to share mine because I get so much pleasure from looking forward to it every night when I do the dvd exercises:

It's right after the exercises, when Christine is explaining how to stand in Whole Woman posture, and she finishes and says,

"It doesn't look .. special."

I don't know why, but the little smile and intonation always sends me to bed with a little inward chuckle and a good feeling. Thanks, Christine!

Anyone else?

Hello, New here and trying to find my way! I have bought and read the book. I need to re-read it a few times (that's just how I learn). I have also been reading everything I can find online. I have seen some information that pilates might not be the best form of exercise for someone with prolapse (I have a third degree cystocele, just diagnosed) and since pilates was my main form of exercise I am trying to find other things I will enjoy that will be more beneficial to my prolapse. Long ago I used to be a martial artist. Any thought on how that works with this new body alignment? Lots of deep squatting stances, what do you think of those?

The consultant's letter to my Mom said that she had symptoms of a first stage cystocele. Whilst it did not make a recommendation saying surgery was needed, it said that she should wait for a while to see how things developed, with the option of having a 'TVT cystocele repair' later if she wanted it.

Wanting a second opinion My Mom has gone to see a gynaecologist consultant in another country, who is her personal family friend. This consultant has a reputation for not encouraging surgery unncessarily.

She asked me to ask some basic questions. Infact the first question is my own , but when I told her about it, she was really keen that I ask it on the forum. I've seen several references to 'stabilizing' the symptoms and 'living well' with prolopase, so at the risk of asking the obvious, I think many women would like to know the answer to this. I think the answer to Q1) is 'YES', I hope so, but here goes:

How do you 'relax your belly over pubic bone' whilst keeping muscles firm? Also is it the ribs at the back you're pulling together? I don't understand how you'd pull together the ones at the front. I'm also a bit confused at 'broadening the back'. I keep on reading and re-reading it and trying it out but don't seem to get it!

Sorry! Hope someone can set me straight, many thanks

Esther

Hi I'm just become a mum for the third time. Until the birth of my beautiful boy I had never heard of prolapse. Unfortunately I now have it but I am finding hard to find information here in Australia that doesn't resort to surgery. I know now that pelvic floor exercises (kegels) may not work and I don't want surgery, but I'm reaaly glad I found this website and I'm not alone in this.I have read many of the other forums and it makes me feel less abnormal I suppose LOL. Thanks

I do have one question though. I don't think the book and video are available here in Australia could anyone tell me how much it would cost in AUD for these items to be sent, including postage costs and how I can order them.

I've been trying to keep my feet up while I feed as it gives a bit of relief with the bulgy feeling, but looking at alot of the posts it seems I should be sitting up straight? I haven't got the book yet (although it's on it's way) and can't quite work it out entirely from the FAQ's.