Prolapse?

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

So, I had my second baby 8 weeks ago, and up until now I've been healing ok - I had a fast birth with an 8 pound baby, and a large tear in my vaginal wall. Today in the shower I was poking around to see how things were feeling, and it just felt wrong. Like there was lots of flesh in paces where there shouldn't be flesh, and like my cervix was waaaay too low to be normal. I'm afraid this could be a prolapse of some sort, and the internet is making me extremely anxious that this could be a uterine prolapse, and if so, that there's nothing I can do if I want to ever have more kids - which I most definitely do. But with the current state of my vagina, I don't know how I could even have sex anyway. I'll be seeing my doctor soon, but I'd love some anecdotal feedback. Thanks.

Comments

[hikerpoet.livejournal.com]

It might be hard for us to say without a professional examination. Prolapse is extremely common--I've heard up to half of people who have had a baby have some degree of it, and sometimes nulliparious people as well. It doesn't always have to do with vaginal birth--I had a C-section due to breech and have a minor one and I've heard it has as much to do with the weight of the baby on everything. But there is such a wide degree--from severe ones with your cervix actually starting to fall outside your vagina to extremely minor ones. I wouldn't panic too much yet--you might still be healing and swollen with hormonal changes. Have you had your follow-up yet? As I said, I have a minor one and sex feels a tiny bit different but still works and is pleasurable--sometimes even better! And I'm 8 months along with my second and it hasn't gotten worse to speak of yet but I guess we'll see. Check with your provider and there is a wide range of possible remedies from kegels and other exercises to inserts to surgery to just monitoring and at this point it may be nothing to fear and just part of recovery.

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

It's just that my cervix was surprisingly low, and I almost stuck my finger in it when I was poking around. And everything I read says the only sure-fire treatment for a uterine prolapse is a hysterectomy. I am actually on the verge of tears right now. If my options are not being able to have comfortable sex with my husband or not being able to have any more kids, well, that's an impossible choice.

[misspaigeb.livejournal.com]

Your cervix could be low for a number of reasons. If "everything you've read" is what you've read on the internet, I would not jump to the conclusion that you need a hysterectomy until you have spoken to your doctor. Have you had a six week check up yet?

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

Haha, yes, of course I won't jump to that conclusion...it's just a very scary thought for me. I had my 6 week check up and everything was fine. I have another appointment in a week for something else, so I will ask about it then. Incidentally, five minutes ago I went poking around again and everything felt relatively normal (minus the extra fleshiness I assume is from scar tissue). I don't know what's up.

[misspaigeb.livejournal.com]

Your cervix can change position due to the time of the day, where you are in your cycle, whether or not you're aroused, and even what position you're in when you check it. It's pretty common for cervices to be relatively low at times even in people who do not have children. I wouldn't worry too much unless it is hanging out of your vagina like another commenter here stated.

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the logical advice...I haven't been able to even attempt anything sexual for 2 months now, and I had my first period immediately after my 5 weeks of bleeding, and then an anovulatory bleed and just finished with that, and all in all it's just annoying things on top of annoying things and I'm starting to think my female organs have something against me. I am reassured by your comments and my second check now, so really, thanks!

[misspaigeb.livejournal.com]

No problem, glad I could help. :) Just from reading here and speaking with my best friend who recently had a baby, it seems pretty normal for things to change quite a bit down there after birth. And I remember your posts about the irregular bleeding so I can understand why you'd be a little unsure about everything! I would still bring your concerns up with your doctor when you're there in the near future, but wouldn't lose any sleep over it or anything.

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, stuff changed after my first, but not like this. This is all kind of surprising.

[hikerpoet.livejournal.com]

Was it, like, hanging outside? Obviously that is Not Supposed to Happen and I'd go back right away but if it is just very very low I would try to hold off on the panic. Your reproductive bits have been very busy and you have been very much in tune and paying attention to them perhaps in ways you haven't been. Or, like I said, you may have one, but one of the more minor ones. Often if there is a minor one it isn't harmful or preventative at all and never gets worse or at least not for years and they will always monitor for you. Did you have a follow up yet? They will be able to tell right away and very easily if is one of the more severe ones and will come up with a plan even if it is one but just a minor one.

[hairballsplat.livejournal.com]

ooooo, me too! #2 was 9 lb baby, fast birth! just my info but, i'm definitely different after kids. had 4th degree laceration after #1, 2nd degree #2. i too feel like there's flesh in places there didn't used to be...and like you i figure it's probably scar tissue. my dr said i over-heal, so i figure that could be it. everything still works well enough...it's different, but it works. even now, 6 yrs after #2, i'm still sometimes amazed at the difference. my cervix is about 2 inches in, sometimes lower during my period, sometimes a little higher.

[ninabrujaha.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, after my first things were for sure different - my cervix was lower and I could, you know, find it ( something I couldn't do before), but this is like...a whole new landscape, hence my prolapse fears.