Postpartum uterine prolapse: What to expect?

Does anyone have any firsthand experience here? If you're dealing with a prolapsed uterus (and bladder) after your second pregnancy, is it even possible to carry another one? Should I be on strict bed rest?

Amanda Howard84 said:Does anyone have any actual experience here? If you’re dealing with pelvic organ prolapse—specifically the uterus and bladder dropping—after two pregnancies, is it even possible to carry another baby? And if so, am I looking at mandatory bed rest?

Look, it all comes down to the individual case... Have you actually been consistent with Kegel exercises since the moment you found out about these issues?

If you're looking at surgery to fix this, you'll need to track down a top-tier urogynecologist.

Hi everyone,
About a month and a half ago, I had surgery to remove uterine fibroids. I’ve been trying to follow doctor's orders by resting—just lying around and walking a little—but I have two small cats to look after. One of them was being impossible to catch; while I was lying down, she darted right at me, so I grabbed her by the scruff, stood up, walked a few steps, and finally got her into the carrier.
Immediately after that, my left groin started hurting intensely, and now my right side is acting up too—plus my upper abdomen on the right side is swollen. I suspect I might have developed one or more hernias. Ever since I lifted that cat, I’ve dealt with diarrhea and loose stools for eight days straight—maybe my gut is just reacting to the stress? I even temporarily lost sensation when urinating, though that’s back to normal now. I'm also feeling occasional twitching in my anus and something similar in my vagina. Honestly, I'm terrified of how this is going to play out. I'M SCARED TO EVEN WALK because the pain in my groin and stomach is so sharp. AFTER LIFTING THAT CAT, I FELT NAUSEOUS—like I was going to throw up—and I still feel it every time I eat; it feels like the food is pressing against whatever mass is in my abdomen. It feels like I've developed four or five hernias—two in the groin, which I can actually feel as small, hard lumps, plus some near my stomach and possibly at the incision site. I mentioned this to my gynecologist, but she just brushed it off, saying I'm still too fresh from surgery and if I suspect a hernia, I should see a general practitioner. She hasn't been much help...
THE PRESSURE HAS CREATED THIS OTHER ISSUE—IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING HAS DROPPED IN MY VAGINA, PERHAPS MY CERVIX OR BLADDER—BECAUSE MY MUSCLES FEEL SO WEAK... IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I WALKED A BIT TOO MUCH.
I'M AFRAID TO DO KEGEL'S EXERCISES BECAUSE WHEN I TRIED THEM, THE FEELING IN MY VAGINA ACTUALLY SEEMED TO GET WORSE... WHEN IS IT ACTUALLY SAFE TO START KEGEL'S AFTER SURGERY??
IF I JUST LIE HERE, MY MUSCLES WILL GET EVEN WEAKER, BUT IF I DO KEGEL'S, WILL THE PRESSURE INCREASE AND CAUSE A PROLAPSE??

PLEASE, DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE OR ADVICE WITH THIS...

redcyclist70 said:Hello everyone,
About a month and a half ago, I underwent surgery to remove uterine fibroids, and I have been strictly following doctor's orders to rest—mostly just lying down and taking very short walks. However, I have been looking after two small cats, and one of them was proving impossible to catch. While I was resting, she suddenly darted toward me, and I had to grab her by the scruff of the neck, lift her up, walk a few steps, and finally get her into her carrier.
Ever since that lifting incident, I have been experiencing intense pain in my left groin, and a few days ago, the right side started aching as well. My upper abdomen on the right side also feels swollen. I am beginning to suspect that I might have developed one or more hernias. Following that moment of lifting the cat, I also dealt with some diarrhea and have had very loose stools ever since, which has lasted for eight days now. It feels to me as though my intestines are reacting to the physical stress. I even briefly lost sensation when urinating, though that has returned, and I feel occasional twitching in my rectal area and a similar sensation in my vagina. I am quite frightened about how things will progress from here. I AM AFRAID TO WALK because the pain in my groin and abdomen intensifies during movement. AFTER LIFTING THE CAT, I ALSO FELT NAUSEOUS, AS IF I WERE GOING TO VOMIT, AND THAT FEELING PERSISTS EVERY TIME I EAT, BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE FOOD IS PRESSING AGAINST THAT HEAVINESS IN MY ABDOMEN. It truly feels as if I have developed four or five hernias—two in the groin, which I can actually feel as small, hard lumps, one near my stomach, and possibly one at the surgical site. I mentioned this to my gynecologist, but she suggested that since I am still recovering from the operation, I should see a general surgeon if I suspect a hernia. She couldn't offer much more guidance...
THE PRESSURE HAS CREATED ANOTHER ISSUE—I HAVE THIS SENSATION IN MY VAGINA, AS IF SOMETHING HAS DESCENDED, PERHAPS MY CERVIX OR BLADDER, BECAUSE MY MUSCLES FEEL SO WEAK... THIS SENSATION OCCURRED AFTER I TRIED TO WALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I AM TERRIFIED OF DOING KEGEL'S EXERCISES BECAUSE WHEN I TRIED THEM, THE SENSATION IN MY VAGINA SEEMED TO WORSEN... WHEN IS IT ACTUALLY SAFE TO START KEGEL'S AFTER THIS TYPE OF SURGERY??
IF I JUST LIE DOWN, MY MUSCLES WILL GROW EVEN WEAKER, BUT IF I PERFORM KEGEL'S EXERCISES, I WORRY THEY MIGHT CREATE EVEN MORE PRESSURE AND CAUSE MY UTERUS TO PROLAPSE...

PLEASE HELP ME WITH ANY EXPERIENCES OR ADVICE YOU MAY HAVE...

A hernia itself can cause symptoms in the vaginal and rectal areas, and performing Kegel's exercises could potentially exacerbate those issues. It isn't particularly wise to engage in Kegel's exercises while dealing with an inguinal hernia, as the hernia itself can trigger spasms in the pelvic floor muscles, which Kegel's would only intensify.
However, your first priority should be to confirm with a general surgeon whether you indeed have a hernia; if you do, you will likely need surgery to fix it, as the symptoms it causes won't simply resolve on their own.

How much did that little cat weigh? This whole situation sounds more like postoperative complications... I'd just settle down and wait a few weeks, no exercise. Then, if things haven't improved, head back to OB-GYN surgery before even thinking about abdominal specialists. You have to rule out the possibility that the procedure wasn't done right or that something went sideways during the operation first.

An inguinal hernia in the stomach is about as likely as a skin tag on your elbow, so other options really need to be looked into. Good luck 🙂

Just wanted to give you all an update—admittedly a bit late—since I finally saw a surgeon. Turns out, it’s hip arthritis causing that groin pain. Who knew? I didn't realize hip issues could manifest that way, but there it is. On a brighter note, I've recovered well from my previous surgery, despite that whole mishap with the cat. 👍I hope everyone is doing alright, and thanks for the input.