postpartum pelvic floor / perineal recovery

I have a couple of questions for those of you who have been there -- I am 4
mos postpartum, and for context, I had a second degree tear just to the anus
and a cystocele (fallen bladder) that both my midwife and OB knew about but
didn't think it worth mentioning until I asked about it last week -- after
looking it up on the internet.

(1) How long until you felt healed enough to have sex, and if so, how did
you know? We had sex at 11 weeks pp thinking it would make me feel good
about myself, and it didn't hurt at the time but since it tore the introitus
repair another 4 mm or so open it had the exact opposite emotional impact.
I'm not keen to try that again until I know I won't open up more.

(2) Does everything continue to heal such that it would be better to have
kids 3 years apart as opposed to 18 months apart in terms of ripping badly
again? Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position she
was born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future birth.
But things do not feel very strong down there.

(3) Has anyone done kegels for a cystocele and are they worth the trouble?
Mine is bad enough that I have trouble voiding completely but I haven't had
any bladder infections. Any other suggestions for getting the bladder back
in place?

Thanks,
Dagny

Dagny wrote:

I had an episiotomy with #1 and tearing along the old scar line with #2.
AFAIK I do not have a cystocele.

(1) How long until you felt healed enough to have sex, and if so,
how did you know?

With #1 it was at least 12 months before I had pain free sex. Sorry. We
initially tried at 3 months, not good. Next time we tried we used gobs and
gobs of lubrication. That helps. With #2 the pain was gone by 5 months but
we continued to need the lubrication until I quit nursing at 26 months.

(2) Does everything continue to heal such that it would be better to
have kids 3 years apart as opposed to 18 months apart in terms of
ripping badly again?

I don't know. I had 24mos between births and I did have tearing. The
second time I had a fast delivery on my back, which has to be one of the
worst scenarios.

(3) Has anyone done kegels for a cystocele and are they worth the
trouble?

I hate kegels. I have no idea if I have a cystocele but I do have bladder
troubles. I get UTI's and I have urgency (I mean when I have to go I'd
better damn well find bathroom) and I have to go much more frequently then I
did before babies. I mostly hate it in the summer when I am places where it
is hard to find a bathroom. Caffeine makes the problem lots lots worse. I
still drink my coffee though ;-)

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

"Dagny" wrote in message
link.net...
(1) How long until you felt healed enough to have sex, and if so, how did
you know? We had sex at 11 weeks pp thinking it would make me feel good
about myself, and it didn't hurt at the time but since it tore the
introitus
repair another 4 mm or so open it had the exact opposite emotional impact.
I'm not keen to try that again until I know I won't open up more.

4th degree tear for 1st birth. Didn't stop hurting during sex until about a
year.


(2) Does everything continue to heal such that it would be better to have
kids 3 years apart as opposed to 18 months apart in terms of ripping badly
again? Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position
she
was born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future birth.
But things do not feel very strong down there.

Only a 2nd degree tear after 2nd birth with episiotomy. Kids are 32 months
apart. Not much pain this time, but feel like something's fallen down
there. Maybe I have a cystocele? Haven't tried sex yet.

"Dagny" wrote in message
link.net...

I have a couple of questions for those of you who have been there -- I am
4
mos postpartum, and for context, I had a second degree tear just to the
anus
and a cystocele (fallen bladder) that both my midwife and OB knew about
but
didn't think it worth mentioning until I asked about it last week -- after
looking it up on the internet.

(1) How long until you felt healed enough to have sex, and if so, how did
you know? We had sex at 11 weeks pp thinking it would make me feel good
about myself, and it didn't hurt at the time but since it tore the
introitus
repair another 4 mm or so open it had the exact opposite emotional impact.
I'm not keen to try that again until I know I won't open up more.

(2) Does everything continue to heal such that it would be better to have
kids 3 years apart as opposed to 18 months apart in terms of ripping badly
again? Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position
she
was born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future birth.
But things do not feel very strong down there.

(3) Has anyone done kegels for a cystocele and are they worth the
trouble?
Mine is bad enough that I have trouble voiding completely but I haven't
had
any bladder infections. Any other suggestions for getting the bladder
back
in place?

Thanks,
Dagny





I am also 4 months pp and have a cystocele. I am having it repaired
surgically next week, the gyno I spoke to says that it won't ever get
completely better with pelvic floor exersises. I have had all my children
but they don't like to operate if you plan more.

Judy

Dagny,

Regarding cystocele...

I don't know if this will help but...

Australian physiotherapist Shirley Owen once wrote to me:

"Following on my belief that the squat posture is the natural defaecatory
position I advise my clients who have problems with incomplete evacuation
because of rectocoele and/or cystocoele to adopt a modified squat posture on
the traditional toilet...[T]hese patients find that their bowel and bladder
function improves markedly from day one." [Owen S. Personal communication,
March 1992. Shirley Owen, Dip. Phty., Toowoomba Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Centre and Physiotherapy Clinic, 13 Isabel Street, Toowoomba 4350,
Queensland, AUSTRALIA]

The quote from Shirley is from my post,

Squatting prevents hemorrhoids, constipation and diverticulosis?
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...st/message/661

Dagny, you wrote:

"Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position she was
born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future birth."

Whatever position you were in - I must give my usual warning to pregnant
women - do not deliver on you back/butt because it closes your birth canal
up to 30%.

Most of us were born through birth canals senselessly closed up to 30%.

Most of us survived and thrived.

Some of us, though, did not do so well - a few of us died.

Most of our mothers did fine too - but some are still suffering
vaginal/bladder/rectal effects of episiotomies performed to open birth
canals - even as MDs closed birth canals.

Todd

Dr. Gastaldo



"Kereru" wrote in message
...

"Dagny" wrote in message
link.net...

I have a couple of questions for those of you who have been there -- I
am
4
mos postpartum, and for context, I had a second degree tear just to the
anus
and a cystocele (fallen bladder) that both my midwife and OB knew about
but
didn't think it worth mentioning until I asked about it last week --
after
looking it up on the internet.

(1) How long until you felt healed enough to have sex, and if so, how
did
you know? We had sex at 11 weeks pp thinking it would make me feel good
about myself, and it didn't hurt at the time but since it tore the
introitus
repair another 4 mm or so open it had the exact opposite emotional
impact.
I'm not keen to try that again until I know I won't open up more.

(2) Does everything continue to heal such that it would be better to
have
kids 3 years apart as opposed to 18 months apart in terms of ripping
badly
again? Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position
she
was born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future
birth.
But things do not feel very strong down there.

(3) Has anyone done kegels for a cystocele and are they worth the
trouble?
Mine is bad enough that I have trouble voiding completely but I haven't
had
any bladder infections. Any other suggestions for getting the bladder
back
in place?

Thanks,
Dagny





I am also 4 months pp and have a cystocele. I am having it repaired
surgically next week, the gyno I spoke to says that it won't ever get
completely better with pelvic floor exersises. I have had all my children
but they don't like to operate if you plan more.

Judy

"Todd Gastaldo" wrote in message
hlink.net...

Dagny, you wrote:

"Of course my body was screaming at me not to be in the position she was
born in and I am not going to repeat that scenario in a future birth."

Whatever position you were in - I must give my usual warning to pregnant
women - do not deliver on you back/butt because it closes your birth canal
up to 30%.

Easy to say Todd but hard to follow through on in an assisted birth --
particularly when you have been in labor 24 hours and you have put in your
birth plan no back or semisitting, your midwife has convinced you to push
without urge, you are on the birth stool uncomfortable saying to your
midwife "I am not supposed to be on my tailbone am I?" and she replies only
"Been reading Todd Gastaldo have you?" and then semisits you on the bed --
and you just want it to end -- and end up with PTSD in addition to the
physical damage.

-- Dagny

Did a midwife really say that and then put Dagny semisitting to deliver?

Arrgghhh... If so, I am so sad...

See PS2 in OBs: Do You Look Good In An Orange Jumpsuit?
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...t/message/2343