It's my first time posting here. I'll try keep my story short here.
I am 28 years old, had a vaginal delivery to my first baby 7 months ago. I had a tear on my perineal body which wasn't stitched up properly. So I ended up having a wide open vagina and it wouldn't even close up when I squeeze it. It was very distressing for me and of course my husband, so we decided to fix it and have a C-section for the next baby.
However, at the consultation I was diagnosed with 2nd degree back wall prolapse. And the surgeon suggested to fix it at the same time (his reason was it would support the perineal body better), which I did, and it solved my terrible lower abdonimal and back pain from day 1. ( I even had no idea what caused it previously)
Now I am 19 days op, everything has been going really well. But I am very stressed about lifting my 7 months old baby even after 6 weeks' recovery. The surgeon has advised me it is not recommended to lift anything over 10kg with 12 weeks, and he 10kgs
Has anyone here had similar experience or some advice about this? I know it might sound very foolish to you that I decided to have a prolapse surgery before even I complete my family. But I am really glad I had it, esp now my vagina can actually close again. I just couldn't move on with my life feeling it open everyday.
I'm In a similar situation with a 22 month old, she's about 12kg. My surgeon said after two weeks I was ok to lift her but I still try to avoid it all costs but I have lifted her a couple of times, it's been unavoidable. I'm four weeks post op x
Hi Lisa, thanks for your response. I'm actually quite surprised your surgeon allowed you to lift children after two weeks, but obviously you have no problem from lifting your daughter. Yes, it would be not avoidable, lucky my husband will be working at home for the first six weeks to help me carry the baby.
So was I, everything I've read says no lifting so I've stuck with that, I'd hate for it to fail. I started driving this week, only 5-10 mins journeys, I last week but it was too painful. I'm seeing the surgeon again tomorrow as I keep getting infections so will ask again about limitations, I'm due back to work Monday as I was only signed off for four week but I don't it's a good idea as I'm stil in pain / discomfort!
What kind of pain are you experiencing? Lower abdominal? I only started to have it today, I'm not sure if it's from walking too much or maybe my period is on the way.
Can I ask what kind of surgery did you have? I'm going to see the surgeon tomorrow as well. Would love to keep contact with you
I would have done the same in your shoes, difficult as it is. My youngest is a toddler so I have some of the same problems, but of course you can get a toddler to do more walking and climbing so it's much easier for me.
I am 6.5 weeks post op now. My husband has been working from home and doing any child lifting that was needed. My toddler is big enough that I just can't ever lift him again (about 15kg). Some of the things I do (get him to walk and climb etc.) won't help you as your baby won't be able to do that for a long time. Some might help.
1) Put the diaper/wipes/cream in a container and grab that and the diaper changing pad when a change is needed and change baby on the floor.
2) Lay down on the floor with baby to play instead of lifting all the time.
3) Once you've healed, if carrying baby on stairs is particularly difficult you can scoot up and down the stairs with the baby on your lap (sounds horrifying now, but the tender bits will heal up and it will be fine later on)
I would just recomend trying to figure out how to do things differently so you can lift your baby less and when your little one is bigger and can climb more, get them to do what they can (climb into car seat, stroller, etc.). I would also have hubby do any lifting/carrying when you are doing things together.
Oh, I also read that when lifting to be sure to brace your deep abdominal muscles first so it puts less stress on your pelvic floor. I found the sue croft book helpful about how to lift and when you can do different exercises. Doing the exercises she suggests to (safely) strengthen your abdomen might make help since you will need to lift your baby. It's available on kindle in the US and UK (and maybe lots of other places). "Pelvic Floor Recovery: Physiotherapy for Gynaecological Repair Surgery" by Sue Croft
I read that it takes 12 weeks for the tissues to fully heal so I am trying to be extra careful until I hit 12 weeks.
This isn't for the baby, but all the baby toys and mess. I also recommend those grabbing things so you can pick things up without bending. I have a bad back so maybe it wouldn't help you as much as it helped me, but I was told to minimize bending during recovery so I think it's helpful in general.
My earlier response didn't post for some reason 🤔 Anyhow I had a posterior repair. I've had all sorts of pain, lower abdominal only ever occurred when I had an infection, I've had tailbone pain and a lot of pain from I think stitches deep inside. Also had to have some of vaginal stitches trimmed as they were like needles pricking me at every move, it's been a rollercoaster four weeks! Now I would say I have a lot of pain, I have some but it's more discomfort than anything else...but I'm only two days from finishing more anti b's and I've been here before and have ended up with another infection and more pain, fingers crossed not again!
Thanks for your reply. I'm actually living in Australia. I ordered books /DVD from both sue croft and Michelle keyway. The grabbing thing is definitely a good idea, I am doing the kneel thing whenever I need to pick something up now. Somehow, my surgeon never mentioned do not bend, but I guess it's more like a common sense
I did and wasn't told not to bend either by him, but I think I more often than not bend down from the knees, it's really hard when you have little ones 😁🙈
I went to see the surgeon this afternoon, he removed one stitch on my perineum that not dissolving properly.he told me everything else looked very well, the pain on lower abdomen and the bleeding are normal as long as it's not aggressive.
Then I asked him about lifting up the baby, he was very firm about no lifting baby for 12 weeks.
I hope you don't have to get back to work on the coming Monday, I'm lucky I'm still on maternity leave
I wasn't told about bending either. I joined here at a month post-op as needed to query as to whether or not I had an infection, & discovered then about not bending. I had done plenty of that!!
ladies on this thread i dont know if you can help me. im 2 weeks 3 days post bladder and bowel prolapse op and wondering if recover is normal. i cant find anything on the web for what things should feel/look like down there. all my stitches are internal but when you look there are lits of lumps in my vagina. are these the stitches swelling or is something wrong?? im so worried and unsure. i expected smooth stitches. i have no idea if im doing ok