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Can Postpartum Prolapse Heal Itself?
4 Min Read
It is not uncommon for many postpartum people to experience complications such as pelvic organ prolapse postpartum. Vaginal and rectal prolapse occur when the supporting muscle and tissue structures become weakened during pregnancy and delivery. Despite common belief, prolapse does not only affect women who have had multiple pregnancies or are outside of the advised age, but it can also affect many postpartum people as well. It can be a surprising and shocking experience for many postpartums to discover they have developed a prolapse after vaginal birth. However, in some cases, the symptoms will resolve on their own as their body recovers from delivering their child or can be managed and healed through exercise and proper postpartum aftercare.
In this article I hope to address the ways postpartum people can manage prolapse after childbirth and how you may experience a full recovery.
How Common is Prolapse After Childbirth?
The truth is, your pelvic floor and uterine wall experience a lot of stress during your pregnancy. In many cases, people will begin experiencing the complications of prolapse and other pregnancy related issues before they deliver their child. A stressful or complicated delivery is not always the culprit for POP or DR. As your child continues to grow within you, the supporting tissues and muscle structures are strained, which can lead to you experiencing complications even before birth. However, it is common for many people to become aware of these issues postpartum. The weakness in the pelvic region can cause some of your pelvic organs (bladder, bowel, uterus) to slip out into the vaginal or rectal walls. Despite many people experiencing resolved symptoms as they continue to heal after their delivery, many may still experience future complications. Some of the most common types of pelvic organ prolapse include:
Uterine prolapse –uterine prolapse involves prolapse of the cervix and uterus down into the vagina
Bladder prolapse (cystocele) -involves a prolapsed bladder into the front wall of the vagina
Bowel prolapse (rectocele) is the prolapse of the vagina into the back wall of the vagina or rectum.
In some cases, these prolapses may coexist. Example: you may experience both a uterine prolapse and bladder prolapse at the same time.
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Is it Normal to Have a Slight Prolapse After Giving Birth?
In short, it is not uncommon for people to experience a prolapse after giving birth. As you undergo the many hormonal changes, physical strain and stress, and the weight of your child can weaken the supportive tissues and muscles in your pelvic floor – causing the organs to shift and become misaligned.
Along with the hormonal and physical demands pregnancy can place on your body, a vaginal delivery can also contribute to pelvic prolapse as well. The stretching and straining of the pelvic muscles beyond their limits can significantly compromise the strength and functionality of the pelvic region. Over-stretching can leave scarring and nerve damage resulting in damaged tissues and muscle structures – leading to pelvic organ alignment issues and can cause them to shift downward into the vagina.
There are a host of factors that can contribute to various forms of pelvic organ prolapse. Some of the most common include:
- A traumatic delivery
- Baby’s birth weight
- Pelvic floor muscle weakness
- Chronic straining during bowel movements, constipation
- Chronic coughing
- Multiple pregnancies, deliveries
How is Postpartum Prolapse Treated?
There are many options out there to help you recover from postpartum pelvic organ prolapse. It is important that after your delivery (once you’ve received clearance by your medical professional), to begin a form of postpartum rehab. Offerings can range between physical therapy, physiotherapy, or movement specialists (Restore Your Core). In many cases, you would treat this condition as you would any other physical injury: REST and light movement. You may also need to treat any other underlying conditions that may be contributing to the prolapse. Some options may include:
- Pelvic exercises, such as yogic exercises, to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles
- Hydration and a high-fiber diet can help reduce bowel issues
- Treating a chronic cough to aid in reducing pressure and strain on the pelvic floor muscles
- Avoid heavy lifting or any core exercises that increase intra-abdominal pressure
- Stool softeners may help reduce strain during bowel evacuation
- Hormone replacement therapy for women post-menopause
- Or the use of a vaginal pessary to aid in protrusion issues.
How to Treat Prolapse After Birth
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises are vital to your recovery, especially postpartum. Pelvic floor stretches and exercises are known for reducing the symptoms of prolapse, restoring function to the pelvic floor and core, and realigning organs that may have been affected by the prolapse. If you have discovered you have a prolapse after childbirth, it is important to begin working towards recovery through physical therapy or working out at home. Most postpartum people may begin exercising soon after giving birth (within the first couple of weeks), however, if you experienced tearing or delivered via C-section, you may need to wait longer before beginning treatment.
Pelvic Floor Safe Exercise
Practicing safe pelvic floor exercises are important for a sustained recovery and preventing further injury during treatment. Inappropriate exercises or moving too quickly can increase the risk of injury, overloading the pelvic floor, or causing long-term damage to the pelvic floor. Practicing safe pelvic floor engagement and workouts will help strengthen your muscles and the surrounding tissues that have been damaged during your pregnancy and childbirth, helping restore the natural support system for your vital organs.
Safe pelvic floor exercises include those which are low impact and light exercises: walking, stationary cycling, and some yoga poses. More safe exercises can include core strengthening techniques and movements as well are pelvic floor strength training exercises: more intensive yoga poses, stretches, and workouts. Although exercising is important for recovery, it is important that you avoid high impact exercises: intense core exercises, heavy-lifting, or extensive cardio training in order to avoid making the prolapse worse or increasing other postpartum symptoms.
To learn more about safe postpartum exercises, read our additional blog on Postpartum Exercises.
Rest
Resting can be one of the most difficult things new moms struggle with remembering to do. As you continue caring for your little one, ensuring you are getting exercise and eating nutritiously, can help you make a better transition back into your daily routine. It is extremely important that you remember to rest throughout your postpartum period. Rest is especially vital to your prolapse recovery. As you reach the end of each day (and periods of down time during the day), rest with your feet elevated to help relieve any symptoms you may be experiencing. Rest can significantly promote your overall prolapse recovery.
Bowel Management
Straining during bowel movements and constipation can increase prolapse symptoms. Although I am not a dietician, in many cases, changing your diet and eating high fiber foods can help relieve symptoms of constipation that can reduce the amount of straining you have been experiencing.
Looking for safe, restorative exercise for postpartum?
Learn more about the Restore Your Core program
Looking for safe, restorative exercise for postpartum?
Learn more about the Restore Your Core program
Can a Prolapse Go Away on its Own?
For many people, postpartum prolapse can correct itself over the course of your postpartum recovery. Lifestyle changes, exercise, proper diet, and avoiding exercises of movements that may prevent your body from healing are the first steps toward prolapse recovery.
After giving birth, your pelvic floor and core muscles will be in the process of healing for at least a year. Although many people may begin being active again after the first 8-weeks postpartum, often people will continue to face pelvic pain and symptoms of diastasis recti for months after delivering their child. Both your core and your pelvic region have gone through significant changes in order to accommodate your baby. Attempting to quickly get back into an exercise or workout routine can add to your pain and place unnecessary pressure and strain on your core and pelvic floor muscles – especially when they are already weakened.
Every woman is different and the recovery length can change depending on many factors. Healing can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on whether or not there are underlying conditions which may be increasing the pain. While there are no overnight success stories, there are many many success stories of people like you who have healed their pelvic organ prolapse by taking these steps slowly and surely.
