PHYSICAL THERAPY, A BOON TO PREGNANT COUPLES PART 3

DEALING WITH PROLAPSE WHILE PREGNANT

Check this out. THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!

A prolapse is a name used when your uterus, bladder or bowel comes down into the vagina instead of sitting in its normal position. It is much more common in women who have had at least one vaginal birth. A prolapse can cause a heavy, dragging or aching sensation in the vaginal area, which often feels worse at the end of the day and better in the morning or after lying down. Some women also notice lower abdominal ache and backache due to having a prolapse.


REASON: The pelvic organs are supported from above by ligaments and by the pelvic floor muscles and fascia (fibrous tissue within the pelvic floor) from below. If either or both of these structures weaken, there is less support for the pelvic organs and they can start to drop down.
More reasons to know;

• Injury or a weakened pelvic floor

• Body type: Some women have softer connective tissue than others, which means the ligaments that support your pelvic organs loosen more easily. This means they are more likely to stretch during pregnancy and childbirth, putting the woman more at risk of developing a prolapse.

• Child Birth: There is increased risk of injury to the pelvic floor if your baby is quite big, you were pushing for a long time, you needed help to have your baby (vacuum or forceps) or you have had a very quick birth. Overstretching of the pelvic floor muscles is quite common, with large muscles tears (avulsion) less so. Tearing of the anal sphincter muscles that close off the back passage (3rd and 4th degree tears) can occur in some women having a vaginal birth. More minor forms of tears to the skin and muscles of the vaginal opening are more common (1st and 2nd-degree tears), but are rarely a problem for prolapse and commonly heal well.

• The effect of gravity on a weak pelvic floor soon after the birth

• Heavy lifting: (more than the weight of your baby) may weaken pelvic organ support structures, increasing the risk of a prolapse.

• Straining to use your bowel: Pushing or straining to empty your bowel, can increase the strain on your pelvic floor muscles and cause them to weaken.

• Returning to sport, aerobics or high-impact exercise too soon: Returning to sport or high-impact exercise too soon after the birth may also increase the chance of a prolapse if the pelvic floor muscles have not regained their strength.

If you develop a prolapse during pregnancy or after the birth of your baby, there is a chance that it may be temporary due to your pelvic floor muscles being weakened and the effects of pregnancy hormones. As the effect of the hormones subsides post-partum, things usually get normal.  

If you are experiencing prolapse symptoms, THEN THIS IS FOR YOU.

• Regular pelvic floor exercises: Do pelvic floor exercises regularly throughout the day. If your muscles become tired quickly, it is better to do shorter sessions more frequently.(Refer our upcoming article for detailed pelvic floor exercises)

• When possible, lying down is better than sitting or standing :Learning to feed your baby lying down can be helpful, rather than having to sit every time.

• Space out your activities

• Don’t push through warning signs or the feelings of a prolapse

• Minimise squatting : Avoid squatting when possible if you feel like “everything is going to fall out” in this position.

• Avoid doing abdominal curl ups, sit ups or crunches as these can place pressure on your pelvic floor muscles and further weaken them.

To know the right way of doing pelvic floor exercises, stay tuned for our upcoming article.

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Happy Health!
YUVAAN