Living with Bladder Prolapse - Real Mum story on MoM

When I was pregnant I thought I knew all there was to know about childbirth. I had read the books, listened to the podcasts and watched the videos. I thought any “injury” such as a tear would be stitched up and I would heal.

Enter prolapse.

I was around 4-5 weeks pp when I noticed if I stood for more than 10-15 minutes I felt this heaviness inside my vagina and after thinking how best to describe this to my GP I realised it felt as though something would “fall out” or like I hadn’t inserted a tampon properly.

Luckily I took a photo of what I could see because when laying on the examination bed my GP couldn’t see anything wrong. The photo should what he classes as a grade 2-3 bladder prolapse.

I was referred to the public system for management and likely surgery. I was classed as category 2 (3 month wait) but I was in despair so I paid out of pocket for a private consult. To be told I would probably never dance again, I should consider changing career (I’m a nurse) and not to pick my son up (newborn) or to push the pram or even a shopping trolley.

My life was over.
I was only 29 and suddenly unable to go anywhere or do anything alone.
Why me?!
How did this happen?
How can I be expected to live like this?

Enter pelvic floor physio Emily.
She changed my life. I’ve only seen her about 4 or 5 times and I still have a way to go BUT I push my son in his pram everyday. I push the trolley when we go to buy groceries. She has told me I will be able to dance again (maybe with the help of a pessary depending on my symptoms if dancing aggregates then) and I will be able to return to nurse (even if that means starting back part time to ease my body into it).

Prolapse was not something I had heard of except with my elderly patients. I wrongly thought it was an “old lady thing” and that I was immune to it at my age. I had never heard of postpartum prolapse… However it’s now stated that 1 in 2 (50%) of women who have a vaginal birth have some degree of prolapse (and yes you can be completely asymptomatic and unaware). So I wanted to share my story Incase like me, you are newly diagnosed and feel like you’ve been swallowed by a big black hole.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just a slow journey.

Posted by Esmama, 1st November 2023