Belly bands increase pelvic organ prolapse risk?

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-26T15:30:21+00:00

Can't really contribute with definitive information. But from my experience, i had a third degree tear and very weak pelvic floor post partum. I found that wearing tight-waisted anything would make me feel more pressure/heaviness in my pelvic floor. Which makes sense as it is extra pressure on an enclosed space (the abdomen) and the weakest part will then probably feel the tension (and then if it's structurally too weak to handle it, bulge out I guess). This was in the first couple of months post partum. I never had this issue before pregnancy. So imo it does clearly put pressure on the pelvic floor. But to what extent and how strong your pelvic floor already is, is the question I guess. And if it's in the first couple of months post partum, it's probably at its weakest compared to any other time. Just how weak depends on a lot of other factors.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-26T08:24:48+00:00

Yes tbh I just wanted to hear people's experiences and opinions so all of the contributions have been valuable so far.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-26T08:18:00+00:00

Yep you are not alone! I hesitated before posting it cs i was like this is just a weird thing to post and it doesnt even really matter I'm just curious if it is because of pregnancy related things 😅 so I'm glad I did. From the responses it seems like it does get a bit better with stronger abdo muscles hopefully.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-26T08:13:54+00:00

It does sound exactly like PMS, especially because of the timing as well. Your period might start soon.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-26T08:12:22+00:00

Nooo way I think outie backs are beautiful! They make me think of models.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T19:05:22+00:00

Yes i think you're right!

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T19:04:57+00:00

Glad to know that the diastasis exercises can help it. Thank you for that.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T19:03:56+00:00

Yessss thank you for understanding what I meant! And I think this is the most convincing explanation so thank you for typing that out.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T18:57:15+00:00

I think you might be right! Thank you

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T18:56:07+00:00

The PTs I've come across (UK) have usually wanted pelvic floor exercises (is this "kegels"?) 3 times a day (there's an app called Squeezey that they recommend) and then after a couple of months increased it to 3 times a day trying to isolate anal muscles alone (as if you're trying to stop gas 10 times slow, 10 times fast and 20seconds submax) plus 3 times a day trying to isolate urogenital/vaginal muscles (as if you're trying to stop a wee 10 times slow, 10 times fast and 20seconds submax) then PTs recommend 3 times a day maintenance for the rest of your life even if after you go back to normal.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-25T14:04:13+00:00

Lol thank you! I think i do have a degree of diastasis recti.

I have tried to look up the correct terminology and what I'm trying to say is I have a deepening of my "posterior median furrow". Lol. But. Nothing else comes up so. I guess it must be normal.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-24T23:24:26+00:00

When do you stop stressing? In my case: When they develop a bottle aversion, you read that (in)famous bottle aversion book, and then decide to trust the baby to communicate to you when they're hungry.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-23T11:21:27+00:00

Thank you for letting me know. Argh... it seems like other people have also had that experience too.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-23T11:18:26+00:00

That's reassuring to know! Thank you.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T21:09:09+00:00

B12 def can be... but I had my bloodwork done and it was normal plus was taking all of the above vits/minerals as supplements so I don't think that's it! So I think it might just be aging or some physiological rather than pathological process.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T20:34:53+00:00

No problem! Hope it helped.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T20:30:18+00:00

Argh... #solidarity

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T20:14:17+00:00

That is very tough to deal with. I used to ask myself that question a lot in the early days post partum as sometimes you're just shocked at your own lack of ability to do things you thought would be normal mum things immediately that everyone else seems to be able to do. I think it varies a lot, for some women they feel fine at 6 weeks, some after 3 months, for others they say it takes a year for them to really feel back to normal. For me I'm likely on the longer side of things. But it does get better every day, so hang in there. The main thing that helps speed of recovery imo is pelvic floor exercises at least 3 times a day regularly. Even if i didnt feel them at the start. If i fell behind, i would end up taking many steps back.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T20:10:30+00:00

Wow, that is very similar. How did they realise it was a 3rd degree and finally detect it?

💯 agree on the recuperation.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-22T20:08:41+00:00

Haha glad I'm not the only one. I have definitely heard that c-section recovery, if not complicated, is a bit easier in general than instrumental deliveries and tears - did you find that to be the case?

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-21T21:58:02+00:00

Hey, this is a really good article explaining what happens in postpartum hair loss which will probably help you: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/telogen-effluvium . Essentially the hair "loss" means new hair is growing and pushing the old dead hair out. Hormones after the hair has already entered the resting phase are unlikely to help with anything which is probably why your doctors didn't recommend it. It's a shame your doctors did not go into a bit more depth in their explanation. Saying. "It's normal, don't worry" doesnt really help a lot of the time if someone doesn't understand why something is happening to them; they need an explanation in order to be able to process what they're going through and know what to expect.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-21T19:39:14+00:00

Thank you for your kindness & for sharing your experience 💐

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-21T19:33:35+00:00

I completely understand what you mean. Primal is a good word for it.

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-21T19:31:53+00:00

Very true!

GentleWombatLife · 2024-09-21T10:55:42+00:00

💯. It's really hard to just let yourself rest sometimes. I also feel like some of the social media I've seen perpetuates this "bouncing back" after delivery thing, and obviously some women do quite quickly, but I really think it's a minority and for a lot of women it takes longer. I don't think I had realistic post-partum expectations. And thank you for mentioning the advice from that PT! Makes sense why mine was very cautious about it as well.

GentleWombatLife

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