Prolapse After Childbirth

Pelvic prolapse occurs when the pelvic floor is weakened after childbirth or as part of the normal aging process. A combination of muscles and ligaments that make up the pelvic floor support the uterus and vagina, and a prolapse is when a weakening of these muscles and ligaments fail to keep them in their correct position in the pelvis. 

A generation ago, women regarded pelvic floor problems like prolapse as an inevitable part of motherhood and silently accepted the consequences. Today, women are more informed and expect more out of life, including life after bearing children. But pelvic floor disorders, pelvic prolapse, or incontinence are rarely, if ever, discussed in any prenatal classes, birthing classes, or pregnancy books. 

A woman’s prolapse is described depending on what part of the uterus or vagina is involved in the prolapse. A cystocoele occurs when the front part of the vagina below the bladder is prolapsed. A rectocoele is what the prolapse is called when it involves the back wall of the vagina in front of the bowel. A lot of prolapses involve only a part of the vagina or a combination of the vagina and uterus. 

Some women don’t experience any symptoms with their prolapse and only find out during an internal exam. Most women have at least some symptoms though. Many times the symptoms of pelvic prolapse are mild: a sense of “something falling out”, lower back pain, and minor urinary incontinence (usually stress incontinence when small amounts of urine are passed while coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting a heavy object). 

Many women first experience some of these symptoms, particularly stress incontinence, during pregnancy , when the weight of the baby presses downward, weakening the pelvic floor. Following the birth, the muscles and ligaments surrounding the uterus and vagina can be weakened so full control is not regained until for several months, if ever.