Suspected prolapse - so upset

Hi everyone, I am 7 days postpartum and fairly sure I have a bladder prolapse based on a huge bulge popping out of my vagina. I can see it in evenings mostly while sitting on toilet. When i put my finger there, it feels squishy and I can push against it and push back in. When pregnant sneezing and morning sickness caused leaking but that was about as bad as it got. I saw a midwife on Saturday who couldn't see it externally. I laid on my back and side and she just looked visually. I then went to see the midwives and Dr at my delivery hospital who did a speculum exam and said no prolapse. I can't help but feel that we won't be able to see the bulge when I'm laying flat or with a speculum as the speculum just pushes it back into place surely? I have now paid for a private pelvic floor physio to see me on Friday. I feel like this is going to affect future fertility as I feel this must be a bad prolapse if visable and this makes me so sad. A bit of back story on me - in 2022 I lost my son at 33 weeks. The labour also caused some grazes and a small tear that needed stitches. The idea of doing my pelvic floor then was impossible as my challenge at the time was getting myself out of bed, dress myself and to continue to eat amidst the grief. 13 months later, I gave birth to my daughter very quickly. I became convinced I had a prolapse as I started to see the bulge. A GP said I didn't have one - yet again, just used a speculum. I tried to pelvic floor exercises but quite honestly, I forgot most of the time. Then, I got pregnant again in 2024 when my daughter was 1 year old. I tried hard with my pelvic floor but again, it was not a daily thing. I suffer from extreme anxiety in pregnancy due to the loss of my son meaning pelvic exercises and taking care of myself was difficult. I am now 8 days post partum after another fairly straight forward labour. But it is awful down there. I can see the bulge very very clearly. And I'm so upset with myself- why have I allowed my body to get to this point and why didn't I act? Why did I not pursue a better opinon earlier and opted for a c-section? I don't know if I'll have more children but there is something about the option being taken from me that feels traumatic. I love dance as a way to cope with my feelings. I have yet to be initimate with my partner, and we already feel so distant with each other and scared sex will be painful. I already feel so let down with my body, and now I feel awful. Currently awake, deep in the newborn bubble, crying my eyes out. So I guess my question is - does prolapse effect fertility and anyone out there that can make me feel less alone? Many thanks!

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I found out I had posterior and bladder prolapse this time last year. Fast forward to now and I am on my third pregnancy and 35 weeks. Prolapse shouldn’t affect your fertility. Like you, I forgot to do my exercises most of the time because healing from birth was too painful for me x

I can’t answer about fertility as I’m not there in my journey yet, but I can certainly reassure you you’re not alone. I had some tough nights too in the early days, worrying about a bulge and thinking of all the things I did and didn’t do. It’s hard enough doing newborn without those worries too❤️ I found the pelvic floor physio amazing at helping me understand what was going on, and together we made a plan that has really worked. I did end up having a prolapse, but 10 months on, I’m active and busy and whilst I still I have a prolapse, it’s very manageable - definitely no where near as bad as I feared in those early days. Please give yourself a break, and definitely don’t blame yourself for anything you did / didn’t do to be in this situation, and know that you are really not alone. Hope your Friday appointment goes well. Feel free to DM me if you’d like to chat more Xxx

I had a bulge at 2 weeks postpartum...most likely bc i was carrying heavy things, up cleaning and doing a lot after my return home from giving birth. It would bulge out then recede. I went to Dr. - like your doctor, she didnt see the bulge, though i clearly viewed it at home. Long story short... I have not see the bulge since that week. I told my husband i was going to get more rest/staying off my feet....I also drank more water, and took collegan (type 1&3). Stay positive and off your feet as much as possible. Also do not sit on the toilet longer than necessary....that allows your pelvic floor to drop. Soften you stool w a pill if needed as well, bc straining to poop is not good.

I have a mild prolapse after my second pregnancy. It’s getting better with exercises. The pelvic floor specialist said it doesn’t affect fertility and you should still be able to have sex and give birth without issues. Try and stay calm and try and get yourself referred to a prolapse specialist. If they can see it externally all the time. It’s probably a mild one

I had a prolapse before getting pregnant this time (so shouldn’t affect your fertility) and was also told they didn’t see anything at first Eventually out of frustration I took a picture of it when I was on the toilet because sitting up right I could see the bulge coming out and showed it at my next appointment and then started being treated for it finally but at that point it was pretty severe and I was like 3 months pregnant. If you can get started with pelvic floor therapy and either have a doctor fit you for a pessary if they think it’s necessary or you can order prolapse garments on Amazon doing those things now to make it get better before trying again would be very beneficial!

First of all, you are in very early postpartum, things are still swollen down there and they will get better, I know how bad it is to find out about prolapse. It is mentally draining specially when you just gave birth and all the hormones are over the place. I cried in bed for 3 days when I realised I had bladder prolapse at 6 weeks postpartum. Your best option is to see a pelvic floor physio and stick to exercises, try to keep your toilet trips smooth and although there is no conclusive study on collagen, I think it helps. Pelvic floor health is linked to hormones too, that is why menopause can have a serious impact, if you just had a baby and breastfeeding, your oestrogen levels will be low. With time you will see improvement. You didn’t do anything wrong, many women have vaginal deliveries with a prolapse and not necessarily made it worst. I always did pf exercises and before my pregnancy I thought I was on too of it, unfortunately there are other factors like age and genetics that

Can make someone more prone to suffer from prolapse. You have options, the pf physio will explain to you, you can try a pessary and have it removed if it doesn’t help but I think they will say exercises are the first approach. You are not alone, you have this group to share your feelings and concerns whenever you like ❤️

*UPDATE* - Thank you everyone for your comments, they really helped in showing me that I am not alone and that there is light at the end of this postpartum tunnel. I went to see a private pelvic physio today who diagnosed me with a stage 1/2 front wall prolapse (cystocele). She was very hopeful that it would get better naturally with time and also gave me lots of advice on what I can do to help. There is also relief as I feel listened to - three drs/midwives told me that I had no prolapse, and to know it's not in my head is weirdly reassuring.