5 Tips to Heal Bladder Prolapse After Childbirth

Giving birth is a serious and life-changing process. Pushing a baby out of your body is a challenging process and it can lead to bodily changes. It is important to give yourself time after your pregnancy and childbirth to recover. One of the areas of your body that may have changed after childbirth are your pelvic floor muscles. The process of pushing your baby during childbirth can weaken the muscles of your pelvic floor. Sometimes the muscles can stretch and this can lead to loss of support of other organs. In some cases, this can lead to bladder prolapse, a potentially painful condition in which the bladder sags through the pelvic muscles, and in some cases, sags through the vagina. It can lead to problems urinating, feelings of heaviness, and pain. Other women may experience leakage of urine or difficulty having bowel movements. Some women experience pain during sexual intercourse. According to Harvard Health, women who have had more than one pregnancy or who have had a vaginal delivery are more likely to develop bladder prolapse.

Some women are able to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles leading to healing without the need for surgery. If you are experiencing the symptoms of bladder prolapse, it is important to first consider speaking to your gynecologist. Dr. Shakiba at Women’s Pelvic Surgery can help you understand how serious your prolapse is, and help you better understand your treatment options. Here are five tips to help you heal bladder prolapse.

1. Learn pelvic floor exercise. According to Healthline many women perform their pelvic floor exercises incorrectly. So, if you want to do pelvic floor strengthening exercises, take the time to learn them properly so that you get the best results.
2. Speak to your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve. While it may be normal to feel some heaviness or to have difficulty emptying your bladder in the weeks after you give birth, these symptoms shouldn’t last forever. If you feel that your symptoms are not improving, speak to your doctor.
3. Drink water and eat fiber. Constipation can make bladder prolapse worse. Make sure you drink enough fluids and eat fiber to decrease your risk of constipation. If you have constipation, consider speaking to your doctor about ways to manage your condition.
4. Listen to your body. If you need to go to the bathroom, go. Drink water when you are thirsty. Do your pelvic floor exercises, but don’t push yourself if you are in a great deal of pain. Excessive pain may be a symptom of a more serious condition.
5. Exercise will keep you healthy after you have given birth. Ease into your old workout routine and listen to your body as you get back into it. It is safe for most women to return to exercise about six weeks after giving birth. If you aren’t sure about what workout you should be doing, consider speaking to a fitness professional or your doctor.

If you are experiencing symptoms of bladder prolapse and your symptoms don’t seem to be improving, consider speaking to your gynecologist. Sometimes, surgery or other medical interventions can lead to a better outcome. Visit Dr. Shakiba at Women’s Pelvic Surgery today to learn more.