Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) – blog in progress
I’m excited to talk about this one (excited..what?) because one of my clients experienced it and is what encouraged me to become a Core Specialist. Neither of us have heard of this, and it’s time for women to speak up and not be embarassed if they feel something is wrong.
50% of childbearing women will have some degree of prolapse and most are unaware due to few symptoms in the early stages.
POP is NOT life threatening, but definitely life ALTERING.
One of the functions of the PF is to help keep the pelvic organs in place (bladder, uterus, rectum). A weak PF loses its ability to support and lift and the organs will start to descend, and in severe cases will start to protrude through the VJJ.
It can take 20-30 years for a POP to develop. Remember, whether you had a baby yesterday, 8 months ago, 4 years ago or 20 years ago, the mother will always be post-partum as the body is never the same.
Symtoms: pressure on VJJ or rectum, pelvic girdle pain, feeling of insides “falling out”(how my client felt), incontinence, urinary retention, constipation, tampons push out, back pain, DRA
Risk of POP: child bearing, chronic bowel straining, too much coughing, and heavy lifting, excessive kyphosis as it can change the alignment and synergy of the core4, big waist or excess abdominal weight, incorrect pishing techniques during deliver or vasalva type pushing, use of forceps or suction during birth (that was my client), leaving tear in the perineum, and women with more than one child. And just because you’ve had a c-section doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, because the body still goes through the same physical and hormonal changes. But it is definitely more common in women who have had vagina births.
What to do: See a PF physio, re-train core to reconnect to the deep system. Surgery may be needed if severe, pesseries.
avoid: impact, heavy lifting
Once re-trained, try: walking, swimming, elliptical, bike, resistance exercises while seated, side lying, supine.
