QuestionI am 27, 5'9", 175 lbs (yes a little overweight)and mother of 2 little girls, 3 1/2 and 8 months old. Both were natural home births but with my second daughter I had a lip left when it was time to push and it came down with her as she came out and caused a prolapsed uterus/cervix. It has since gone back up to pretty much where it was before last pregnancy(from my own inspection)but now I have a prolapsed bladder. It does not cause any incontinence problems as of yet, it's just visible from my vaginal opening. So my question is that we'd love to have more children and we were hoping to be pregnant in the next 6 months. I'm wondering how many problems/complications can arise from the previous prolapse during pregnancy. Do you know if there is a higher risk of miscarriage (I've had 2 between my girls), urination problems, preterm labor and birth... I've researched some but can't find much. I would really like to have another home birth with my midwife and really do not want to have a doctor if not necessary but also want to have the safest birth possible. So any information you can give me would be great! Thanks!
Lindsay
AnswerLindsay,
This is a tough question. There is limited research in this area. The risks of complications from prolapsed pelvic organs, such as the uterus or bladder, will depend upon a variety of factors, including the severity of the prolapse, general maternal health, etc.
There are 4 different categories of prolapse severity. From what you've described and your lack of symptoms, I'd guess that you fall into one of the milder two categories.
Prolapses are associated with somewhat higher rates of complications which can include all of the factors you listed in your question. This doesn't mean that you will develop any of these complications, just that the risks are a bit higher.
Without knowing exactly what grade of prolapse you have and which tissues are affected, I can't give you a hard and fast answer.
As someone who also dearly values low intervention birth and midwifery care, I completely understand and agree with your desire to have another midwife-attended homebirth.
This may still be entirely possible. Perhaps a workable solution would be to see a doctor (or two - second opinions are a good idea) to discuss your case so you can make informed decisions about the risks in your particular situation.
This would give you a better idea of what you're dealing with. However, make sure that you locate a natural childbirth and homebirth friendly doctor first. If a doctor doesn't share your philosophy on low-intervention birth, then it's likely that the information will be presented based on their biases. For example, if the doctor in question has a 40% c-section rate or think homebirth in general is a bad idea, less options may be presented to you.
Then, depending upon what you learn, you will have more information to make an informed decision on future pregnancies, care providers, and place of birth.
This may also give you access to some treatments, such as a pessary (a removable device that holds up the bladder), that could lower your risks and allow you to have another homebirth.
I truly hope the news is promising so you can have as many children as you'd like!
Best,
Catherine
