QuestionHi Helene,
I have been doing the exercises on your Bounce Back DVD for a couple of weeks. I am nearly 10 weeks post-partum, and have a 3 finger diastasis. I have just learned, however, that I also have a cystocele and a rectocele, both about a Grade 1, or mild. I am 35 and in good health, though I am about 20 lbs overweight. I did Kegels faithfully throughout both my pregnancies, but apparently they did not help to prevent the prolapses from occurring.
I am wondering whether you think it is wise to continue doing your exercises with my existing prolapses, since I recently read that doing exercises designed to reduce diastases are not recommended when you have a prolapse (though the source did not say why). But the idea that it could be bad is filling me with doubt.
I am in a catch-22; I know I have to strengthen my core to keep my insides in a healthy state and firm everything up, but I don't wish to worsen my prolapses as a result.
What do you recommend I do? Do your exercises need to be altered somehow to protect my pelvic floor further?
Thanks very much for taking the time to respond.
Amy
AnswerMy exercises are generally safe for prolapse. The three exercises that roll the upper body off the floor (in the second workout) are the ones you need to be careful with. If when doing these, your abdominal wall bulges outward (particularly on the Yoga Abs) then you should not perform these moves.
Make sure that you are doing the Belly Lacing and Belly Scooping exercises correctly.
Prolapse occurs when the ligaments that support your internal organs become stretched (due to pregnancy hormones) and allow the organs to sag downward. Ask your OBGYN if she thinks a pessary would be a good idea for you. Strong pelvic floor muscles are important, but no amount of Kegels will shorten your internal ligaments.
