QuestionQUESTION: I had a baby eight months ago, and since then I have developed this strange feeling whenever I lie down. It's like I need to pass gas, but it comes from my vagina, and I have control of it. It feels better to pass it, but this is an embarrassing problem as you can imagine. I don't know if it has anything to do with giving birth, but I would greatly appreciate advice. Thank you.
ANSWER: Dear Sarah,
Vaginal flatulence is sometimes associated with pelvic floor muscle damage or weakening, which can especially occur after forceps deliveries, prolonged labors, or delivery of large babies.
Pelvic floor muscles form a muscular floor across the pelvis running from back to front and in from the sides. They are like a hammock holding up organs like the bladder, the uterus, and the intestines, and they actually form part of the walls of the passages that lead from these organs - urethra (front passage), the vagina, and the rectum (back passage).
When these muscles are damaged or weakened, you can experience symptoms such as urinary incontinence, especially stress incontinence (losing urine when you cough, sneeze, jog or on the way to the bathroom after getting up), inability to keep tampons in place, vaginal flatus (wind such as you are describing), and prolapses into the vagina.
Doing Kegel exercises several times every day will help to strengthen these muscles and should improve this symptom for you. The exercises will not help overnight - it takes time to restore muscle strength. If this continues until the next doctor visit you have, or if you begin developing more symptoms, make sure to mention it to your doctor so that he/she can rule out a prolapse.
I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
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QUESTION: Brenda, thank you so much for your help. I was starting to worry that there was really something wrong. You spoke of a prolapse, and I'm not quite sure what you mean. Could you please explain? Also, my delivery was not a long one. I had a 5 week premature and he was only 5pds. 8 ou. Do you still think this is the cause? Also I am pretty active, and of average size, if this changes anything. Again, thank you so much for your advice, and for getting back so fast.
AnswerDear Sarah,
A uterine prolapse is, put simply, a falling or sliding of the uterus from its normal position in the pelvic cavity into the vaginal canal. Weakening of those tissues that make up the pelvic floor musculature allows the uterus to descend into the vaginal canal.
Uterine prolapse occurs most commonly in women who have had one or more vaginal births, and in Caucasian women. Other conditions associated with an increased risk of developing problems with the supportive tissues of the uterus include obesity, chronic coughing, and straining, such as with chronic constipation.
Sometimes it is simply the pregnancy that has weakened the tissues and it does not necessarily mean a prolapse has occurred. Doing the Kegel exercises should help, but if this symptom does not improve, you can mention it to your doctor at your next visit.
Hope that helps!
Brenda
