About half of all women who have had a baby will experience prolapse.
What is a Uterine Prolapse?
Uterine prolapse is when the uterus falls down into the vagina a little (Stage I), down to the opening of the vagina (Stage II), coming out of the vagina (Stage III), or all the way out of the vagina (Stage IV).
This could feel like something is in your vagina, you might experience heaviness, or you might have pain with sex. Sometimes women don’t notice they have a uterine prolapse.
This is more likely to occur if you have had a baby and if you are postmenopausal.
It is important to get postpartum belly and pelvic care to hopefully prevent or treat prolapse early.
You can get treatment for uterine prolapse at any age.
Doctor Peterson will work with you to balance and strengthen musculature, improve the relationship between the uterus and supporting structures with manual therapy, and train into proper breathing and movement patterns so you won’t inadvertently be pushing down when you lift and cough and breathe.
What is a Cystocele?
A cystocele is prolapse of the bladder.
It is also called anterior pelvic wall prolapse, because the bladder is stabilized by the anterior pelvic wall.
When supporting relationships are lost and muscles lose strength and/or mass, the bladder can move down into the vagina.
This is the most common type of prolapse.
Grade 1 cystocele is when the bladder moves into the upper vagina
Grade 2 cystocele is when the bladder moves to the opening of the vagina
Grade 3 cystocele is when the bladder bulges out of the vagina
Grade 4 cystocele is when the bladder, uterus, and rectum bulge out of the vagina
You could feel a fullness or heaviness in the vagina. You could also experience pain, loss of control of urination, and not being able to fully empty your bladder.
Dr. Caroline Peterson will work with you to reposition the bladder, gain strengthen, and learn proper patterns of movement and breathing.
Cystocele is the Most Common Prolapse
What is a Rectocele?
A rectocele is prolapse of the rectum.
The rectum should sit in front of the sacrum and not move down or out of the vagina.
A rectocele feels like there is a bulge in the back of the vagina.
It could be more pronounced when you squat or have a bowel movement.
Commonly people with rectoceles have to splint (push on the perineum) or get into a certain position to have a bowel movement.
Sometimes even when doing these movements, you might not feel like your bowel movement was complete.
Dr. Peterson will work with you to help tone the rectum (and the GI), balance the musculature of the pelvis, and train you on proper lifting, movement, and breathing.
What to Expect
Dr. Peterson approaches the pelvic bowl differently from most pelvic floor PTs.
She begins by setting up the support system of the body starting high and working down to the pelvic bowl.
The support system of the body is built around the transverse planes.
The pelvic floor is a transverse plane and cannot be treated independently of the other transverse planes.
It is important to start high and work down to the pelvic bowl because everything has to drain up, and everything needs to be suspended to combat gravity.
If the kidneys are not moving properly it is difficult for the bladder to function properly.
If the GI is not moving properly it is difficult for the rectum to function properly.
If the GI, ovaries, bladder, and rectum are not moving properly, it is difficult for the uterus to move properly.
It is also imperative to properly tone muscles and train proper movement and breathing patterns.
So this is a full body treatment.
Usually the first 4-5 hours are spent working on the upper body and beginning training on movement patterns, breathing, and muscle activation.
After the basics of the upper body are in place, we move on to the pelvic bowl evaluation.
What to Expect for the Pelvic Bowl Evaluation and Treatment
The table will be prepared for you with two sheets.
Dr. Peterson will be out of the room and you will take off your underware and get under the top sheet.
It is ok to do intra-pelvic care while you are on your period.
When Dr. Peterson returns to the room, she will glove up and use a lubricating gel like KY gel.
You will butterfly your legs and Dr. Peterson will insert a finger into your vagina.
You will then give a squeeze so Dr. Peterson can gauge the strength of the muscles.
After that you will give a push so Dr. Peterson can evaluate the degree of prolapse.
After that evaluation Dr. Peterson will palpate to determine if we need to start by draining the congestion/lymph in the pelvis, if there is a muscle/fascia issue, or if there is an emotional or energetic component that needs to be addressed first.
We will work to your tolerance and address all the relevant components of the pelvic bowl in a way that is right for you.
Usually people are not sore after the pelvic bowl work.
If you are sore, you can take an epsom salt bath and that should help.