There has been some useful advice in this thread. Thank goodness this generation can discuss prolapse - it is more common postnatally than you might think, and our mothers and grandmothers suffered in silence! However, as a Pilates teacher, I would say that the type and amount of exercise that you should do following a prolapse depends on a number of factors, including: the severity of the prolapse; how much time has elapsed since giving birth; whether or not you are still breastfeeding; and the degree of elasticity in your connective tissue pre-pregnancy. Pelvic floor exercises do work, and are well worth doing, but the time it takes to feel any effect will depend on the same factors. For example, for some people, pelvic floor exercises will need to be done lying down initially (there is no way they could even contemplate going for a run)! Ab curls should also be avoided at the outset (and not just because of pelvic floor issues). If your prolapse is quite severe, it is worth seeking a referral to a specialist women's health physio (e.g. at King's College Hospital). In any event, it can be very helpful to check that you are doing the right exercises for you, and doing them correctly, by seeing a suitably qualified teacher who can also help strengthen your whole body safely (not just the pelvic floor). The Guild of Postnatal Exercise Instructors (http://postnatalexercise.co.uk/) lists teachers in your area, and also gives some exercise advice. Pelvic floor dysfunction is not exclusive to the postnatal period - it can occur/recur after the menopause too, so it is well worth sorting out sooner rather than later. . . www.zepilates.com
