Will Childbirth Collapse Your Pelvic Floor?

Being Pregnant

Yikes. An Australian study suggests that as many as 1 in 5 women will need surgery for pelvic organ prolapse at some point in their lives. A pelvic organ prolapse happens when the pelvic floor muscles have been weakened and the organs- the uterus, bladder or rectum- can slip down and protrude into the vagina.

The severity of organ prolapse varies. Exercise and weight loss help strengthen those muscles to keep organs in place. Pessaries-small devices that are inserted into the vagina- can also help. In more severe cases, surgery is necessary.

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There are lots of factors that make prolapse more likely: obesity, smoking, chronic constipation, constant heavy lifting, genes and, according to the Reuters coverage of this study, vaginal birth: "Pregnancy and particularly vaginal birth are prime risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse as well."

But I don't think it's actually true that vaginal births lead to more prolapses. Or, I think the category of "vaginal" birth needs to be broken down a bit more for us to get an accurate picture of what's going on.According to the thorough research complied by the advocacy group Childbirth Connection:

"It is increasingly common to hear that "vaginal birth" causes pelvic floor problems. However, a recent review of the research found no studies that attempted to avoid or limit use of the practices that can injure a woman's pelvic floor listed above in order to determine whether vaginal birth itself plays a role. It is wrong to conclude at this time that vaginal birth is the cause of pelvic floor dysfunction."

Concerned about your next birth? Find out how to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction.

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