Q&A: I may be at risk for a prolapsed uterus, but I have no idea what that means.

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and my OBGYN is trying to talk me into planning a C section. This is my first baby and I'm 28. At my last appointment, she mentioned that I'm at an increased risk of having a prolapsed uterus and that they are fairly common. I have heard no such thing and I've done research on the internet. I've not found anything about being overweight as a risk of developing a prolapsed uterus. (I'm 5'3", currently 193 pounds). Is this something I need to be worried about?

Your doctor is applying the latest information from the literature to you individually. It seems that vaginal deliveries put you at more risk for urinary and fecal incontinence in the future, and some are advocating "maternal choice C-sections" as a legitimate choice. The conventional wisdom is to do it the usual way, but your doctor is offering you a choice based on the latest findings, obviously feeling you have a right to know what the downsides are to a vaginal delivery.

There's nothing wrong with delivering your baby the old fashioned way if you're willing to accept the increased risk (not certainty) of prolapse complications in the future. But I also feel it is a woman's right to choose the way she have her baby if there's no risk to the baby and an advantage she wants to champion for herself.

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