B.K.
Hi C.,
I am a Women's Health Physical Therapist. Rectoceles are just one of the many conditions that I deal with. Below you will find a few solutions to help with the pressure that you are feeling when lifting your daughter and exercising. If these suggestions don't help you can check out my website at www.legacytherapystl.com and contact me if you would like to seek physical therapy treatment.
1. You may find using a tampon when you are going to be exercising may help support things. If your rectocele is advanced this probably won't work. Running is going to be a tough exercise to continue with the rectocele. It is alot fof downward pressure on the pelvic organs. You may be better off with walking, eliptical, biking, or swimming.
2. Work on finding and strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. These are Kegels exercises. You know the muscles are working if you can stop your flow of urine when you go to the bathroom (Only try this once, it can cause UTIs). If you can do that, attempt to squeeze those same muscles and hold for 3-5 seconds. Try repeating 5-10 times about 5 times a day.
3. When you are lifting your daughter, attempt to pull in your tummy muscles to give you some more support.
4. Avoid bearing down when you have a bowel movement. It will only increase the pressure on your pelvic organs and can worsen the rectocele.