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Series 1 Trailer

Honest chat about incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain. Not a trampoline in sight. Helen Ledwick meets other mums who are struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction and hears from the health professionals who live and breathe pelvic floors.

The Ass Kick: My Story

Far too many women are suffering in silence with pelvic floor dysfunction, too embarrassed to seek help for prolapse, incontinence or pelvic pain. Helen shares her experience with her best friend, Cath. She’s ready to laugh, cry and cringe her way to recovery or acceptance. She just needs some help to get started. Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Pelvic Floor Problems 101

If you're new to leaks and lumps, this is the place to start! Helen and the Manchester-based women’s health physio, Katie Syrett, romp through some of the most common pelvic floor problems. They go back to basics on incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain, as well as discussing what really happens during a physio assessment and what we can expect from (shhh) menopause. Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump Katie's website: www.knsphysiotherapy.co.uk

Ainsley's Story

The Manchester actress, Ainsley Howard, invites Helen over to her house for this week's episode of Why Mums Don't Jump. You may know her as the voice of Fizzy in the animated TV series, Digby Dragon. She's also a mum to a pre-schooler with a second baby on the way and she explains why she's not afraid to talk about her experience of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. 'I'm 36. I don't want to wear a pad in case I sneeze or cough. I don't feel ready for that yet!' Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

The Head Game

What are the mental health implications of pelvic floor dysfunction? How do you get your head around the emotional impact of conditions like prolapse, incontinence or pelvic pain and find a new happy? Helen meets Dr Rebecca Moore, a perinatal psychiatrist and co-founder of the campaign Make Birth Better. 'We don't give women the time and space to talk about these injuries, which I think is crazy.' Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com/useful-links Instagram: @whymumsdontjump Dr Rebecca Moore Website: www.doctorrebeccamoore.com Instagram: @drrebeccamoore Make Birth Better: www.makebirthbetter.org The Masic Foundation: www.masic.org.uk

Luce's Story

Helen meets the London author, Luce Brett, who became incontinent after the birth of her first son. Luce talks about dealing with the the shock and embarrassment of urinary incontinence and prolapse at the age of 30. She shares her journey through physio and surgery, her thoughts on turning the stigma on its head...and measuring wee in a takeaway cup. 'Stigma can't bear it, if you name it'. Luce's book 'PMSL: Or How I Literally Pissed Myself Laughing and Survived the Last Taboo to Tell the Tale' is available on Amazon to pre-order and released on June 25, 2020. Half of women over 50 have pelvic organ prolapse (https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/gynaecology/pi-pelvic-organ-prolapse.pdf) One in three women over the age of 25 have symptoms of prolapse or incontinence (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18310371/) Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Finding Fitness

How do you find a new path to fitness when prolapse or incontinence is holding you back? How do you get past The Fear and learn to move again? How do you break a sweat without losing your insides? Helen meets Emma Brockwell, a specialist women's health physio, co-writer of the first guidelines for postnatal women returning to running and co-founder of the pelvic health campaign, Pelvic Roar. 'You need to move. You can move. You possibly just need a bit of guidance as to how to start.' Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump Emma Brockwell, Physiomum website is www.physiomum.co.uk Emma's instagram: @physiomumuk Other links from episode 6: You can find Emma's Returning to Running Postnatal guidelines here: https://mailchi.mp/38feb9423b2d/returning-to-running-postnatal-guideline Pelvic Roar website: www.pelvicroar.org PopUp (Hayley Shevener) website: www.popuplifting.com Squeezy App website: www.squeezyapp.com Holistic Core Restore website: www.holisticcorerestore.com Elaine Miller (aka Gusset Grippers) is @gusset_grippers on Instagram

Sarah's Story

Helen meets the freelance writer, Sarah Haselwood, who's lived with pelvic pain since the birth of her first son 7 years ago. Sarah talks about her traumatic birth, her long journey to diagnose a hypertonic (tight) pelvic floor and the jaw-dropping treatment which gave her back her life. Sarah is @corporatetokids on Instagram and @CorporatetoKids on Twitter Sarah's website is: https://corporatetokids.com/ Find more: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Pop Club!

Helen catches up with her 'Pop Club' - three friends with pelvic organ prolapse who keep each other smiling. There's talk of difficult births, pelvic pain, surgery and pessaries...and bonding over broken vaginas at a local coffee shop. Find more: www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Bonus Episode: Rachel Horne

You thought it was all over. It is now! Helen rounds off the series with Rachel Horne, News Presenter for The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio. Rachel gives an honest and moving account of traumatic birth (TW), facing up to her urinary incontinence, marathon training...and screaming in the woods. 'Having incontinence issues because you've had children is part of the story, but you've got to get to the next chapter where you fix it!' Rachel's instagram: @rachelhornerainbow www.whymumsdontjump.com Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Emma Barnett: 'I have a hypertonic pelvic floor'

Helen is joined by the award-winning broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett who says a hypertonic pelvic floor is one of the 'most upsetting’ things she’s ever been through. They talk about awareness, a need for research and how ‘women’s issues’ don’t always get the platform they deserve.

Gynae Girl: 'Pelvic health starts from day one'

Helen catches up with the pelvic physio Tiffany Sequeira (@gynaegirl) who's on a mission to educate! When should we learn about pelvic health? How do we make it more inclusive? And how do we get past the taboo?

Chantelle's Story

Helen meets up with Chantelle, a mum from Manchester who is charting her journey with birth injury and bowel incontinence on Instagram as @tears_from_tearing. They discuss birth, treatment, the impact on family life and spa treatments...sort of. (TW: birth injury, forceps, trauma, surgery)

Between The Sheets: Sex & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Sex with pelvic floor problems. We're going there! Intimacy after childbirth is one thing but how do you begin to navigate that if you have incontinence or prolapse or pelvic pain? Helen and the pelvic health physiotherapist Jilly Bond discuss the issues women with pelvic floor dysfunction can face in the bedroom, both physically and mentally.

Peace's Story

Helen is joined by Peace Bailey, a mother of two who lives in Spain and blogs about moving there from the UK. She shares posts on Instagram about motherhood, race and faith. But she's also chosen to speak out about nighttime urinary incontinence, or bed wetting, which she experienced after childbirth. They discuss the stigma around pelvic floor dysfunction, how hard it is to access good information, and how mums owe it to themselves to get help.

Having Another Baby After Prolapse

Having another baby when you have pelvic organ prolapse. There are just so many unknowns. Will pregnancy make your prolapse worse? Would it be better to have a caesarian? Helen speaks to the pelvic health physio, Clare Bourne, who has a prolapse and has gone on to have a second child.

Jan's Story

Helen chats to Dr Jan Russell, a listener with a prolapse, a coach, a grandmother, an author and, in her own words, 'a feisty old crone'. Jan talks about pelvic organ prolapse after menopause, the shock of finding out the day before her 60th birthday and learning how to manage it all with good humour.

Pelvic Floor Gadgets (Vadgets)

Wands. Cones. Probes. Biofeedback. Stimulators. Shorts. Apps. Weights. Chairs. Video Games?! Helen speaks to the pelvic health physiotherapist and self-confessed gadget nerd, Amanda Savage, for an overview of pelvic floor tech.

Pop Club 2

Pop Club is back! Helen catches up with 'Skye' and 'Jess' -- friends with pelvic organ prolapse who keep each other smiling. There's a new baby, talk of surgery and reflections on birth trauma and mental health...and a ban on mirrors.

Vaginal Pessaries: A Deep Dive

Ring, Gellhorn, Donut, Cube, Shaatz, Gehrung: they might sound like Trolls' characters, but they are, in fact, types of vaginal pessaries. Helen speaks to the pessary expert and 'Pelvic Angel', Gaynor Morgan for an overview of what's available, how to try one and the incredible story of how she came to invent her own.

Bonus Episode: 60 Second Pelvic Floor Squeeze-Along

If you're anything like me and you know you're supposed to be doing your pelvic floor exercises but...(insert excuse here)...fear not! Here's a sixty second squeeze-along with comedian and fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Elaine Miller.

Carina White

Helen is joined by Carina White - broadcaster, cultural commentator and co-host of the podcast Black Mums Upfront. Carina shares her experience of incontinence after childbirth and her long journey towards finding help. She talks with passion about how it's affected her socially, why she wants to speak out and how she's found strength in sisterhood.

The M Word: Menopause and Your Pelvic Floor

Menopause is having a moment, with celebrities, books and TV programmes taking on the taboo that has surrounded it for so long. But what does menopause (and perimenopause) mean for those of us with pelvic floor problems? Will things inevitably get worse? Helen chats to a self-described ‘pelvic health nerd’ - the physiotherapist Michelle Lyons - about what’s going on, how to manage it, and why knowledge really is power.

Sara's Story

Helen is joined by Sara Duckett, a listener and a mum-of-two. Sara has struggled with urinary and bowel incontinence, as well as prolapse, since the birth of her first child in 2016, but says a non-surgical treatment (PTNS) has been life changing . They discuss the mental health impact of pelvic floor problems, the stigma that surrounds them and the importance of never giving up .

Pelvic Floor Surgery: Colorectal

Surgical treatments for pelvic floor problems are many and varied, but with the vaginal mesh scandal fresh in our minds, it's easy to feel lost and unsure. In part one of this two part series, Helen speaks to Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Julie Cornish, about the kinds of cases she sees and some of the lifestyle changes and treatments that might help.

Sophie Power

Returning to running postpartum is one thing. Then add pelvic floor problems to the mix. Now imagine you're an ultra-runner who likes to do 100-plus mile races. Helen talks to Sophie Power about incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and her journey back to fitness after childbirths - despite being told she may never run again - and how important it is that mums are helped to reach their goals, whatever those goals might be.

Elaine Miller (Gusset Grippers)

Helen is joined by Elaine Miller (aka Gusset Grippers) - a fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and award winning comedian who's on a mission to tackle your pelvic floor...whilst making you laugh. They discuss the long-standing evidence behind kegels, why pelvic floor problems are a feminist issue and how using humour can change lives.

Helen Gets a Pessary

It's a big day in Helen's pessary saga! After a year-long quest to be fitted for a vaginal pessary, she's offered a private appointment with a specialist in London. Tracey Matthews is a women's health physio, a former British rower and proud pessary wearer. She walks Helen through an assessment and sets her up with a cube. But will Helen's pelvic floor be up to the challenge?

Niki's Story

Diastasis recti is where the muscles that run down the middle of your stomach separate during pregnancy. It's really common and usually goes back to normal within eight weeks of delivery. But sometimes it doesn't. And it can lead to back problems and hernia - both things that Niki Odogwu has been dealing with since childbirth, alongside stress urinary incontinence. She shares her story with Helen and explains how a postpartum fitness programme has made all the difference.

Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, with Dr Catherine Blackledge

Pelvic floor problems are surrounded by stigma and shame, but have you ever wondered why? Why do we find anything remotely related to our genitalia so embarrassing? In this episode Helen meets Dr Catherine Blackledge, author of Raising the Skirt: the Unsung Power of the Vagina (originally published as The Story of V). They explore historical attitudes towards female genitalia and the importance of language, when even the words we use have a literal root in the Latin for ‘shame’. They look back to a time when the vulva was feared and revered and ask 'what changed?'.

The Gender Health Gap, with Sarah Graham

The gender health gap. It's a phrase we're hearing more and more and is relevant around the world. So what's it all about and what does it mean for those of us with pelvic floor dysfunction? Helen chats to the award-winning health journalist, Sarah Graham, founder of the Hysterical Women blog and author of a new book on the gender health gap, due out in 2023.

BONUS EPISODE: The Therapeutic Poet

In lieu of a full episode, here's something to make you smile from a listener and poet, Jacky Power, aka The Therapeutic Poet. Normal service resumes next week!

Katie's Story

Helen speaks to listener, Katie Nicolson, who struggled with stress incontinence after having a severe tear during childbirth two years ago. Katie talks about the shock reality of postpartum recovery, her journey to the 2022 London marathon and the medical professionals from Liverpool Women's Hospital who helped to get her there. She shares the highs and lows of becoming a mum during covid, and her determination to get back to running for the sake of her mental health. 'It was honestly amazing. You can't really bottle that feeling and I don't think I'd be able to top it if I ever did another one. I'm just really proud.' Katie is @mummytolondonmarathon on Instagram You can listen to the episode with ultra-runner Sophie Power here

The Lowdown on Pelvic Pain

You might have heard the term 'pelvic pain' but what does it really mean? And how does it relate to pelvic floor problems after childbirth? In this episode Helen speaks to Virginia Rivers Bulkeley, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist and an expert in postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction and persistent pelvic pain. Virginia explains what can cause persistent pelvic pain, what it feels like and what treatments are available. She talks about what it means to have a hypertonic, aka overactive, aka high tone (!) pelvic floor, where painful sex (dyspareunia) fits in and the impact of it all on women's lives. 'We know it's around one-in-four women that can be affected by this kind of persistent pain to some degree, and we know it can be hugely impactful. Whether it stops you being able to fully go to work as you'd want to; fully involved in recreational activities that bring you physical and mental health benefits; family life or relationships - the whole person can be affected.' Virginia is @BulkeleyV on Twitter You might be interested in these episodes of the podcast: Between The Sheets: Sex & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Pelvic Floor Gadgets (Vadgets) For more information about persistent pelvic pain and pelvic floor muscle relaxation strategies, please see the links below: https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/ https://vulvalpainsociety.org/ https://www.jillybond.com/blog/pelvic-floor-release-in-sitting Find a UK physiotherapist here: https://thepogp.co.uk/patients/physiotherapists/

Sarah Jayne Dunn

<Trigger warning: description of birth including ventouse delivery, episiotomy, retained placenta, anal fissures.> In this episode, Helen and the actress Sarah Jayne Dunn talk about postpartum recovery and how hard that can be, especially if things haven't gone exactly to plan. They discuss our lack of knowledge about what our bodies have been through, and the challenge of finding the right support to get us back to where we want to be. Known for her role as Mandy in the British drama, Hollyoaks, Sarah is the host of the Hot and Bothered Podcast; and a star of Only Fans. She's also a fitness instructor who qualified in pre and postnatal fitness around the same time as she was expecting her son, around seven years ago. She speaks openly about her experience of birth and the difficult recovery that followed; how she found her own path back to strength and fitness; and a new found love of pole-dancing! 'We need to be informed, whatever that looks like....I'd be much more clued up if I had another child, but I wasn't before. It's all about the pregnancy and it's all about the birth and then it's like...and BANG.' Sarah Jayne Dunn is @sarahjaynedunn on Instagram and Twitter The Female Fitness Academy, mentioned by Sarah is now called Sigma Woman and can be found here Listen to Helen on BBC 5 live here (available until 14/4/23) Please see the Resources page for support You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook and at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Pelvic Floor Surgery: Urogynaecology (Part One)

If you have pelvic floor dysfunction, there's a good chance you've at least wondered about your surgical options. What treatments or procedures are available, what do they involve, and to what extent do they work? Urogynaecology is a sub-speciality of gynaecology that focuses on helping women with problems relating to the pelvic floor and bladder. It's where you might end up if you get a referral to see a specialist. In the first half of this two-part episode, Helen speaks to Dr Charlotte Mahoney, a consultant urogynaecologist at St Mary's hospital in Manchester, about what happens during an assessment, where we're at with pelvic mesh, what treatments and surgeries are available for stress incontinence and the importance of 'prehab'. In part two (available from 4/4/23) Dr Mahoney gives an overview of treatments for overactive bladder (which includes urge incontinence), she outlines surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse and explains how to get the most from your long awaited appointment. For more NHS information about surgery and procedures for urinary incontinence, click here You can find the Cumberlege report (IMMDS Review) here For more information on Colorectal services, listen to the WMDJ episode, 'Pelvic Floor Surgery: Colorectal' The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available now!

Pelvic Floor Surgery: Urogynaecology (Part Two)

Picking up where we left off last time: surgical options for pelvic floor dysfunction. What treatments or procedures are available, what do they involve, and to what extent do they work? Urogynaecology is a sub-speciality of gynaecology that focuses on helping women with problems relating to the pelvic floor and bladder. It's where you might end up if you get a referral to see a specialist. In the second half of this two-part episode, Helen speaks to Dr Charlotte Mahoney, a consultant urogynaecologist at St Mary's hospital in Manchester, about treatments for overactive bladder (which includes urge incontinence), surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse and how to get the most from your long awaited appointment. For more NHS information about surgery and procedures for urinary incontinence, click here For more information on PTNS listen to the WMDJ episode 'Sara's Story' Colorectal services, listen to the WMDJ episode, 'Pelvic Floor Surgery: Colorectal' The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available now!

Prudent's Story

<T/W: description of birth, perineal tear and blood loss> In this episode, Helen speaks to listener, Prudent Haughton, who developed prolapse, pelvic pain and incontinence following a severe tear during the birth of her second child, fifteen months ago. Prudent talks about how she, like so many of us, was taken completely by surprise, but how she's tackling her issues head on. Prudent describes her experience of birth, pelvic health physiotherapy, osteopathy and fitness. She speaks about the importance of having supportive family and friends, and the benefits of learning to stop, relax and breathe. You'll come into a room, I'll be laying down on my back and my feet will just be up in the air! But it's made such a big difference to learn to just stop, and take a moment. The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW! This episode is sponsored by The Mummy MOT - a specialist postnatal examination for women following vaginal or c-section deliveries. It’s an hour-long assessment to look at your posture, pelvic floor and stomach muscles to get you back on track with your fitness goals…and your life! Find out more at themummymot.com

Strong Like Mum, with Shakira Akabusi

How do you safely return to exercise when you have pelvic floor problems? Maybe you're afraid to make a prolapse worse, or you leak when you run or jump. Maybe you've been advised to avoid running, jumping or lifting, and if so, how do you find a way to feel strong again? Helen speaks to the pre and postnatal exercise specialist Shakira Akabusi - founder of the maternal wellness platform, Strong Like Mum, public speaker, author and TV fitness expert. They discuss postpartum rehabilitation, the power in taking things slowly, and the role that fitness professionals can play in helping mums with pelvic floor dysfunction. "I have never been stronger than I have after having a baby. Because the really special thing that pregnancy and postpartum gives you is this opportunity to really look at the foundations in a way that I never did when I was a teenager or in my twenties." Shakira is @shakira.akabusi on Instagram Shakira's book: The Strong Like Mum Method is available here If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like this one, with pelvic health physio, Emma Brockwell The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW!

Dr Adanna's Pelvic Floor Guide

In 2022, for the first time, a pelvic health guide was published to help non-specialist clinicians advise women on pelvic floor muscle training. It's for GPs, midwives, nurses and health visitors - to try to plug a long-standing knowledge gap and help more women with pelvic floor dysfunction to access practical support. In this episode, Helen speaks to Dr Adanna Okeahialam, an Obstetrics & Gynaecology registrar with an interest in Urogynaecology, and co-author of the 'Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: A Practical Guide'. They discuss the sudden spotlight on pelvic health, why pelvic floor exercises are a first line treatment and their role in preventing pelvic floor dysfunction. NICE Guideline: Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevention and non-surgical management (Published 9 Dec 2021) RCOG Position Statement: Pelvic Floor Health RCOG Survey: Pelvic Floor Health Pelvic health resources from POGP If you're new to pelvic floor dysfunction and want to go back to basics, go back and listen to this episode. The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW!

Hypopressives

If you've ever Googled your pelvic floor problems, you've probably come across Hypopressives. They're not easy to describe, but are essentially a series of breathing and posture exercises for your core and pelvic floor, with a focus on decreasing intra-abdominal pressure. While they're not currently a recommended NHS treatment, more evidence is emerging about the use of hypopressives in treating symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, including incontinence and prolapse. Alice Housman is a hypopressives trainer with a background in gynaecology nursing, and she’s working to publish her own research. She's also a mum with pelvic organ prolapse, who found that hypopressives helped her to become virtually asymptomatic. In this episode Helen and Alice discuss hypopressives - what they are, how they're thought to work and what the evidence is behind them. As ever, this content is not intended as medical advice, so please seek out your own professional support and, of course, do your own research. You can find Alice's website here Alice is @hypopressives_with_alice on Instagram The paper that Alice refers to is Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Randomised Controlled Trial (Navarro-Brazález, B.; Prieto-Gómez, V.; Prieto-Merino, D.; Sánchez-Sánchez, B.; McLean, L.; Torres-Lacomba, M. Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Randomised Controlled Trial. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 1149. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9041149) Not an ad!

Bonus Episode: The EveryWoman Festival

Forget Glastonbury! There's a women's health festival happening in Cardiff on Saturday June 24th, 2023, and it's going to be epic! The EveryWoman Festival is about offering empowerment, support and education on health topics that may be difficult or considered taboo to talk about. In this bonus episode, Helen is joined by the colorectal surgeon and EveryWoman founder, Julie Cornish, as well as fellow-speakers: the GP and health educator Dr Aziza Sesay and author of PMSL, Luce Brett. They give us a flavour of what's to come - smashing pelvic health taboos, closing the gender health gap, periods, menopause, mental health and sexual wellbeing...alongside belly dancing, cookery, music and more! You can buy tickets from The EveryWoman Festival website You can follow @theeverywomanfestival on Instagram

Bonus Episode: EveryWoman Festival 2024

Everywoman is back! After a sparkling launch in 2023, the Everywoman Festival is returning to Cardiff on Saturday June 15th, 2024! The festival is about offering empowerment, support and education on health topics that may be difficult or considered taboo to talk about. This year there'll be a whopping six tents, with more than sixty expert speakers, drop-ins and workshops covering topics including menopause, pelvic health, sexual health, IBS, endometriosis, gender health inequalities, cancer survivorship and chronic conditions, as well as drop-in sessions, support groups, music, street food, burlesque and booby pompons! Helen is an ambassador for the festival and in this special, bonus episode she's joined by fellow ambassadors: the GP and health educator Dr Aziza Sesay; pelvic health physiotherapist and creator of #SqueezeAlong, Suzanne Vernazza; Love Your Period founder and an activist living with a brain tumour, Molly Fenton; and Everywoman founder and colorectal consultant, Julie Cornish. They share their highlights from 2023 and what they're looking forward to this year. You can buy tickets from The Everywoman Festival website You can follow @theeverywomanfestival on Instagram

Holly's Story: Prolapse, Pessaries and Getting Your Life Back

Helen speaks to Holly Puddephatt, a content creator from Leeds, host of the podcast Me, Myself & Mum Life and mum to toddler, Thea. Holly discovered she had pelvic organ prolapse in October last year, two years after her daughter was born. Like so many of us, she'd never heard of it and was terrified about what it would mean, especially as someone with a huge passion for exercise. 'I love exercise. It's a massive part of my life...and I was reading all this stuff online saying you can't run, you can't do this or that. And for me, that would be like ripping my legs off. That's how it felt.' In this episode, Holly describes how she set about reclaiming her life: absorbing as much information as she could, seeking out the support of a pelvic health physiotherapist, practising hypopressives and sourcing a pessary, as well as sharing her journey on social media. Holly is @hollyandthea on Instagram Find out more about pessaries in this episode of the podcast Find out more about hypopressives in this episode of the podcast Find out more about returning to exercise with prolapse in this episode of the podcast Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Getting the Most From Your GP Appointment, With Dr Aziza Sesay

How do you get the most out of your GP appointment if you have symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction? Whether it's urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction or chronic pelvic pain - how do you maximise your (all-too-brief) consultation to get the help you need? In this episode Helen speaks to Dr Aziza Sesay, a GP with a special interest in women’s health and an educator, who shares evidence-based health information on social media and through her website: ‘Talks with Dr. Sesay'. Dr Aziza explains how to help your doctor help you - with suggestions on what to prepare, what questions to ask and what to do if you feel you're not being listened to. She lifts the lid on vaginal examinations and reimagines a world where women's health is made a priority. Oh and there's a farting chair. Yep. Dr Aziza is @talkswithdrsesay on Instagram You can find the the NICE guidelines for the prevention, assessment and non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction here You can read more about Perinatal Pelvic Health Services here Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Erica’s Story: Bowel Incontinence, Birth Injury and Truth as Armour

Bowel incontinence, also known as faecal incontinence, is estimated to affect up to one in ten women after childbirth. More if you include those who can’t hold wind, which may sound trivial but can obviously be pretty mortifying. Severe tears in childbirth are a common cause; third and fourth degree tears - which affect the muscle around the anus. In this episode, Helen is joined by Erica Macdonald - a listener who lives in Devon with her husband and three-year-old daughter. Erica was diagnosed with an anal injury - a severe tear - after her daughter was born and has been living with bowel incontinence ever since. She talks about the impact it's had on her life, her struggle to access support and her decision to take control of her own story: 'You know when you're pregnant and you wear a badge on the Tube? It's like me wearing a badge saying 'my bum doesn't work'. And I own that. For me it just works so much better.' You can find out more about Sacral Nerve Stimulation here You can find the MASIC foundation here Listen to the Why Mums Don't Jump episode: Sara's Story here NICE guidelines recommend that all women who have had a vaginal birth should be offered a post birth rectal examination. Find out more > Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

The Birth Debrief, with Illiyin Morrison

When we talk about pelvic floor problems after childbirth, you can't escape the fact that many women don't get the birth they wanted or signed up for. A difficult experience can leave you feeling distressed, anxious or traumatised, but how often do you really get to reflect on what happened? And might it be something worth exploring? Illiyin Morrison is a birth trauma specialist midwife and a birth debrief facilitator. Illiyin supports women to overcome a difficult perinatal experience - whether that's pregnancy, birth or postpartum. She's the author of The Birth Debrief and a mum-of-two, who you might know from Instagram as @mixing.up.motherhood. In this episode, Helen and Illiyin discuss what we mean by a birth debrief, who it's for and why it may - or may not - be a useful tool. They talk about how we define trauma, how we begin to pick up the pieces, and how sometimes feeling heard is enough. You can find Illiyin's book, The Birth Debrief: Reflecting on pregnancy, reframing birth, redefining post-partum, here You can find Illiyin's website here For more support with birth trauma check out: The Birth Trauma Association - UK charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma Make Birth Better - Collective of parents and professionals working to end the suffering from birth trauma MASIC - Charity for mothers with anal sphincter injuries in childbirth You can find further resources for pelvic floor dysfunction here In a previous episode, Helen discussed the mental health implications of pelvic floor dysfunction with perinatal psychiatrist, Dr Rebecca Moore. You can listen here. Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Hayley's Story: Prolapse, Pregnancy and Mindset

Helen speaks to Hayley Schoenberg who lives in Hamburg, Germany, with her wife and three-year-old daughter. She discovered she had a prolapse two years after her daughter was born, whilst going through fertility treatment for a second child. It's something that had a big impact on her life and on her work as a dancer, burlesque performer and hypnobirthing teacher. In this roller coaster of an episode Hayley tells Helen about her journey to find the support she needed, how she's feeling about her second pregnancy, and how a change of mindset has made a big difference. They talk about the German healthcare system, about pessaries and pelvic physiotherapy...and how to handle yourself in a grocery store! I texted my wife and said I think my pelvic floor has just fallen through my ass. I knew instantly this was not good. Hayley is @theschoenbergfamily on Instagram Find out more about pessaries in this episode of the podcast, as well as this episode of the podcast and in this Instagram live Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

POP Club Reunited: Healing, Friendship & Feeling Fobbed Off

POP Club returns! You may remember, way back in season 1, that Helen met up with a couple of local mums who had pelvic organ prolapse and birth injury in common. They became friends, she persuaded them to speak on the podcast and well, the rest is history! In this typically chaotic episode, Helen catches up with Skye and Jess (not their real names) to find out where they're at with their pelvic floor problems. There's frustration over hospital care, nerve damage (pudendal neuralgia) and a missed birth injury. They discuss symptoms - old and new - and Jess makes a new prolapse friend...nearly. That first POP Club! episode led to unofficial POP Clubs forming in the UK and around the world. If you'd like to know more, read this. Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Pelvic Health Myth-Busting, with Dr. Carrie Pagliano

It’s so easy to get confused about pelvic floor health. One minute you know nothing about it, the next you’ve fallen down a social media rabbit hole of do’s and don’ts. In this week’s episode, Helen does a spot of myth-busting with US-based pelvic health physical therapist, Dr. Carrie Pagliano. Carrie hosts the Active Mom Podcast and is brilliant on Instagram where she makes evidence-based information accessible to all. Helen and Carrie talk about the changing face of pelvic health, how hormones might affect your pelvic floor issues and when vaginal oestrogen might help. They discuss gaps in research and the age old question - to kegel, or not to kegel? You can find Dr. Carrie Pagliano’s website here and follow her on Instagram here You can listen to Helen speaking to Carrie on the Active Mom Podcast here Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Pelvic Health in Women's Football, with Melanie Leupolz & Emma Brockwell

Somehow it's the season 5 finale! And it's a good one! In this episode Helen speaks to the German footballer Melanie Leupolz who returned to play for Chelsea just months after giving birth to her son and to the pelvic health physiotherapist Emma Brockwell who worked with Melanie to get her back on the pitch. They talk about the unwavering support Melanie had under former Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes; a lack of female-specific research when it comes to elite sport; and how taking female health into consideration can be game-changing. We get an insight into how pelvic health conversations go down in the locker room and Melanie explains why she wanted to share her story. Buy Emma's book: Why Did No One Tell Me: How to Protect, Heal and Nurture Your Body Through Motherhood in my affiliate shop. Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via my online affiliate shop. Sign up for the Why Mums Don't Jump email newsletter for the latest news and offers!

Vicky's Story: Leak-free running with the Efemia Bladder Support, in association with iMEDicare

Helen is back with a one-off episode in association with IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally, sponsor of season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump. You'll hear from Vicky Grubb who's an upholsterer from Hampshire and mum to two boys. Vicky discovered she had stress incontinence when she took up tennis and then running in her mid thirties. She explains how she found a new lease of life with the Efemia bladder support - a vaginal pessary designed for stress incontinence: 'It's been life changing...I don't think I've ever leaked when I've worn it running' And Helen catches up with iMEDicare's founder Darren Breen to find out what motivated him to start the business 20 years ago, and to take a look at some of the other products that are helping people to manage their pelvic health symptoms: 'Making people aware that these devices exist is the great passion for me, because it can transform their quality of life' Season 5 of Why Mums Don't Jump is sponsored by IMEDicare - Pelvic Health Naturally. IMEDicare supplies a range of easy-to-use, medically approved products including Lumana incontinence leggings and running shorts, the Efemia bladder support and Enna Pelvic Ball; a discount code is available via the Why Mums Don't Jump online affiliate shop. Find out more about pessaries in this episode of the podcast and this episode of the podcast. Listen to this episode to find out more about what to expect at an appointment with a pelvic health physiotherapist.

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