Why Mums Don't Jump - TopPodcast.com

Series 1 Trailer Apr 14, 2020

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 Apr 26, 2020

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 May 04, 2020

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 May 11, 2020

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 May 18, 2020

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 May 25, 2020

Helen meets the London author, Luce Brett, who became incontinent after the birth of her first son. Luce talks about dealing with 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 pre-order here and released on June 25, 2020.

Half of women over 50 have pelvic organ prolapse
One in three women over the age of 25 have symptoms of prolapse or incontinence

Website: www.whymumsdontjump.com
Instagram: @whymumsdontjump

Finding Fitness Jun 01, 2020

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 here
Emma's instagram: @physiomumuk

Other links from episode 6:

Returning to running postnatal - guideline for medical, health and fitness professionals managing this population

Pelvic Roar

PopUp (Hayley Shevener)

Squeezy App

Holistic Core Restore

Elaine Miller (aka Gusset Grippers) is @gusset_grippers on Instagram

Sarah's Story Jun 08, 2020

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 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! Jun 15, 2020

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 Jun 22, 2020

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, 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' Feb 24, 2021

A hypertonic pelvic floor is where the muscles are so tight they can’t relax. It can happen after childbirth. It can be incredibly painful. And we can add it to a long list of things we’ve never heard of but probably should.

In this episode, 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. Emma’s not afraid to smash stigmas. She's literally written the book on periods and spoken openly about living with endometriosis. But a tight pelvic floor? She’d just never come across it.

‘I would have loved to have heard this conversation when my son was around three months old and I was scrabbling about on the internet late at night thinking ‘Am I losing my mind here?’

Helen and Emma talk about awareness, a need for research and how ‘women’s issues’ don’t always get the platform they deserve.

Emma presents Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 in the UK and is a regular on BBC 2's Newsnight
You can find Emma's book 'It's About Bloody Time. Period.' here
She's @emmabarnett on Instagram and @Emmabarnett on Twitter

For more information on hypertonic pelvic floor listen to:

Find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

To find a pelvic health physiotherapist in the UK, Emma mentioned Mummy MOT or you could try the Squeezy Directory

For more information and support about Endometriosis, go to Endometriosis UK

Gynae Girl: 'Pelvic health starts from day one' Mar 03, 2021

If I gave you a diagram of the female pelvic anatomy, would you know where to find a labia, clitoris or urethra? Don’t feel bad if the answer is no. I mean, it’s just not something we were really ever taught. But maybe we should have been?

In this episode, Helen catches up with the pelvic physio Tiffany Sequeira (@gynaegirl) who's on a mission to educate! Sex, fannies, willies, wee and lots, lots more... is how she describes what she does.

‘I went to all girls school until I was 18. I could do algebra. I could name all the parts of a plant. I could name all this random stuff but I could not name you the anatomy of the vulva, the vagina. I could not label 5 things on a female pelvic anatomy. And I think, gosh, there is something that we’re really doing wrong here’

Helen and Tiffany discuss a pelvic floor curriculum, how pelvic health could be more inclusive, the pitfalls of talking sex on social...and how to move beyond euphemisms.

Tiffany Sequiera is @gynaegirl on Instagram
Ellie Jack Illustrations is @elliejackillustrations on Instagram and the graphics mentioned in this episode can be found here.

You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Chantelle's Story Mar 10, 2021

(TW: birth injury, forceps, trauma, surgery)

Bowel incontinence after childbirth. It's a taboo within a taboo. But it's not uncommon. The charity, MASIC (Mothers with Anal Sphincter Injuries in Childbirth) says 1 in 10 women who have a vaginal delivery will have problems holding either poo or wind.

In this episode, Helen meets up with Chantelle, a mum from Manchester who is charting her journey with birth injury and bowel or faecal incontinence on Instagram as @tears_from_tearing. They discuss a difficult birth, treatment, supporting other mums and how we shouldn't be ashamed to talk about it:

‘Everybody poos. It's a normal bodily function. It's just...mine's gone a bit wrong at the minute’

Chantelle is @tears_from_tearing on Instagram

The charity MASIC can be found here

The Birth Trauma Association website is here

Find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Between The Sheets: Sex & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Mar 17, 2021

Sex with pelvic floor problems. We're going there! Intimacy after childbirth can be difficult at the best of times. How do you even begin to navigate that if you then have incontinence or prolapse or pelvic pain? Helen and the pelvic health physiotherapist Jilly Bond discuss postnatal sex and the issues women with pelvic floor dysfunction can face, both physically and mentally:

'All of these issues are so fixable. So remediable. I struggle to find in my mind anyone that we haven't been able to make progress with at least, if not really got them back to normal intimacy or intimacy that's fulfilling for them through treatment. It's like having a bad back. We can get things moving.'

Jilly and Helen talk about the process of getting back to where you'd like to be and how you can access the help you need to get there.

Jilly Bond is a pelvic health physiotherapist based in Wales, with a specialist interest in pelvic pain. She's on maternity leave until Summer 2021. She is @jillybondphysio on Instagram and @jilly_bond on Twitter.

NHS information about sex therapy, including finding a psychosexual counsellor or therapist can be found here

The charity, Relate, can also provide relationship support

For a list of pelvic physios near to you, check out the Squeezy Directory here

For more about Jamie McCartney's Great Wall of Vagina go here

And to get involved with the UK Government's consultation on the gender health gap go here

You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Peace's Story Mar 24, 2021

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.

'I don't even know if I managed to go back to sleep because I was embarrassed. I couldn't even go in the shower because it was 3 or 4 in the morning. So I had to crawl back into bed trying to figure out what just happened? How is this happening to me? I'm 31 years old and I'm wetting the bed. What is this?'

Helen and Peace 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.

Peace is @baileysinspain on Instagram

You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Having Another Baby After Prolapse Mar 31, 2021

Having another baby when you have pelvic organ prolapse is a big one. There are just so many unknowns. Will pregnancy make your prolapse worse? Would it be better to have a caesarian? Can you do anything to protect yourself? Helen speaks to the pelvic health physio Clare Bourne who opens up about her experience of prolapse:

'Even if you know the research, even if you know everything could be ok at some point in the future, in that moment nothing feels fine. It's like you're given this death sentence of "this is your life now".'

Clare has gone on to have a second child and tells Helen about her experience of birth, healing and doing it all again. They talk about how to approach pregnancy the next time around, the importance of staying active and about re-writing the narrative around prolapse:

'When you come down to it, yes there are changes to those walls, yes there are changes to where those pelvic organs are for some people. However that doesn't mean we're going to live like this forever. And it's that conversation that I think is sometimes missing.'

Clare is @clarebournephysio on Instagram

Holistic Core Restore is the pelvic-floor-safe fitness programme mentioned in this episode.

You can support Why Mums Don't Jump on Buy Me A Coffee

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Jan's Story Apr 07, 2021

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 and the shock of finding out the day before her 60th birthday cruise:

'I was alarmed. I'd got visions of me being in my glad rags and dancing on the wonderful ballroom floor on this amazing ship, really not knowing what would happen next with my pelvic organs!'

Helen and Jan talk about getting past the blame and the shame, learning how to manage it all with good humour and advocating for our own health:

'We do know our bodies, don't we. So fight for your body. Fight for your body. Put that feistiness into it. You are worth looking after.'

Jan is @drjanrussell on Instagram

Jan mentioned working with the personal trainer, Lisa Gimenez-Codd, from OptiMum Health. You can find her here

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Pelvic Floor Gadgets (Vadgets) Apr 14, 2021

Wands. Cones. Probes. Biofeedback. Stimulators. Shorts. Apps. Weights. Chairs. Video Games?! Pelvic floor tech can be confusing but fear not! In this episode, Helen speaks to the pelvic health physiotherapist and self-confessed gadget nerd, Amanda Savage, for an overview.

'I think one of the reasons that gadgets and devices can work is that they make you stop still and actually do it properly. Because if you've gone to all the effort to take your kit off and put something inside and plug into a machine, you're not going to just drift off and put a wash on, are you?'

Helen and Amanda run through the differences between stimulation devices, biofeedback, weights, tracker apps and more. They discuss what they're for, how they work, how to use them and why it's not a great idea to do the big shop at the same time.

Amanda is @supportedmums on Instagram. You can find more detail about pelvic floor gadgets on her website here.

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Pop Club 2 Apr 21, 2021

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, mental health...and a ban on mirrors.

The previous 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.

For more on having another baby after prolapse listen to this

The fitness trainer Jess mentions in this episode is Dana Landgren

And if you'd like to know more about getting back to fitness with pelvic floor dysfunction listen to this

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Vaginal Pessaries: A Deep Dive Apr 28, 2021

Ring, Gellhorn, Donut, Cube, Shaatz, Gehrung. They might sound like Trolls' characters, but they are, in fact, types of vaginal pessaries. A pessary is a plastic or silicone device which can be inserted into the vagina to help support the pelvic organs after prolapse or to help with incontinence. They've been around since time began (almost) and come in so many different shapes and sizes it can put your head in a spin.

In this episode, 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. Gaynor, who also teaches Pfilates (pelvic floor pilates), says for some women, the right pessary can make a huge difference:

'Some of these women have gone from suicidal to 100 percent back to being 'normal' again...but again a pessary is just a tool. I always advocate that you need physiotherapy - pelvic floor training. Let’s get that pelvic floor up to the strength it needs to be.'

Gaynor reveals how incontinence affected her mum's mental health, her impactful legacy and why pessaries won't work for everyone.

Gaynor is @pelvicangel on Instagram. You can find her website here.

For a written guide to vaginal pessaries, read this fantastic blog.

Check out the new UK guidelines for patients and clinicians, which were mentioned in this episode.

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Bonus Episode: 60 Second Pelvic Floor Squeeze-Along Jan 06, 2022

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 to help you get it done!

In this bonus episode you'll hear the dulcet tones of comedian and fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Elaine Miller. You can follow along as many times as you like!

Have a listen and it will all make sense, I think! I plan to have it bookmarked on my laptop and squeeze along at my desk.

If you're not sure HOW to do a pelvic floor exercise, watch this video.

Elaine is @gusset_grippers on Instagram.

You can find Helen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Carina White Mar 08, 2022

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, how she's found strength in sisterhood and why she wants to speak out.

For a very long time the narrative that was put to me was 'You just have to put up with it. Put up or shut up'. And that's just not true. You don't have to live with it.

Carina White is @_carinawh on Instagram
Black Mums Upfront is @blackmumsupfront on Instagram

This episode is sponsored by Modibodi, the original period and leak-proof underwear brand. They have very kindly given us a discount code! Use WMDJ15 to get yourself 15% off (excluding sale items, bundles, maxi-24hrs and gift cards).

You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

The M Word: Menopause and Your Pelvic Floor Mar 15, 2022

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? Helen chats to a self-described ‘pelvic health nerd’ - the physiotherapist Michelle Lyons - about what’s going on, why knowledge is power and how best to manage your symptoms:

'Move your body every day, in a way that brings you joy; don't get constipated; and don't put up with not feeling well!'

Michelle Lyons Website
Michelle Lyons Instagram

This episode is sponsored by Modibodi, the original period and leak-proof underwear brand. They have very kindly given us a discount code! Use WMDJ15 to get yourself 15% off (excluding sale items, bundles, maxi-24hrs and gift cards).

You can find Helen @whymumsdontjump on Instagram and Twitter or at www.whymumsdontjump.com

Sara's Story Mar 22, 2022

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 .

You are worthwhile. And if you're not fully fighting-fit and able to live your life then you can't be there for your children, you can't be there for your partner, you can't be there for your friends. You don't deserve to lose yourself to this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to keep pushing for it and don't give up!

You can find more information about Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) here

You can listen to the Pelvic Floor Gadgets (Vadgets) episode here

This episode is sponsored by EVB Sport who make engineered clothing which supports women with prolapse or incontinence. They have very kindly given us a discount code! Use whymumsdon'tjump to get yourself 10% off.

Pelvic Floor Surgery: Colorectal Mar 29, 2022

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. Which specialist should you be referred to? What sorts of conversations might you have? What should your options and expectations look like?

In part one of this two part series, we focus on Colorectal services - where you might be referred if your symptoms affect the bowel - eg faecal incontinence, constipation or rectal prolapse.

Helen speaks to the Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Julie Cornish, about the kinds of cases she sees and some of the lifestyle changes and treatments that might help. They discuss a lack of knowledge amongst medical professionals, a postcode lottery for care and why we should stop using the loo as a sanctuary.

Julie Cornish is @jules_cornish on Twitter

You can find more about the Bowelle app here

You can find more about the Headspace app here

The Masic Foundation can be found at www.masic.org.uk

Sophie Power Apr 05, 2022

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. This is Sophie Power.

Since a photo of her breastfeeding her baby mid-race went viral, Sophie has been working to empower more women to get active. Then she made a film about her postpartum return to running only to discover - on camera - that she has pelvic organ prolapse.

Helen talks to Sophie about pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and her journey back to fitness after childbirth - despite being told she may never run again - and how important it is that mums are helped to reach their goals, whatever they are.

There's so much research that shows that the mums activity level is linked through their children's. So if we want to have active children, we need to be active ourselves and we need help to be active. And what we need to do is make sure that women demand that care and demand that referral

Sophie Power is @ultra_sophie on Instagram
You can watch 'Sophie Power - The Journey from Pregnancy to Performance' here
Find out more about Squeezy App here
For help with your pelvic floor exercises read this
For great advice and info follow physio Emma Brockwell on Instagram
Sophie campaigns for the charity, Women in Sport, which you can find here
Sophie mentioned EVB shorts - find out more here

Helen talks about NHS England's plans to improve pelvic health by 2024, in part by making specialists clinics available to all. You can read more here

Elaine Miller (Gusset Grippers) Apr 12, 2022

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, which sounds counterintuitive but actually makes perfect sense!

They discuss the long-standing evidence behind kegels for stress incontinence (and for prolapse), why pelvic floor problems are a feminist issue and how using humour really can change lives.

Elaine is @gusset_grippers on Instagram

Tickets for Elaine's show at the Edinburgh Fringe are available here
You can find a 60 second pelvic floor squeeze-along here

Helen Gets a Pessary Apr 19, 2022

It's a big day in Helen's pessary saga! After a year-long wait to be fitted for a vaginal pessary, she's offered a private appointment with a specialist in London.

In this episode, you'll hear what happens at a pessary fitting when Helen visits Tracey Matthews - a women's health physio, former British rower, strong woman, cross fitter and proud pessary wearer. She's passionate about the benefits of pessaries when it comes to helping women with pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence and walks Helen through an assessment. Helen leaves with a cube...but will her pelvic floor be up to the task?

Tracey talks about the shock of discovering her own prolapse after the birth of her first child, her decision to specialise in pessaries and why it's so important to end the stigma around them:

We've got to shout about it and make it so that it's not a taboo...and pessaries aren't a taboo. I fit more pessaries in postnatal and younger women than I do in anybody over 60.

HUGE thanks to Tracey Matthews who is @prolapsestrength Instagram and part of the team at White Hart Clinic in London

For an easy guide to vaginal pessaries, read this blog

For more pessary chat listen to last seasons episode Vaginal Pessaries: A Deep Dive

Check out the new UK guidelines for patients and clinicians, which were mentioned in this episode

For more information about 3D printed pessaries of the future (!) go here

To see a video of a pessary fitting with Tracey go here

Niki's Story Apr 26, 2022

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 her daughters were born, as well as stress urinary incontinence.

In this episode, Niki tells Helen how her back troubles got to the point where she couldn't get out of bed and how a postpartum fitness programme changed everything - helping her to manage her back pain and strengthen her pelvic floor. They discuss how a lack of information leaves women in the dark about our own bodies and why we need to do better at postpartum care:

We don't focus on ourselves and our own care. It's like we don't matter. And as women we need to get out of that mindset and stop feeling that by looking after ourselves, we're being selfish mums, or we should be putting everything into the children, or this is the price you pay for having children. It shouldn't be like that.

You can find more information about Diastasis Recti here and here

The postpartum fitness programme MUTU System* is here

*This is not an ad, Why Mums Don't Jump has no affiliation with MUTU System.

Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, with Dr Catherine Blackledge May 03, 2022

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? And if we didn't, what difference would it make to how we feel?

Helen meets Dr Catherine Blackledge, a scientist, journalist, sex and fertility education advocate and author. In 2003 she published a book to celebrate everything about the vagina, Raising the Skirt: the Unsung Power of the Vagina (originally published as The Story of V).

In this episode, Helen and Catherine 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?'.

You can find Catherine's website here
You can find out more about Helen O'Connell's pioneering work into the anatomical study of the clitoris here
You can read more about Anasyrma here

This episode is sponsored by Modibodi, the go-to brand for any of life’s leaks. They have very kindly given us a discount code! Use WMDJ15 for 15% off your first order excluding sale items, bundles, gift cards and Maxi-24hrs.

BONUS EPISODE: The Therapeutic Poet May 10, 2022

Crazy times at WMDJ HQ so no full episode this week, sorry! Instead, here's something to make you smile from a listener, psychotherapist and poet, Jacky Power (aka The Therapeutic Poet). Normal service resumes next week!

Jacky hosts The Therapeutic Poet podcast. Her first collection of poetry is available here.

The Gender Health Gap, with Sarah Graham May 17, 2022

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, which looks at inequalities in women's health, and author of a new book on the gender health gap, due out in 2023. They discuss the impact of living with a healthcare system designed 'by men, for men', and how women sharing their own stories is helping to force change.

You can find Sarah on Instagram and Twitter
More on the UK government's Women's Health Strategy here
More on the Scottish government's Women's Health Plan here
Further reading about the gender health gap here
RCOG report on long waits for gynaecology services here

This episode is sponsored by Modibodi, the go-to brand for any of life’s leaks. They have very kindly given us a discount code! Use WMDJ15 for 15% off your first order excluding sale items, bundles, gift cards and Maxi-24hrs.

Katie's Story Mar 07, 2023

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 Mar 14, 2023

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

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 Mar 21, 2023

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) Mar 28, 2023

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) Apr 04, 2023

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 Apr 11, 2023

<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 Apr 25, 2023

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 May 02, 2023

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 May 09, 2023

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)

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Bonus Episode: The EveryWoman Festival May 15, 2023

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 May 14, 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 Jun 20, 2024

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 Jun 27, 2024

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 Jul 04, 2024

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 Jul 11, 2024

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 Jul 18, 2024

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 Jul 25, 2024

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 Aug 01, 2024

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 Aug 08, 2024

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 Aug 29, 2024

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.