pelvichealthphysio_derby

The MASIC foundation is a great support if you have sustained a 3rd or 4th degree tear in childbirth.

Thanks to Natasha Hinde and HuffPost UK Parents for publishing this article today.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/bowel-incontinence-after-birth-what-to-do-about-it_uk_63bea585e4b0fe267cb570fb/

We know bowel incontinence after childbirth is still a massive taboo, and desperately frightening and lonely for those who experience it.

Thank you to the two amazing MASIC advocates who bravely shared their experiences for the article.

We need to keep fighting for an end to women enduring 3rd and 4th degree tears alone - and prevent them happening in the first place.

Tips on my favourite subject... Poo 💩😁

Bowels love routine. For most people you will get an urge to poo about half an hour after breakfast. Things like waking, eating and drinking trigger the bowel to squeeze its contents along. Unfortunately if you are busy on the school run or at work already you may not have time to respond to this feeling. But delaying will dry the poo out and make it more difficult to pass when you get the next urge to go.

Try having breakfast a little earlier and "listening in" to your bowel in the morning. And if you get the feeling of needing to go when you are out then do go. Don't wait until you get home later.

Have you tried squatting on the toilet? It's a more natural position to empty the bowel in as it straightens out the kinks in the p**p shoot and makes it easier to go. Try putting something like a small step, loo rolls, some scales, or whatever you have handy under your feet. Keep your back straight and lean forwards.

I'll be adding some more tips on improving bowel function. Watch this space...

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PSP_IBS

"IBS is a misunderstood and undervalued area of health which is why Guts UK believes a PSP is the best way forward to ignite true and lasting change.  We want this PSP to prioritise the unanswered questions about the diagnosis, treatment and care
of people with IBS, which is why it is so important for you to complete the survey."

I'm busily involved in looking into the gaps in the IBS research myself. We need the patient perspective too. Please share or tag anyone who may be interested.

September is bladder pain syndrome (aka interstitial cystitis) awareness month, so I thought I’d share a post before the month is out to help raise awareness!

Symptoms usually feel like a water infection- pain when you need to wee and/or while you wee, going to the toilet more often- but the tests for water infection keep coming back negative and antibiotics don’t make any difference… sound familiar??

Your body is responding to a perceived threat (may have been a previous UTI or vaginal infection that is no longer present) and acting like an oversensitive alarm system.

So your bladder is shouting too loudly, your brain listens in too sensitively to the bladder…

Our immune system kicks in creating inflammation…

Muscles tense as a protective mechanism which makes everything a whole lot worse…

Over time your emotional centres in the brain also get involved, making pain worse when you are stressed or anxious… which then makes you more stressed and anxious!

All a bit rubbish really, but our body is doing it’s job of trying to protect us from potential harm… it just hasn’t realised there was no real threat in the first place!

The good thing is these changes do not have to be permanent. Our nervous system is plastic and the alarm system can be turned down…

So, how can a physio help? It’s important to understand what is going on, so knowledge is power in my opinion and can really help people to take back control. We can look at methods to reduce muscle tension in the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, reduce stress/anxiety triggers, bladder irritants in our food and drink and help the bladder to feel a safe place again…

Note this oversensitive alarm analogy can also relate to other chronic pain syndromes such as vulvodynia, IBS, chronic pelvic pain syndrome...

Running shoes back on after a week's holiday! A very slow 9km plod through the fields.
Nice to be back out in the fields.
Definitely feel more awake.
Not sure if physically feel any better yet- ask me in half hour! 😂

Sun, sea and sand! 😍 Thank you Tenby- you've never failed me! 😎🏖️☺️
Now home- 2 tired children and a car full of sand! 😂

Getting closer to nature for a few days in my home county of Herefordshire.
"I can pause, be still and feel alive" ☺️

I've heard so many times comments like "I wish I'd found you years ago", "I'm so glad I came today", "I feel so much better being able to talk about it".

Pelvic health problems can be a bit of a taboo subject. People find it hard to discuss this with loved ones or their GP.

On top of this, as a physio there is still very little awareness of our role in pelvic health and the ways we can help (and I mean much more than just kegels)- not just by patients, but also many health professionals. So it can be hard to find the right path to access that support.

But finding that right person to listen to and understand your problems can be priceless.

So consider pelvic health physio for all things bladder, bowel, prolapse, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.

Start that conversation.

Please consider donating what you can to this great cause 🏃‍♀️

Jenny's Race for Life 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, so please sponsor me now.

Please consider signing this petition to change the rules for ladies returning to the London marathon after Childbirth.

Can you spare a minute to help Jenny Horrigan ? 188 signatures are still needed! Reform the London Marathon’s refusal to grant Pregnancy Deferral

As the school year draws to a close, it's hard to believe where the time has gone!
A super proud Mummy with both children bringing home excellent school reports, despite the challenges this year has brought upon us all.
A credit to their teachers and school for keeping them afloat, embracing new ways of working and maintaining standards during a most incredibly difficult school year!

So as the time flies, remember to:
➡️ Embrace every opportunity
➡️ Appreciate those close to you
➡️ Be kind to those who are not
➡️ Enjoy the wonderful world around you
➡️ Live each and every day to the fullest
😊