Shows
Money BoxMoney Box Live: Move or Improve?If your home isn't working for you, should you pack up and move or get the builders in and improve?Moving is expensive, aside from the price of the house there's Stamp Duty and solicitors fees to think about. So, is it worth getting the builders in instead if you're desperate for an extra bedroom? Insurance firm Aviva predicts 7 million of us will renovate over the next two years, spending an average of £14,000 each. But what happens if the renovations go wrong, you run out of money, or you're hoping to move but no-one wants t...2025-06-0428 min
Money BoxMoney Box Live: Move or Improve?If your home isn't working for you, should you pack up and move or get the builders in and improve?
Moving is expensive, aside from the price of the house there's Stamp Duty and solicitors fees to think about. So, is it worth getting the builders in instead if you're desperate for an extra bedroom? Insurance firm Aviva predicts 7 million of us will renovate over the next two years, spending an average of £14,000 each.
But what happens if the renovations go wrong, you run out of money, or you're hoping to move but no-one wants to b...2025-06-0429 min
5 Live News SpecialsThat Time of the Month: ProlapseNaga and the team are joined by ‘Why Mums Don’t Jump’ author and podcaster Helen Ledwick to talk about prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip from their usual position and bulge into the vagina. It’s thought to affect around 1 in 3 women. That Time of the Month, part of 5 Live’s Me, My Health & I series. Get in touch via @bbc5live on social media.2025-04-241h 15
Why Mums Don't JumpVicky's Story: Leak-free running with the Efemia Bladder Support, in association with iMEDicareHelen 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'...2024-08-2927 min
Why Mums Don't JumpPelvic Health in Women's Football, with Melanie Leupolz & Emma BrockwellSomehow 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...2024-08-0827 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPelvic Health Myth-Busting, with Dr. Carrie PaglianoIt’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...2024-08-0129 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPOP Club Reunited: Healing, Friendship & Feeling Fobbed OffPOP 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...2024-07-2522 minWhy Mums Don't JumpHayley's Story: Prolapse, Pregnancy and MindsetHelen 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 di...2024-07-1828 minWhy Mums Don't JumpThe Birth Debrief, with Illiyin MorrisonWhen 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...2024-07-1130 minWhy Mums Don't JumpErica’s Story: Bowel Incontinence, Birth Injury and Truth as ArmourBowel 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...2024-07-0428 minWhy Mums Don't JumpGetting the Most From Your GP Appointment, With Dr Aziza SesayHow 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...2024-06-2729 minWhy Mums Don't JumpHolly's Story: Prolapse, Pessaries and Getting Your Life BackHelen 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. A...2024-06-2025 min
Why Mums Don't JumpBonus Episode: EveryWoman Festival 2024Everywoman 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!H...2024-05-1422 min
Mum's The Word! With Georgia Jones & Kelsey ParkerWhy Don't Mum's Jump? And what is a Prolapse? with Helen LedwickWhy is prolapse so taboo? And what actually is it?Journalist and author of 'Why Mum's Don't Jump', Helen Ledwick joins us this week to inform us of her experience with prolapse, what some of the symptoms are of a poor pelvic floor and how we can be supported more in postpartum. So many people go through prolapse - and if you are feeling alone in this - know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!Grab the book at https://whymumsdontjump.com/ and follow Helen on Instagram @whymumsdontjumpSend us your ex...2023-10-0234 min
Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & BeyondHELEN LEDWICK- Creator of Why Mums Don’t JumpSend us a textToday I speak with Helen Ledwick, the creator of Why Mums Don’t Jump - dedicated to dismantling the taboo around pelvic floor problems after childbirth. By sharing personal stories and expert knowledge, the former BBC journalist has helped thousands of women to access reliable information and support for issues like incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain. Her groundbreaking book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2023, and builds on the success of her ARIA-nominated podcast, which recently concluded its fourth season. Inspired by Helen’s own...2023-09-2247 min
Celebrate Muliebrity with Michelle LyonsEpisode 9 with Helen Ledwick: Why Mums Don't JumpThis episode will (I hope!) give those of us who work in women's health an insight into the fear and difficulties that women with pelvic health issues like prolapse or bladder problems face.
We discuss the embarrassment barrier, why its important to normalise the conversation and what we need to do to help women live longer and live well. This is the first part in a series looking at what's going well in women's health and what we need to do better.
Helen Ledwick is the author of 'Why Mums Don't Jump' - it is...2023-07-2536 minWhy Mums Don't JumpBonus Episode: The EveryWoman FestivalForget 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...2023-05-1514 minWhy Mums Don't JumpHypopressivesIf 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 pr...2023-05-0926 minWhy Mums Don't JumpDr Adanna's Pelvic Floor GuideIn 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...2023-05-0223 minWhy Mums Don't JumpStrong Like Mum, with Shakira AkabusiHow 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...2023-04-2529 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPrudent's StoryIn 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 dow...2023-04-1130 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPelvic 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...2023-04-0428 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPelvic 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 d...2023-03-2829 minWhy Mums Don't JumpSarah Jayne DunnIn 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...2023-03-2135 minWhy Mums Don't JumpThe Lowdown on Pelvic PainYou 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...2023-03-1430 minWhy Mums Don't JumpKatie's StoryHelen 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...2023-03-0728 min
Midwife Pip PodcastE77. Your Postpartum Pelvic Health and Prolapse Solved!Pelvic organ prolapse, a condition that is more common in women, especially postpartum women than many realise and something that is often a source of embarrassment, shame or fear for those suffering. So on this episode I am really keen to shine a light on pelvic organ prolapse, help anyone listening who has been effected know they are not alone and that there is much that can be done to support you.I am so excited to welcome a woman doing such incredible work to raise the lid on pelvic organ prolapse and generally ditch the taboo...2022-10-1038 min
Mother BodiesS1 Ep10 Helen Ledwick: Prolapse, understanding your anatomy and smashing taboosSince 2018, broadcaster Helen Ledwick has been publicly sharing her experiences of her postnatal prolapse - firstly on Instagram as @whymumsdontjump, and then on the award-nominated podcast Why Mums Don't Jump. On this episode of Mother Bodies, she tells journalist Rosie Taylor her postnatal story, what inspired her to start breaking taboos by speaking out about prolapse and how we could empower women by teaching everyone more information about pelvic floors.On the Mother Bodies podcast, Rosie is on a mission to find out why postnatal health is still so overlooked and to uncover the biases and...2022-10-0336 min
The Lowdown with Bravemumma41: Get Colour and Joy back into your (prolapsed) life with these positive tips from the host of ’Why Mum’s Don’t Jump’ Podcast, Helen LedwickDESCRIPTION
Today we connect to chat with fellow podcaster and prolapsed Mumma, Helen Ledwick.
She shares her journey with prolapse and how she's been able to move forward by talking with other women and finding connection and community via her podcast 'Why Mum's Don't Jump'.
We have a serious chat about how prolapse changed our lives as well as finding parts where we can have a laugh and feel joy again.
This episode is for you if you want to know more about:
pelvic organ prolapse
c-section birth, breach birth, VBAC
...2022-06-291h 01Why Mums Don't JumpThe Gender Health Gap, with Sarah GrahamThe 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 f...2022-05-1727 minWhy Mums Don't JumpBONUS EPISODE: The Therapeutic PoetCrazy 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. 2022-05-1003 min
At Your CervixWhy Mum's Don't Jump! Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Helen LedwickWe open this season talking to Helen Ledwick the creator of ‘Why Mums Don’t Jump’ -- a podcast about pelvic floor problems after childbirth. She’s a former BBC journalist and a mum-of-two with pelvic organ prolapse.
When delivering her second baby, Helen experienced a 3rd-degree tear and subsequent pelvic organ prolapse. Unaware of pelvic floor dysfunction until this point and frustrated, anxious, and keen to learn more, Helen began to explore the world of pelvic health and found that there were so many more women affected by these common but not normal symptoms that can occur at...2022-05-081h 00Why Mums Don't JumpEnding the Pelvic Floor Taboo, with Dr Catherine BlackledgePelvic 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...2022-05-0327 minWhy Mums Don't JumpNiki's StoryDiastasis 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 t...2022-04-2628 min
Business DailyFleeing dangerWhat do you do when your staff are stuck in a conflict zone or dangerous situation? How do you get them out? Who pays for it? How do you persuade them to go back later?Rahul Tandon speaks to Alex Nichiporchik whose gaming business tinyBuild has evacuated staff from Ukraine and Russia. He hears from Priscilla Dickey who was part of the US government evacuation from Wuhan in 2020.Dale Buckner from Global Guardian explains the business of evacuation while Ian Umney discusses the rescue of his family from Ukraine.Plus, Ema Boccagni from...2022-04-2117 minWhy Mums Don't JumpHelen Gets a PessaryIt'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 u...2022-04-1919 minWhy Mums Don't JumpElaine 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, 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 InstagramTickets for Elaine's show at the Edinburgh Fringe are available hereYou can find...2022-04-1226 minWhy Mums Don't JumpSophie PowerReturning 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...2022-04-0524 minBusiness DailyThe aid trail to UkraineMillions of Ukrainians have fled the country since the Russian invasion began, some leaving with little more than the clothes on their backs. It's prompted an outpouring of support from around the world - with ordinary people loading lorries with donations and shipping them thousands of miles to help refugees. We follow the aid trail from a small business in north west England to the Ukrainian border and explore whether it's better to give goods or money.We'll hear from Bob Kitchen, the International Rescue Committee's head of emergencies about giving cash directly to refugees and from...2022-04-0417 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPelvic Floor Surgery: ColorectalSurgical 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...2022-03-2929 minWhy Mums Don't JumpSara's StoryHelen 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 y...2022-03-2233 minWhy Mums Don't JumpThe M Word: Menopause and Your Pelvic FloorMenopause 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 WebsiteMichelle Lyons Instag...2022-03-1523 minWhy Mums Don't JumpCarina WhiteHelen 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 @_ca...2022-03-0823 minWhy Mums Don't JumpBonus Episode: 60 Second Pelvic Floor Squeeze-AlongIf 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...2022-01-0602 minWhy Mums Don't JumpVaginal Pessaries: A Deep DiveRing, 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...2021-04-2829 min
Bits of MeEp. 33: Helen Ledwick on pelvic organ prolapseThis episode of Bits of Me feels quite special, because Helen Ledwick is a mum of two who decided to start a podcast about women's health after learning that she had pelvic organ prolapse – which, if you know anything about the origins of Bits of Me, you'll know is exactly what I did!Anyway – Helen is just lovely, and in this episode she generously shares her experience of noticing a bulge, panicking a little, and going on the journey of figuring out how to deal with and live with prolapse. We talk about self-image and identity, pelvic floo...2021-04-2229 min
Why Mums Don't JumpPop Club 2Pop 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 thisThe fitness trainer Jess mentions in this episode is Dana LandgrenAnd if...2021-04-2128 min
Why Mums Don't JumpPelvic Floor Gadgets (Vadgets)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 y...2021-04-1427 minWhy Mums Don't JumpJan's StoryHelen 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...2021-04-0723 min
Why Mums Don't JumpHaving Another Baby After ProlapseHaving 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".'...2021-03-3131 minWhy Mums Don't JumpPeace's StoryHelen 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 t...2021-03-2418 min
Why Mums Don't JumpBetween The Sheets: Sex & Pelvic Floor DysfunctionSex 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 i...2021-03-1731 min
Why Mums Don't JumpChantelle's Story(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...2021-03-1028 min
Why Mums Don't JumpGynae Girl: 'Pelvic health starts from day one'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...2021-03-0318 min
Why Mums Don't JumpEmma Barnett: 'I have a hypertonic pelvic floor'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...2021-02-2432 min
Why Mums Don't JumpBonus Episode: Rachel HorneYou 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: @rachelhornerainbowwww.whymumsdontjump.comInstagram: @whymumsdontjump2020-06-2227 min
Why Mums Don't JumpPop 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.comInstagram: @whymumsdontjump2020-06-1526 min
Why Mums Don't JumpSarah's StoryHelen 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 TwitterSarah's website is: https://corporatetokids.com/Find more: www.whymumsdontjump.comInstagram: @whymumsdontjump2020-06-0818 min
Why Mums Don't JumpFinding FitnessHow 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.comInstagram...2020-06-0127 min
Why Mums Don't JumpLuce's StoryHelen 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, 2020.2020-05-2525 min
Why Mums Don't JumpThe Head GameWhat 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-linksInstagram: @whymumsdontjumpDr Rebecca Moore Website: www.doctorrebeccamoore.comInstagram: @drrebeccamooreMake Birth Better: www.makebirthbetter...2020-05-1823 min
Why Mums Don't JumpAinsley's StoryThe 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...2020-05-1113 min
Why Mums Don't JumpPelvic Floor Problems 101If 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.comInstagram: @whymumsdontjumpKatie's website: www.knsphysiotherapy.co.uk2020-05-0432 min
Why Mums Don't JumpThe Ass Kick: My StoryFar 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.comInstagram: @whymumsdontjump2020-04-2612 min
Why Mums Don't JumpSeries 1 TrailerHonest 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.2020-04-1402 min