This 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 floor physiotherapy, the lack of proper pelvic floor rehab offered after childbirth, what a better system might look like, and why on earth a collapsed vagina would make you decide to start a podcast.
If, like me, you enjoy listening to Helen's accent, or if you've given birth, you're planning to give birth, or you've suffered any sort of pelvic floor trauma or dysfunction, you should check out Helen's podcast, Why Mums Don't Jump (here on Apple Podcasts and here on Spotify). She talks to experts, professionals and women who have stories to share, and there's information on everything from sex to post-natal recovery and returning to running. You can also follow her on Instagram or go check out the blog.
If you like Bits of Me and would like to help keep the project going and the conversations going, there's a Patreon you can support from as little as €2/month and in return get early access to all the episodes, monthly writing by host Linnea Dunne, and a Bits of Me badge. If that's not for you, perhaps this would be a good episode to drop a link to in your mammy WhatsApp group? Or if you're brave enough to share it on your socials, please do, and tag Bits of Me's Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.
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