Interview with Women’s Health Advocate Helen Ledwick: Available Now
Have you ever heard of prolapse? What does it have to do with lifting heavy things, childbirth, and menopause? Ever wondered what the bulge you’re feeling down there is?
We often don’t talk about the havoc that childbirth and aging can have on our bodies—like prolapse. When you experience it, you can feel scared, alone, ashamed, and more. But you’re not alone; according to the NIH about 40% of women worldwide, will experience pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and this proportion is expected to increase with the aging of the population. The U.S. Office on Women’s Health suggests it affects almost 3 percent of women in the United States, and other studies estimate that up to half of women over age 50 have some degree of pelvic organ prolapse. A recent survey by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists suggested that a whopping 60% of UK women have symptoms of poor pelvic health.
Join us as we smash stigmas with Helen Ledwick on the next Pelvic Power Hour.
As a former BBC broadcast journalist turned pelvic health advocate, Helen is the creator of the award-winning podcast and author of Why Mums Don’t Jump. During our interview, Helen shares her personal journey with prolapse—from total oblivion to her quest for help. In this interview, she tells all, no holding back, in plain language, from discussions with her doctors, to pelvic floor physical therapy, to pessary fittings and more.
What You’ll Learn:
🌟 Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Helen breaks down the medical jargon into relatable information, explaining what a pelvic organ prolapse is in everyday terms.
📅 Discovering Prolapse: Learn about Helen’s journey into the world of prolapse, how she first discovered it, and her initial experiences.
💡 Postpartum Pelvic Health: Discuss the lack of advice given to women about pelvic health postpartum and how more information could have changed Helen’s experience.
🛠 Access to Help: Explore the challenges of finding pelvic health physiotherapists and Helen’s personal journey to getting the help she needed.
👩⚕️ Prolapse Management: Helen shares her experiences with prolapse management, including her vaginal pessary assessment and fitting.
🧠 Psychological Impact: Understand the psychological effects of prolapse on Helen’s life beyond the physical aspects.
🔍 Awareness and Misconceptions: Address common misconceptions about prolapse, such as its occurrence after vaginal births versus c-sections.
🎙 Starting the Conversation: Hear about Helen’s challenges in talking openly about her pelvic health and the response she received when launching her podcast.
📚 Empowerment through Knowledge: Discuss how lack of knowledge leaves women vulnerable and how better understanding can change experiences.
🔄 Changing Perceptions: Learn how Helen’s perception and attitude towards pelvic health have evolved from her first podcast to her current role as an advocate.
If you or someone you know is dealing with prolapse or you want to be proactive about your health, this podcast is for you. We are shining a light on prolapse and empowering you with knowledge to help you advocate for yourself.
Featured Speaker:
Helen Ledwick is a former BBC broadcast journalist who bravely began sharing her experience with pelvic organ prolapse on Instagram in 2018. By 2020, she launched the podcast Why Mums Don’t Jump, breaking the taboo surrounding pelvic floor problems after childbirth. The podcast’s success led to the 2023 publication of her book Why Mums Don’t Jump, inspired by her own journey and helping thousands of women feel less alone.
