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It is time that we increase the discussion around what is normal when it comes to our bodies.

Daily we are bombarded by extremes, through social media and the press we see celebrity mums celebrated for being back to pre-baby weight just weeks after birth and with cosmetic surgery at an all time high such as to achieve the ‘designer vagina’ our idea of what is ‘normal’ for a woman’s body is becoming very distorted. So I am here to normalise the normal, and armour you with quality information so you can make better choices for your health.

 
 
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BELIEF 01:
Health is an investment not an expense.

“Look after your body it is the only place you have to live”
– Jim Roh

Health truly is an investment not an expense. Putting time and energy into health now, will pay off in the long run. I am truly fortunate to have grown up appreciating that the greatest asset anyone can have is their health. After years of working in the health system, it saddens me how many people do not know the very basics of how to care for their body. Poor awareness and understanding have resulted in unnecessary debilitating diseases and conditions that could have been prevented, this is very much the epidemic we face now in developing countries.

The benefits of making proactive health choices are three-fold;

1. It results in well healing and healthier bodies at an individual level

2. It teaches those close to us the importance of health.

3. It has the potential to make a cultural change at a system level. If demand for preventative models care over reactive care increases, then eventually the health system will have to change and meet this demand.

 
 
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BELIEF 02:
Dive Deeper. Beyond the surface.

Women are complicated creatures, both physically and emotionally. Rarely does a woman acknowledge what is truly going on with her physical, emotional, mental or sexual health and how they interact. As a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist I am trained to look beneath the surface, and have heard 1000’s of women’s stories over the years. Pelvic health issues such as prolapse, incontinence or, sexual dysfunction affect more than just the pelvic floor they affect overall happiness, self -confidence, daily function and relationships. It is usually not until these deeper issues are addressed that true inner wellbeing and self-love are restored. By looking beyond the surface, beyond her exterior, beyond our own exterior the true journey to health can begin.

 
 
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BELIEF 03:
Self care is selfless not selfish.

We cannot care for those close to us if we don’t care for ourselves.

One of the reasons I am such a strong advocate for Women's Health is that it not only impacts the life of the woman but of those around her, and the future generation. When a woman’s health is not optimal, she can simply can not give the best of herself to her family and friends. I have seen families breakdown from what started out as a basic pelvic floor dysfunction or simply not priortising the time to exercise. These Issues build and escalate as symptoms worsen, self confidence is lost, intimacy avoidance built, spiralling into anxiety, depression and relationship breakdown.

As you can imagine the impact of this on a family can be detrimental, and as selfish as it may sound, one message I drum home to my clients is that in order to be a good mum, wife or friend you absolutely must priortise your own health. No if’s, or buts. Non-negotiable. A must.

 
 
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BELIEF 04:
Exercise; embrace it don't fear it.

Functional and challenging exercise is essential for ALL women.

I believe all women after babies or pelvic floor dysfunction should be able to move and exercise, in a challenging and functional way. Traditionally things such as leaking or prolapse have stopped women from exercising or dramatically reduced it. I want to be part of the movement to change these perceptions and reduce fears because it doesn’t have to be like this.

By having a stronger framework of the global muscles in the body, this creates a stronger foundation for the body to operate from. This puts less load on the pelvic floor during simple daily tasks such as carrying children. It makes no clinical sense to stop women from exercising, especially those carrying children. A lack of movement can lead to weight gain, depression and other lifestyle diseases all of which can make pelvic floor issues worse - and so a vicious cycle begins. Movement that is functional and challenging is an essential part of the treatment and prevention of pelvic floor issues.

 
 
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BELIEF 05:
Optimal health care requires two ears, an evidence informed brain, experienced hands and an open heart.

“It is through science that we prove, but intuition that we discover.”
- Henri Poincare

I am a research nerd and strongly believe that the evidence should always form the foundation of health choices, this is referred to as evidence based care.  Many people don’t realise however, that it is only through a clinicians intuition that ideas for research are actually made.  I’ve learnt first hand that the research process is a lengthy one, and what we observe in clinical practice usually takes 5-10 years to prove or disprove through the research channel. When making evidence informed decisions there are therefore a few other elements that should be considered.

We have been given two ears so that we can listen twice as much as we talk. By listening intently to a woman about her own story, her own body and her own goals, we can learn so much as she knows her body better than any professional ever will.  When we combine what we hear with the evidence, experience, intuition and compassion the optimal health care journey can really begin.

 
 
 
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