Blog — Learn more about your body
Returning to running after childbirth
Leah contacted me about some information about the pelvic floor and running. I jumped at the chance to answer some questions about it, as it is a topic that really interests me. I am a runner – no crazy distances or anything, but I love the freedom, ease and whole...
Diastasis of rectus abdominis muscle, Diastasis recti, Rectus abdominis diastasis = WTF?
All of these terms mean the same thing: abdominal muscle separation. This is really common during and after pregnancy! Your belly may look like one of the above pictures, or you may feel like you still look pregnant, or you may notice a change in the way your tummy...
When to see a pelvic floor physio
Well, if you've just given birth.... CONGRATS! And really, just focus on resting and recovering. Once you've emerged from the newborn days of haze have a think about how you are feeling and what happened in the birth. If you have these symptoms, see a pelvic floor...
Elvie: The fitbit for your bits
Elvie: Your most personal trainer I’ve been sent a sample of ‘Elvie’ to try, and to give feedback to the manufacturer. Here's what I think: Elvie is a device that you insert inside your vagina to give you feedback on your pelvic floor performance, via an app on your...
Wrist/hand/finger pain during and after pregnancy
Carpal tunnel syndrome and DeQuervain's tenosynovitis are the most common causes of wrist, hand and finger pain during and after pregnancy. So you’ve got this cute new human to look after, but your blimmin’ wrists kill you every time you want to pick her up?? Or maybe...
Pregnant stationary cycling tips
Gone are the days of ‘eating for two’ and putting your feet up for 9 months when you are ‘with child’. As you know, exercising when you are pregnant is good for you and your baby. Many women get sore back or pelvic joints during pregnancy which may be stirred up by...
Epidural for labour
My awesome sister, an anaesthetist, delivers epidurals for a job. So I asked her some questions about epidurals during labour and she kindly and candidly answered them. Shot sis! “Holy shiiiiiit! I am pregnant. Not only am I pregnant, but I am in denial about having...
Urinary tract infection (UTI) – when ‘urine’ a bit of pain
I had the pleasure of working with Jessica Zimmer in a hospital in Melbourne. Jess is a nurse completing her Masters in Urological Continence. She has been working in continence and urological nursing for 6 years and is a wealth of knowledge. I asked her some...
Returning to sex after childbirth
I can hear some of you say ‘that’s the last thing on my mind now’, and other’s saying ‘Yes, WHEN!’ and other’s saying ‘I’ve tried, and it feels different, will it ever be normal?’ and still others saying ‘I’m worried about what my partner will think of me now’. First...
An interesting study on painful sex after childbirth
A recent study (see reference below) asked 1507 women in Melbourne about painful sex after childbirth. It showed: 85% of women who had resumed sex by 12 months post partum experienced pain during first vaginal sex after childbirth By 18 months post childbirth, 98% of...