Surabhi Veitch interviews Teresa Waser, physiotherapist, educator, clinic owner and mom, as we explore the TIIPPSS-FC framework for Reframing Pain, Pelvic Health, and Performance. We start with the Biopsychosocial Approach, discuss psychosocial influences on pain including asking the right questions on intake forms. We discuss the importance of experiential learning for patients. Teresa shares her journey into pelvic health, highlighting the pelvic floor's vital role. We touch on Diastasis Recti, addressing disordered eating, and the challenges of perfectionism in physiotherapy. Plus, we share exciting updates about upcoming courses and delve into self-care and pessary fitting for pelvic health.

A pessary is like a sports bra for your vagina! Surabhi is thrilled to interview Cara McDougall, a pelvic health physiotherapist specializing in pessary assessment and fitting. Cara discusses how pessaries support people with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, and who makes an ideal candidate, including the success rate. Let’s debunk common myths and ditch the stigma around pessary use (it’s been around forever!).

We answer these questions:

What is a Pessary?

History of Pessaries (it was around in ancient Egypt!)

Helping Patients with Pessary Care

Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)

Who is the ideal candidate for Pessary Use?

What are unsafe circumstances for Pessary Use?

Common Myths about Pessaries

Gaining relief of symptoms with a pessary

Trial Pessary

Sex & Pessary Use

Periods & Pessary Use

What are pessary fittings like?

Pregnancy & Pessary Use

Pessaries & Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

What does it mean when pain or pelvic floor symptoms like leaks return? Does it mean you stop whatever the aggravating activity is and hope for the best? Do we just stop exercising, stop lifting weights, and just rest until it gets better? Not usually!

Symptoms don’t always mean stop. I share 4 things your symptoms could mean including:

—stop what you’re doing
—do something different
—take a break
—pay attention to me

Take a listen to this episode, and see what resonates. If you need help troubleshooting your symptoms, book a consult below and let’s get you feeling better in your body!

Kegels, or pelvic floor contractions, are a strength exercise often recommended for people with pelvic floor concerns like leaks, prolapse or pain. The problem is, Kegels often make these symptoms WORSE, and can be really problematic. Kegels can worsen pain with seggs, exacerbate leaks and even create more symptoms of heaviness.

Tune into this Mom Strength episode so learn why NOT to do Kegels!

Come and join this conversation with Antony Lo, as we discuss how to navigate through postpartum, return to exercise and your fitness goals. Antony shares his expertise and approach in helping people lift heavy weights and navigate back to their fitness goals postpartum. Antony explores the importance of strength training, highlighting the benefits and surprising results (you’re probably stronger than you think!).

We discuss:

Progressing physically and mentally through postpartum

Finding hope in a prolapse/diastasis diagnosis (it’s more common than you think!)

The consequences of comparing yourself to other Moms

Dangers of fear mongering in fitness/health industry

Strength and aesthetic goals in postpartum

Aliya Dhalla and Surabhi Veitch discuss the #1 tip to overcoming prolapse, the mental and psychosocial components of prolapse, and shame around prolapse.

We also have a great discussion on martyrdom in motherhood in South Asian and many other communities, people-pleasing behaviours, defining our own identities as mothers, ditching mom guilt, and the journey to practicing self-care.