Resources

As you may know, when I first realised I had pelvic floor problems, I REALLY struggled to find any decent information or support. The good news is that things are slowly improving.

There are some excellent resources out there, once you know where to look! Below are some of the ones that I have found useful, or that have been recommended to me. It's not an exhaustive list, so drop me a line if you know of any others.

I do have an affiliate relationship with a few of the brands mentioned, where WMDJ earns commission on sales. Where this is the case, I will make it obvious!

Information and Support

• Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support - US-based non-profit organisation for women with pelvic organ prolapse
• The Birth Trauma Association - UK charity that supports women who suffer birth trauma
• Bladder & Bowel Community - Support network for people affected by bladder and bowel conditions
• Make Birth Better - Collective of parents and professionals working to end the suffering from birth trauma
• MASIC - Charity for mothers with anal sphincter injuries in childbirth
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance - Campaign to improve perinatal mental health care
• NHS website - Easy to read and up to date information on pelvic floor problems and treatments
• PANDAS foundation UK - Support for perinatal mental illness
• Pelvic Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) - Professional network of pelvic health physiotherapists. They have some really well-written patient information booklets
• Pelvic Roar - Physiotherapy-led pelvic health campaign
• Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) - Professional network with patient information leaflets

Fitness Programmes

• Holistic Core Restore - Pelvic floor and core fitness programmes
• MUTU System - Online exercise programme for postnatal recovery, diastasis and pelvic floor*
• POPUp - Evidence-based guidance & support for Pelvic organ prolapse*
• Restore Your Core - 12-week online exercise programme for any woman with core issues*
• Vibrant Pelvic Health - online programmes to help you overcome your pelvic health issues*

(*I have an affiliate relationship with these brands. This means that the links have a special tracking code and receive a commission from each sale, at no extra cost to you.)

Guidelines

• Guidance for Returning to Running Postnatally
• UK Clinical Guideline for the use of Pessaries in Vaginal Prolapse (2021)

Books*

• Invisible Women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men, Caroline Criado Perez (Chatto & Windus, 2019)
• It’s About Bloody Time. Period, Emma Barnett (HQ, 2021)
• PMSL: Or how I literally pissed myself laughing and survived
  the last taboo to tell the tale, Luce Brett (Green Tree, 2020)
• Raising the Skirt: The unsung power of the vagina, Catherine
  Blackledge (W&N, 2020)
• Rebel Bodies: A guide to the gender health gap revolution, Sarah Graham (Bloomsbury, 2023)
• Vagina: A re-education, Lynn Enright (Allen & Unwin, 2019)
• Why Did No One Tell Me? How to protect, heal and nurture your
  body through motherhood, Emma Brockwell (Vermilion, 2021)
• Your Pelvic Floor: A practical guide to solving your most
  intimate problems, Kim Vopni (Watkins Publishing, 2021)
• Strong Foundations: Why Pelvic Health Matters – an Empowering Guide to Understanding Your Body, Claire Bourne (Harper Collins, 2023)

(*As an Bookshop.org associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Documentary

• Sophie Power: The Journey from Pregnancy to Performance (Hoka, 2021)

Mobile Apps

• Couch to 5K -NHS running app for beginners. If you have pelvic floor problems, take advice from a health professional first.
• Squeezy - NHS app which reminds you to do your pelvic floor exercises and provides a visual aid. It also has a directory of pelvic health physios so you can find one near you.

Instagram

• @carriepagliano: Dr. Carrie Pagliano, PT and postpartum expert
• @clarebournephysio: Clare Bourne, pelvic health physiotherapist
• @empoweredmother_: Lyz Evans, women's health physio and Kimmy Smith, perinatal exercise specialist
• @gusset_grippers: Elaine Miller, Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and comedian
• @gynaegirl: Tiffany Sequeira, pelvic health physiotherapist
• @jillybondphysio: Jilly Bond, pelvic health physiotherapist
• @physiomumuk: Emma Brockwell, pelvic health physiotherapist
• @postpartum_prolapse: Dr. Margo K, pelvic floor & orthopedic physical therapist
• @tears_from_tearing: Chantelle Sandham, birth-injured mum
• @the.vagina.whisperer: Dr Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist
• @whymumsdontjump: Helen Ledwick, mum with a prolapse. And a podcast. And a book.