Real.Strong.Women

6-month pessary review done and I wanted to share something about pessaries.

If you're navigating pelvic organ prolapse like I am, please don't give up if the first pessary doesn't work for you. It really is trial and error!

I've tried four, maybe five different types at this point and that’s because my needs have changed over time. What worked two years ago doesn't work now and that’s completely normal, because your body and your needs do change.

The last one I was wearing was fine, but it would slip out of place sometimes. So I went back to the clinic and we decided to keep trying until we found something that really works.

I'm now on a Shaatz pessary (ridiculous name, but it's the one we're going with)
Jenny at the pessary clinic at Lagan Valley for those of your who are local to Lisburn, took the time to explain exactly what she was doing, why she was doing it, and answered all my questions. Even though I've been going for years, she treated me like it was my first visit. That's the kind of care all women deserve.

If you're dealing with pelvic organ prolapse and you haven't tried a pessary, or you tried one and it didn't work, please don't give up.
There are incredible healthcare professionals out there doing brilliant work to support women with prolapse. The right pessary can change what you're able to do, it truly changed what I can do.

A pessary isn't a failure, it can be a great tool. And sometimes the right tool is exactly what you need to keep living your life the way you want to 💙

Hoovering came up as one of the top everyday activities that caused women issues postpartum! and I remember it well!
So here’s some practical advice.

It can feel surprisingly challenging, and not because your body is “too weak” to do it.

Hoovering combines pushing, pulling, bending, walking and changing direction. That can be a lot for a body recovering from pregnancy and birth, especially when you add feeding, carrying a baby and broken sleep.

There isn’t one set week when everyone is suddenly ready. What you can comfortably manage will depend on your birth, your recovery, your symptoms and even how you feel that day.

When you’re ready, treat it like a gradual return to any other activity:

→ Start with one small area—not the whole house�→ Use a lighter hoover if you have one�→ Move your feet rather than repeatedly twisting�→ Exhale as you push, pull or lift�→ Avoid carrying the hoover upstairs in the early weeks�→ Notice how you feel during, later that day and the following day

If bleeding becomes noticeably heavier, pain increases, your wound feels uncomfortable or you experience new or worsening pelvic heaviness, that’s useful information. Stop, recover and try a little less next time.

Seek medical advice for heavy bleeding, severe pain, dizziness or feeling unwell.

The goal isn’t to avoid movement or fear everyday tasks. It’s to rebuild your capacity gradually and respond to what your body is telling you.

And yes—if someone else can hoover while you recover, absolutely LET THEM.

The mess can wait. 💙

I can’t thank you all enough for sharing your stories.

Every single one is an eye-opener, because what’s becoming crystal clear is just how many women go through this. How many women remember, word for word, something a healthcare professional said or did to them years later.

What’s most important is not always about something drastic being said.

Sometimes it’s the things that aren’t said at all. The lack of explanation.

The things done without consent.

The dismissal.

The gaslighting.

The feeling of being unheard or unseen.

And all of it matters.

Your experience matters. Your story matters. Even if it doesn’t feel “big enough” or dramatic—it is. Because it shaped how you think about your body. It affected your recovery. It changed something.

That’s exactly why I’m collecting these stories.

To understand the conversations women remember. To learn how we can do better. To show that this isn’t just one woman’s experience, it’s a pattern. A systemic issue that needs to change.

If you’ve had an experience you need to talk about, please share it. You can do so anonymously through the Google form.

The link is in my Linktree (link in bio). It’s a safe space. Your consent matters as much as your story. And everything is kept confidential.

Please share with anyone you know who’s had an experience like this. Anyone who’s walked out of an appointment thinking “Did they really just say that?” Anyone who needs to know their story matters.

Thank you. For trusting me with your stories. For having the courage to speak up. For helping me understand just how important this conversation is.

Together, we can change this 💙

*tMyGynaeSaid

Recent research in America shows military women are 9 times more likely to experience pelvic organ prolapse and twice as likely to experience urogynecological disorders.

But here’s the thing: we don’t know why.

By 2030, the UK’s frontline services will be made up of women. Women in policing. Women in the military. Women in the fire service. And we’re asking all the wrong questions.

We’ve spent decades asking: “Can women do this job?”

The answer is yes. Women are doing these jobs every single day. They’re proving themselves. They’re performing at the highest levels.

So maybe it’s time we asked a different question: “What is the job doing to women? And is there anything we can do to support them?”

That’s what I’m investigating.

I’ve been meeting with people from frontline services, body armour makers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. I’m asking questions. Hard questions. About load carriage, about breathing restriction, about the impact of operational kit on pelvic floor health.

The support is getting better. But there’s still a long way to go. And we need to understand why pelvic health remains under-addressed in these services. What are we missing? What conversations aren’t happening?

Because right now? Women are entering these roles without full awareness of how to protect their pelvic health. And that needs to change.

I don’t have all the answers yet. But I’m committed to finding them.

There will be research projects. There will be trials in the fire service, the police service, and the military. There will be conversations that need to happen.

This isn’t about whether women can do these jobs. It’s about making sure that women can do these jobs AND stay healthy throughout their careers.

Watch this space 💙

The toddler stage never really ends... it just changes.

My chickens have decided I’m their mum, so they follow me everywhere. 🐔

Wherever I go, they go. If I stop, they stop. And somehow, I find it really peaceful.

It got me thinking about my own two. They’re t/weenagers now, and while they’re not following me around the house anymore, they still need me,just in different ways.

Toddlers need you for everything. Tweens and teenagers need you for different things, often when you least expect it.

Maybe that’s why I don’t mind my little feathered shadows following my every move. It’s a gentle reminder that being needed changes, but it never really goes away.

(And unlike teenagers... these ones are always happy to see me. 😂🐔)