The Sh*t My Gynae Said: Part 1 “Chainsaw Massacre”
The Shit:
On seeing a GP for a postnatal check up after a particularly traumatic birth, the GP exclaimed “Wow, it’s like a chainsaw massacre down there”.
On seeing a Nurse for a first smear test after having a baby: “Wow, how many kids have you had, your cervix is wrecked?!”
I. KID. YOU. NOT
The Lowdown:
Okay, had a minute to take that in??
Bloody hell, we know that postpartum is an incredibly challenging time when everything we’ve ever known has been thrown up in the air and there's no way we can catch it because we might feel like we’ve just been hit by a bus (physically and emotionally). And here we are, having been hit by a bus, smiling sweetly at a gazillion guests who’ve come to share all their germs with your tiny newborn while you run round making cups of tea. Our body is not our own and yes it may well feel like a chainsaw massacre down there but FFS!
Recovering and rebuilding our physcial and emotional wellbeing is a completely intertwined process, so just those one liners from a healthcare professional can have a devastating impact on someone’s mental health. We know from research that the higher our state of stress, the more central nervous system sensitivity we have; which equals hypervigilance to anything that doesn't feel right…which can be ALOT in the post natal period. Recovery takes time and we mustn't underestimate it.
So what can we take from this?
Firstly, if you have the energy and the resilience please make a complaint. Nearly every woman I have spoken to never complained because they were so shocked and because women have been gaslighted by the medical profession like, forever. This has to STOP and if each and every one of us raise awareness, it can’t be ignored forever.
Okay, let’s take the ‘6 week check’ which has always been a little hit or miss and with increasing demands on services, many women are not getting any kind of postnatal follow up at all. So if you are able to access a 6 or 8 or 10 week check, here are some questions that might be helpful to you.
(Remember 6 weeks is just a number and it doesn’t mean anything ‘magical’ in terms of a return to exercise- that is a process which is unique to every woman. So even if you get ‘signed off’ please seek advice from someone who is trained in postnatal recovery and exercise.)
Hopefully your GP will offer all these things but if not, don’t be afraid to ask
- Can you check my stitches (for any tearing/episiotomies
- Can you check my scar for healing (for c-section)
- Can you check if my tummy muscles are healing? If i have a gap, how big is it and how much tension do I have?
- Do I need to see the Women’s Health Physio?
- If you are experiencing any incontinence of any kind, please say so, and ask for a referral to the Women’s Health Physio (wind, bladder or bowel)
- If you are experiencing any PAIN of any kind, tell them, and get followed up
- How will I know when I’m ready to return to exercise? Who could I see about this?
- Always mention any changes in continence, pain, bleeding, anything that is unusual for YOU
Please don’t feel you have to downplay your emotions either. It is SO hard to ask for help as we feel we should be grateful that we have this incredible tiny human(s) in our arms, but sometimes this comes with fear, anxiety, low mood, frustration, anger and everything in between. If we are not okay, NOTHING is okay. Pandas UK are an incredible service supporting maternal mental health.
One more thing, most of us have never taken a real good look at our vulvas before babies, and therefore have no idea if it looks different or not. I highly recommend a follow of @thisisavulva for all the education you never got at school. Also, Smear test attendance is at an all time low (I mean, no shit sherlock if that's the response you get), but again please follow @eveappeal for guidance and education.
LASTLY (I promise), this was supposed to be a book, so I’ve had to cut this short and could talk about so many areas under this section. For further reading I love:
Pelvic Floor Essentials by Sue Croft
Why Did No One Tell Me? by Emma Brockwell
The Gynae Geek by Dr Anita Mitra
The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Oscar Serrallach
My Strong Like a Woman programme is a journey of reconnecting the dots back up so you can trust in your body and own your decisions; tapping back into your unique female intuition, and reclaiming your body and mind back. Let’s talk.
Huge thanks to every woman who shared their story and for trusting in me to support them.
Please see Part 2: “We’ll just whip that out” for talk on pelvic organ prolapse, hysterectomy, pelvic floor physiotherapy and more.
Vicki x