If you’ve ever been to a church social, college orientation or summer camp you’ve participated in an ice breaker. Pass the orange tucked under your chin, what’s your favorite toothpaste and why, slide the lifesaver between toothpicks held in teeth, if you were a tree, which would you be….? What ice breakers create in social angst, they make up for in causing perfect strangers to share a laugh. A good chuckle is the gateway “drug” to a more meaningful conversation.
Pop culture has broken the ice for us ladies to start talking about the issues that plague moms after babies. Tina Fey on 30 Rock “lizzed” (whizzing while laughing). An SNL commercial promoted “Mom Jeans” with an extra long zipper and pleats. A local clothing store advertised a new line of looser fitting shirts, because “Muffin Tops are for Eating”. One of my son’s cars, from the movie of the same name, is sponsored by Adult Drip Pans, with the tag line “Leak Less”. And then, of course, there is the children’s show Toot and Puddles, I’m just sayin’ is all.
It’s out there ladies-the ice has been broken. Time to take the conversation to the next level.
In the last decade, new research has brought us amazing new understanding of the role of the Core in addressing all the issues moms struggle with-leaky pipes, poochy bellies, and achy bodies. The four muscles of the Core (this includes our leak stopping pelvic floor) can work together to flatten bellies, support spines and reinforce the levees.
Moms it is time to change the conversation. Find your pelvic floor (and the rest of the Core) or a practitioner who knows how to help you find it. Talk to your friends, mothers, cousins, sisters. Start spreading the word that change is afoot. The old adage that this is just the price that you paid for motherhood, no longer applies.
Continue the conversation with a women’s health practitioner in your area. Physiotherapists are uniquely trained to help moms meet the physical challenges of motherhood. AfterBabyBody.com has a great list of Canadian, US and international resources at http://www.afterbabybody.com/Sections/info/info.html .
Have a question? Let’s chat. Contact me at julie@interiorfitness.com .
5 thoughts on “Tina Fey’s Is Talking About It, Shouldn’t We?”
Julie, I am a fellow physical therapist working to get information out to women. Your blog entries echo my thoughts with a good twist of humor. Thanks for the solid entries, they will definitely benefit women searching for answers.
Tasha
Thanks for the encouragement! Trying to demystify the pelvic floor and reach as many women as possible. It is OK now for men to talk about Erectile Dysfunction, and increased trips to the bathroom due to prostate enlargement…hopefully women will be next in line for all this to come out into the light! Best of luck in your pursuits to help women! Where do you practice?
Julie
I am in Iowa in private practice. Your background and entry in the women’s health world of physical therapy is similar to mine. I have 3 children under the age of 6 and was stupified by the changes that I seem to have no control over after the birth of my first. I felt lucky to be in the physical therapy field so that I could dig through the information out there as well as create my own path to recovery. Many of your thoughts about women not speaking out were my drive in creating a dvd for pelvic floor rehab. I designed the content to mirror a physical therapy visit with patient education first and exercise instruction to finish. You can see video clips at http://www.hab-it.com and also weigh in on my blog.
My best to you,
Tasha
Hi Tasha,
Looked at your blog and video clips. Congrats!! Great info. I too am very grateful for the info that I share with women in my own body. I am in the process of producing a DVD as well, focusing on recovering the whole Core-pelvic floor included-after preg/delivery.
Glad we could connect this way! Keep us the amazing work!
Julie
Lots of Good information in your posting, I bookmarked your blog post so I can visit again in the near future, Cheers 🙂
Comments are closed.
This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care worker.
Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.