Why Mums Don’t Jump: a pelvic health podcast listening guide

You know you have a pelvic floor. You’ve probably been told to squeeze it. But what if something feels different after having a baby, and you’re not even sure how to describe it?

Why Mums Don’t Jump makes room for those questions. Journalist Helen Ledwick brings together women living with pelvic floor problems and the professionals who help them. There’s room for embarrassment, frustration and a laugh, too. Bodies can be awkward to talk about. That’s a good reason to get the conversation going.

Who is behind the podcast?

Helen started the podcast after experiencing pelvic organ prolapse following the birth of her second child. Her story gives the show a personal stake: she knows what it’s like to need answers and struggle to find them.

In Pelvic Floor Problems 101, she remembers assuming a few squeezes would sort out any problems. Then she describes crying at an appointment with her physio, Katie Syrett, because she finally felt hopeful.

That willingness to say what happened, including the uncomfortable bits, gives you a sense of the conversation you’re joining. Helen asks for explanations when she needs them. You don’t need to arrive knowing the terminology either.

What does it cover?

Leaking, prolapse, pelvic pain, and the question underneath plenty of them: what does this mean for my day-to-day life?

The episode archive mixes personal accounts with conversations with pelvic health professionals. You’ll find discussions about returning to exercise, menopause and getting help, alongside women explaining what happened to them.

The practical details matter. In her conversation with Katie, Helen challenges blanket advice about avoiding lifting: how does that work when you have a baby in a car seat? It’s a useful example of the show bringing a health question back into an ordinary, busy day.

Where should you start?

We’d start with Pelvic Floor Problems 101. Helen and Katie unpack prolapse, leaking and pelvic pain, then talk through what happens at a pelvic health physiotherapy appointment. If you’re wondering what you’ll be asked, or whether an examination is compulsory, this conversation makes space for that.

Already have a particular subject in mind? The archive includes Pelvic Health Myth-Busting, with Dr. Carrie Pagliano and The Lowdown on Pelvic Pain. Read the episode description and follow what interests you. Skipping ahead is absolutely fine; there’s no homework to catch up on.

Listener reviews of the podcast

These excerpts from Apple Podcasts reviews describe listeners’ experiences of Why Mums Don’t Jump as a whole.

“The more episodes I listen to the more empowered I feel”

— Bick85, 20 January 2025 · Apple Podcasts

“this podcast has helped me feel like I’m not alone!”

— KatHick1, 16 September 2023 · Apple Podcasts

How to use a personal story

Hearing someone describe a worry you’ve kept to yourself can be a relief. It can also leave you comparing every detail with your own experience. Try to give yourself a bit of breathing room there: another person’s story won’t tell you exactly what will happen to you.

If an episode helps you put a question into words, take it to your appointment. You don’t have to make it sound polished. A podcast can help you start that conversation; a healthcare professional can help you work out what’s going on for you.

Keep exploring at your own pace

Pick an episode that speaks to something you’ve been wondering about. Listen on the publisher’s website, Apple Podcasts or Spotify using the links below, or browse more guides in Happy Floor Learn.

And if all you have time for today is half a conversation while the washing goes on, that counts too.