How I Came To Be A Vagina Physio
Not your typical career progression for a Physiotherapist but probably all the more reason why I ended up here. I was fairly sporty as a kid. I loved basketball, rowing and tennis, even though I barely won a game. I found health and science subjects pretty easy at school and cruised along in those classes. I struggled in English (hence the spelling mistakes and shocking grammar in all my blogs, sorry) but pushed on anyway. I had a fairly basic meeting with the career’s councillor at high school and I told her I wanted to move out of my hometown and have an adventure. As you can imagine she wasn’t thrilled with my direction but passed me a few university brochures and sent me back to class.
I applied for any course related to health and got myself into a basic science degree. I loved uni. The social aspect of it anyway. The content, blah. Until one lecturer sparked some direction in me and set me on the path to Physiotherapy. I started my Physio degree and I loved it. It was a hard course, time consuming, unrelenting and lots of fun. I made amazing friends and relationships and had some crazy adventures. I assumed I would start my career in a sports clinic because that seemed to be the natural progression from what I could tell.
Until…I had ONE lecture on women’s health in my second year of Uni and something shifted within me. True story! I have to admit it was only a small shift, but I definitely felt it. In my third year I was given a women’s health topic to present on in my elective subject. Coincidence or a push from fate? Who knows, but I loved working on that presentation and I really loved sharing it with my class. Another shift inside. After I came home from my inaugural overseas graduation celebrations, I settled into a job at a local hospital where I spent some time on the maternity ward. Another shift inside as I realised how little postpartum care these women were receiving. A handout here or there and follow up if they remembered. Not really good enough, surely?
I moved into private practice and I guess my interest in women’s health attracted women into my care. I truly love treating women, but it wasn’t until I gave birth to my own daughter, that I really understood the significance of what I could do to help other mums like me. I was then lucky enough to get accepted in my post graduate degree. After a lot of study and exams in between breastfeeding my daughter I graduated as a Pelvic Floor and Continence Physiotherapist (AKA Vagina Physio). And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’ve had two vaginal births and my own share of postpartum struggles. Some serious and some that I’ve managed to overcome with the help of my own Pelvic Floor Physio. Yes, even the Physio’s need Physio. But through my own suffering I’ve become even more passionate about improving postpartum care for all women. We need more education and information before we are thrust into it with a newborn. And that’s what I’m aiming to do. Demystify life after giving birth and open up the discussion so that all women can thrive through their postpartum journey.
I hope you enjoyed my self-indulgent blurb, but I know how much my clients share their personal lives with me so it’s only fair I do the same. I really do love my job. I hate that women have to suffer but I truly love being a part of the solution.