PPHS - Newsletter Edition 1

1 PELVIC HEALTH NEWSLETTER PPHS DECEMBER 2024 EDITION 1 The PPHS is a service for women who are pregnant and up to 1 year postnatal. The aim of the service is early recognition, prevention and treatment for symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), such as urinary urgency and incontinence, defecation problems, symptoms of prolapse and pelvic pain. One part of the PPHS is implementing the OASI Care Bundle into Maternity practice to reduce the number of severe perineal injuries. Another part of the service is empowering staff and patients alike with knowledge on pelvic health related issues through training sessions, awareness and offering support. Hello from the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service This is the first newsletter from the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS), where we hope to share with you all our ongoing developments with the service and our successes. We will also share feedback from patients and staff, and our upcoming events. In April 2024 the PPHS became Business As Usual. Since then the interest in pelvic health has grown and we have seen an increased number of you attending our training sessions! We have also seen an increased number of referrals for pelvic health treatment. Thank you! Together, we can really make a difference for the woman’s pregnancy experience and for her quality of life thereafter. Thank you for your continued support! Enjoy this month’s newsletter! All About Our Service Read More on our webpage https://www.sath.nhs.uk/wardsservices/azservices/maternity/patientinfo/pelvic-health-duringpregnancy-and-beyond/ PPHS team x

2 We are recruiting perineal champions to support the implementation of the OASI Care Bundle in practice, offer expertise in perineal repair, and assist with the trial of hegenberger retractors. Please contact Hannah if you are interested and further information/training will be provided as appropriate. A new Antenatal Pelvic Health Workshop for all pregnant women will start in December 2024. This workshop will be delivered either virtually every 4 weeks via Attend Anywhere on a Thursday morning, or face-to-face on the first Friday afternoon of the month in Shrewsbury. This session will include: What is the pelvic floor How pregnancy and childbirth can change things Symptoms to look out for How to strengthen your pelvic floor Caring for your bladder and your bowels Techniques to reduce the risk of perineal tears Caring for yourself after birth To book women on to this session, please complete a referral on BadgerNet selecting ‘Pelvic Health Workshop’ and specify whether the woman prefers online or face-to-face. She will then be contacted by the Physiotherapy Department to offer her a date. Please ensure contact details are up to date on BadgerNet. See ‘Upcoming Events’ for dates. What You Said... ‘great session, definitely needed for all, with opportunity for suturing refreshers.’ ‘really good workshop, excellent mix of discussion – evidence and practical.’ ‘thanks for providing this training – the atmosphere was informal, and this was very positive as it encouraged open discussion about thoughts and experience re OASI/perineal repair.’ ‘Fantastic training – practical sessions consolidate theoretical knowledge. So useful’. ‘Thank you for providing a safe environment for all skill levels and expertise to learn’. ‘Will encourage me to talk more regarding pelvic floor protection and pelvic floor exercises.’ ‘Really helpful session – made me rethink my practice and how adaptations to care ie perineal support in labour can be so effective and beneficial long term to our women.’ Linda van Doorn & Hannah Evans Colleague Spotlight Launch of the Antenatal Pelvic Health Workshop PPHS DECEMBER 2024 EDITION 1 This is the PPHS Team. Linda is the clinical lead physiotherapist who specialises in pelvic health. She sees women who struggle with symptoms of PFD in their perinatal journey. Hannah is the pelvic health specialist midwife who supports the implementation of the OASI Care Bundle and perineal repair. They have an MDT approach in supporting colleagues and delivering training on pelvic health. We Need You!

3 Upcoming Events Pelvic Health Online Training for all Health Professionals who have contact with perinatal women. To join us virtually on MS Teams 12:00 - 13:30pm on a date below, please email sath.pphservice@nhs.net to book on. 05/12/24 24/07/25 30/01/25 04/09/25 20/03/25 16/10/25 01/05/25 27/11/25 12/06/25 OASI Care Bundle on Day 3 Mandatory Study Day for all Midwives. Hannah can also offer group sessions on an MLU/ward area or meet on an individual basis if you require further support/more practice. Please visit RCOG e-learning webpage for a detailed insight using practical videos and resources on how to apply the OASI Care Bundle into our maternity service at: https://elearning.rcog.org.uk/catalog? pagename=OASI-Care-Bundle Perineal Repair practice is offered on Day 3 Mandatory Study Day for Midwives. It can also be requested Ad Hoc via Hannah Evans or the Education Team. If large numbers of Midwives request perineal repair training then bigger group sessions may be held. Please note, separate perineal repair training sessions are provided for preceptors and international midwives, but please reach out if you would like further sessions. Clinical support for perineal repair for Midwives on Delivery Suite can be provided by Hannah on working days if required. Please familiarise yourself with the RCM PEARLS suturing technique. Hegenberger Retractor for perineal repair. Please only use these retractors if you have been trained to use them and complete an evaluation form after use. We are currently trialling them on Delivery Suite for complex perineal repairs. Visit https://hegenbergermedical.com/training/certificati on/ for more information and to watch videos for use. Antenatal Pelvic Health Workshop Virtual sessions are on Thursdays, 11:30am - 13:00pm using Attend Anywhere on the following dates (every 4 weeks): 19/12/24 03/07/25 16/01/25 31/07/25 13/02/25 28/08/25 13/03/25 25/09/25 10/04/25 23/10/25 08/05/25 20/11/25 05/06/25 18/12/25 Face-to-face sessions are the first Friday of every month at the William Farr House (NHS Therapies site) in Shrewsbury, 14:45pm - 16:15pm (car parking available, park&ride stop outside): 06/12/24 04/07/25 03/01/25 01/08/25 07/02/25 05/09/25 07/03/25 03/10/25 04/04/25 07/11/25 02/05/25 05/12/25 06/06/25 PPHS DECEMBER 2024 EDITION 1 PPHS queries & book training: sath.pphservice@nhs.net PPHS referrals: sth-tr.therapycarecentre@nhs.net Linda: linda.vandoorn@nhs.net Hannah: hannah.evans7@nhs.net https://kimal.com/en/product/hegenberger-retractor/

1.Please complete the Antenatal Pelvic Health Assessment on BadgerNet in weeks 16 and 32 of pregnancy to screen for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). 2. Please complete the Postnatal Pelvic Health Assessment on BadgerNet at least once in the postnatal period prior to discharge to Health Visitor to screen for PFD. 3. If a woman requires a Pelvic Health Physiotherapy referral please state the reason why you are referring e.g. what symptoms she has. 4. Please teach all women basic pelvic floor exercises and signpost to the SaTH Pelvic Health webpage. (Pelvic floor exercises video available here to watch) 5.Please complete the OASI Care Bundle questions on BadgerNet... this includes the Antenatal discussion in pregnancy and the components used or not used during labour and birth. Reminders SaTH Pelvic Health Webpage https://www.sath.nhs.uk/wards-services/az-services/maternity/patient-info/pelvic-health-duringpregnancy-and-beyond/ Pelvic Floor Exercises Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kME0N1YToDk&t=1s RCOG Tears Hub https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/perineal-tears-and-episiotomies-in-childbirth/ OASI Care Bundle animated video https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/perineal-tears-and-episiotomies-in-childbirth/reducing-yourrisk-of-perineal-tears/ SaTH Perineal Trauma Guideline Perineal Trauma – Prevention and Management of. Version 11 PPHS DECEMBER 2024 EDITION 1 4 Let’s Link You Up!

1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that span across your pelvis and supports 3 openings: front (urethra), middle (vagina) and back (anus). They attach to the pubic bone at the front and the tailbone at the back, forming the floor of your pelvis. 1. To help avoid bladder and bowel problems 2.To be fit, strong and function to the best of my ability I like...regular workouts, including a good squeeze with every cough or sneeze I dislike... being ignored, permanently clenched, or strained Support the bladder Support the uterus Support the bowel To withstand pressure Help keep pelvis and hips stable Provide bladder and bowel control Help bring babies into the world Improve sex by increasing sensation, grip and orgasm My Goals Appearance Likes / Dislikes ... Day Job My Talents All About Me Name Pelvic Floor Nickname Personality Undercarriage, down below, kegel muscles, love muscles, crotch Usually supple and a flexible team player, supporting others, but without TLC can become stretched, tired or tight Read more about me at https://www.sath.nhs.uk/wards-services/az-services/maternity/patientinfo/pelvic-health-during-pregnancy-and-beyond/ or scan the QR Code PPHS November2024 Version 1

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