Postpartum ✦ After ✦ Baby ✦ Loss
Postpartum ✦ After ✦ Baby ✦ Loss
Hi, I’m Jenni and I’m a physiotherapist. My interest in Pelvic Health began in 2016 when I first started teaching antenatal and postnatal physio-led Pilates and came to realise just how much physical recovery and rehabilitation is needed postpartum. There are plenty of options for this available for new mums, but through a friend’s sad loss I also learnt just how lacking it is for bereaved mums with empty arms.
Through my friend’s loss I came to realise that it is often not fully appreciated that women whose baby has sadly died are still postpartum and experiencing all the body changes that come with pregnancy and birth. I became aware that it is challenging for women who have experienced a loss to access guidance for their physical recovery as all postnatal content, both face-to-face and online, is triggering by nature. And yet as a physiotherapist, I knew that all women who are postpartum should have access to, and will benefit from, education and input for their physical wellbeing and recovery.
In 2022 I was asked by The Alder Centre whether I would consider teaching classes for women who had experienced a loss. Given what I knew, this felt like an important and special opportunity and it has now grown into The PABL Project.
When I started teaching the classes I was expecting the improvement in physical postpartum recovery that I saw in the women that I worked with, but I don’t think any of us quite expected the huge emotional gains that were also experienced. The opportunity to reconnect with the body, process trauma through exercise and the peer support in the classes led to such emotional strength and resilience in a really remarkable and beautiful way.
I am now passionate about supporting women who are postpartum after loss and also raising awareness amongst healthcare professionals – especially physiotherapists – about the need for postpartum physical recovery guidance and input for women following a loss.
People often comment that what I do must be incredibly sad, and yes, the sadness can be palpable at times. But sharing that sadness with others can be so powerful and the sadness that is there doesn’t negate the hope, the strength, the care, the friendship or even the fun that can also be in the room! It has been amazing to see how much strength, both physically and emotionally, can be gained by the wonderful women that I work with and I consider it a huge privilege to be a part of that.
When you visit The PABL Project, either online or in person, you can know that you are in safe hands. I am a qualified Physiotherapist, registered with the HCPC, a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and an affiliate member of the Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy professional network. I also own Body&Soul Pilates, running physio-led Pilates classes in the local community.
If you have any further questions or are interested in the services that The PABL Project could offer you or your organisation then please get in touch.
