S9 | E94 Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries from Birth and Their Life-Altering Impact On Two Women

Thank you for being with us the past 100 episodes! We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve shared our anger, we’ve shared our hopes… we have not held back. We are looking forward to the next 100 episodes and promise to keep “going there” in every way. Tune in for some updates :)   Show Notes:  For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.

Dr. Adrienne Strong is a medical anthropologist whose research is primarily based in Tanzania, concentrating on maternal mortality, nursing, hospital ethnography, and theories of care. She is the author of the 2020 book Documenting Death: Maternal Mortality and the Ethics of Care in Tanzania. Dr Strong shares her unorthodox birth story, the importance of self-advocating and what we can learn from birth practices in developing countries. Dr. Adrienne Shares: The extent to which women in lower resource settings still struggle to get adequate care during pregnancy and birth How Adrienne’s experience in Tanzania has shaped her perspective on her own pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding journey, and approach to parenting a 9 month old How she got into this work as a medical anthropologist What we can learn from other cultures in terms of improving birth culture in North America and other western countries   Show Notes:  For more of Adrienne, please visit instagram.com/adrienne.strong on Instagram and adrienne-strong.com on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.

Lee is a guide and mentor on all things spiritual wealth + wellbeing. She has spent several decades mentoring entrepreneurs globally to achieve their highest destiny. Her book Beautiful Money was celebrated across the Globe and her newest book Auric Living teaches one to live out greatest joy and alignment. She dives into what we can do in our day to day lives to truly succeed and make “beautiful money.” Tune in to find out small mindset changes you can make to increase your wealth!  Lee Shares: What “beautiful money” means How to make more  “beautiful money” Why worrying about money is a primal issue How to use money as a tool How to stop struggling with money How to find your archetype and learn how to use it to your financial advantage     Show Notes:  For more of Lee, please visit instagram.com/leemariejacobs on Instagram and www.leemariejacobs.com on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Current clinical practice lacks effective pain management during common gynecological procedures such as IUD insertion. Because of this, pain can often be a barrier for a patient in choosing a form of contraception that best serves them.  Kellie Coleman works in pain management as a nurse practitioner AND a chiropractor. She and Chelsea Carter are spearheading research to offer multimodal pain for women's care using neuroscience. Learn how transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS unit) offers an option for effective pain control during intrauterine device insertion. Tune in to find out how this can help and where you can find one! Kellie and Chelsea Share: Why is IUD insertion so painful and how can we improve it Using neuroscience to improve women's pain Alternative non-pharmacological pain management for IUD insertion  TENS unit, what it is and how it can help How to get a TENS unit for yourself  Show Notes:  For more information, check out this study! For more information on TENS units, click here! For more of Victoria and Chelsea, please visit instagram.com/heyymrscarterr and on Instagram. For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Dr. Victoria Scott is a Urologist who is passionate about improving the treatment of female pelvic floor disorders and improving the quality of women's lives. From UTI’s to IC to bladder pain, we cover it all. How it feels, how to prevent… and most importantly, how to treat this often chronic pain. Dr. Scott walks us through how we can advocate for ourselves to get better treatment beyond constant antibiotics. She also shares the science behind the health supplement Femetry that she's developed as a treatment AND prevention option for women with recurrent bladder pain. Dr. Scott Shares: What IC is and why it’s so hard to diagnose? The main symptoms of IC and UTI’s. How do they differ? What makes someone more likely to have painful bladder syndrome? What are the stats? How common is this issue? Treatment options beyond antibiotics Lifestyle modifications people can make to improve their symptoms What should women ask for with respect to tests if they have recurrent UTI's? What is the Femetry supplement you created and how does it work to both prevent and treat bladder pain? Why are you so passionate about this issue as a urologist yourself?    Show Notes:  Femetry supports women with Interstitial Cystitis, or Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) offering potent doses of clinically researched ingredients that promote a healthy urinary tract and target IC symptoms. Explore more on the Femetry blog for expert advice from Urologist Dr Victoria Scott and her colleagues on managing IC and improving your well-being. These doctor-formulated supplements are supported by extensive clinical research and designed to offer targeted solutions for your symptoms. Dr. Scott is offering 15% off your purchase of Femetry Urinary Cleanse & Flora Balance, Bladder Daily Comfort and Bladder Acid Control. Use code THEBELLEMETHOD for 15% off Femetry! For more of Dr. Scott, please visit instagram.com/dr.victoria.scott  and instagram.com/pelvichealthdocs on Instagram and www.downtheredoctors.com on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

We’ll be chatting about… How we’re juggling all our responsibilities How we’re prioritizing ourselves when things get crazy How to slowww down when everything seems so busy And more!   Show Notes:  For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Trigger Warning: Birth trauma, Mental Health Struggles, Suicide, and Sexual Assault SOLACE (Severe Obstetric Laceration Awareness and Community Engagement) is a non-profit that was founded by Caroline Stadler in April of 2023. Caroline sustained a missed a 4th degree tear from a forceps delivery when giving birth to her daughter in 2022. She struggled both physically and mentally as she navigated care for her symptoms and recovery due to a lack of structured resources available in the United States. Caroline was then joined on the board of SOLACE by multiple women who had similar journeys and medical professionals who were passionate about making a change in the awareness and after care of severe tearing. Caroline and Sepideh Share: While obstetric data reports a 6-7 percent rate of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI), looking at the ultrasound data shows that up to 40% of patients who have had a prior vaginal delivery have sphincter defects that were never diagnosed: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199312233292601 (Also: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/uog.18827). In addition to OASIS, 20 to 35% of moms who have had a vaginal delivery will suffer from a LAM (Levator Ani Muscles) injury which predisposes them to prolapses and incontinence. While there are surgical and non-surgical options for both anal sphincter and LAM injuries, the success rates are low and women often suffer from symptoms for a life-time. Vacuum and Forceps deliveries, especially forceps are major risk factors for an OASI. Based on a recent survey by the MASIC Foundation in the UK, 45% of women with OASIS experience postpartum depression and 78% have traumatic memories of their birth experience. An OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) has negative impacts on many dimensions of a woman's life. 50% of women in medium-term studies experience anal incontinence and 54% state that their symptoms are unacceptable and cause them to alter their lifestyle: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7093361/ Obstetric training for the diagnosis and repair of anal sphincter injuries is inadequate in the US: https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/obstetric-anal-sphincter-injuries Show Notes:  For more of SOLACE, please visit  instagram.com/@solaceforwomenorg  on Instagram and https://www.solaceforwomen.org/   on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Darren G. Candow, Ph.D., CSEP-CEP, is a Professor and world-renowned creatine researcher. He busts myths and breaks down the science behind creatine supplementation - specifically for female bodies.  In this episode, we discuss evidence-based creatine dosing protocols to minimize unwanted side effects like bloating, and we dive into the impact of creatine on female bone health, muscle mass, endurance improvements in exercise and even brain health.  Dr. Candow is the Director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. Dr. Candow’s research program develops effective lifestyle interventions involving creatine monohydrate and resistance training which have practical and clinical relevance for improving muscle, bone and brain health/function.   Dr. Candow Shares: How creatine is beneficial to females What is the best protocol to use for women starting creatine to reduce side effects like bloating? How does it impact muscle mass, bone health, and weight? What kind of improvements women can expect to see if they start taking creatine Creatine in pregnancy and breastfeeding Who should NOT take it?   Studies Referenced:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33800439/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37144634/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33557850/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25993883/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33759701/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33467377/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35688360/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35276903/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37368234/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30978926/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33670822/   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24766646/     Show Notes:  For more of Dr. Darren Candow, please visit https://www.instagram.com/dr.darrencandow/ on Instagram For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Trigger Warning - This episode focuses on eating disorders and eating disorder recovery. Kyla Fox is an Eating Disorder Specialist, Survivor and Advocate. As someone who severely struggled with disordered eating during her teen years, Kyla experienced the large care gaps and fundamental flaws in the treatment and recovery approach that prevent patients from getting the help that they need. Kyla has been filling that gap with her realistic and innovative approach to eating disorder management, treatment and recovery, and the creation of her outpatient treatment clinic, The Kyla Fox Centre. As a mother, Kyla shares tips for parents to ensure we are creating a positive and supportive environment for our children’s eating habits and bodies. Eating disorders are on a spectrum and we cover it all in this episode.   Kyla Shares: Kyla’s story and how she decided to help others going through eating disorders and recovery How someone can know it is time to get help What do you wish would change in this realm of eating disorders?  The psychological, emotional, and social factors that contribute to these disorders Everyone’s journey is different, Kyla shares what this looks like in her centre Tips for parents on how to raise empowered eaters   Show Notes:  For more of Kyla Fox, please visit https://www.instagram.com/@KylaFoxRecovery  on Instagram and www.kylafoxcentre.com on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*

Andrea is a Cambridge-educated lawyer, entrepreneur, single mom of 3 and cancer survivor.  In this conversation, we discuss Andrea’s incredible entrepreneurial journey, why she loves working with women entrepreneurs, and the incredible mindset strategies that have helped her to achieve her impressive success!  You’ll learn how to protect your intellectual property in a very easy to understand and relatable way!  Today, Andrea owns a multi 6-figure business with the goal of uplifting women to reach their financial dreams by harnessing the law at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.   Andrea Shares: Andrea shares what her journey, personally and professionally, has taught her How entrepreneurs can use the law in their favour to build their business Andrea is a cancer survivor, she explains how it feels being on the other side and her advice to others battling health challenges Her experience as a single mom and how she continues to prioritize her goals and wellbeing   Show Notes:  For more of Andrea Henry, please visit https://www.instagram.com/andreahenry.lawyer  on Instagram and https://www.andreahenry.ca/ on the Web For more of We Go There Podcast, please visit instagram.com/wegotherepodcast on Instagram and wegotherepodcast.com on the Web *Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.*