Living with the consequences of severe birth injury with Joanna Prance

At Your Cervix

**** Trigger warning This episode discusses birth trauma and birth injuries*****

Perineal injuries during childbirth known as OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) or 3rd and 4th degree tears. A third-degree tear is a perineal tear that extends into the muscle of the external anal sphincter. If the tear extends further into the lining of the anus or rectum it is known as a fourth-degree tear. The incidence of OASI in the UK is 2.9% with an incidence rate of 6.1% in first births – meaning around 1 in 20 first-time mums in the UK suffer this type of serious injury. The main risk factor for anal incontinence amongst childbearing women is an OASI injury but OASI injuries can also cause other symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. An OASI can have a devastating impact on quality of life - affecting a woman’s health, intimate relationships, family relationships and employment.

In today's episode Emma Talks to Joanna Prance, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Ostomate and a Mum. In 1998, Jo was 22 when she sustained life-changing injuries during the traumatic birth of her son. The extent of these devastating injuries only manifested over time and she could never have imagined the ordeal of what the subsequent 23 years would bring or the impact her childbirth experience would have on the rest of her life. As a result she has undergone multiple treatments, procedures and over 17 surgical interventions, including TVT mesh, sacral neuromodulation and colostomy surgery.

Speaker Bio

Through her work as Speaker and educator Joanna is keen to raise awareness of how life-changing severe childbirth injuries are to those who suffer them and their families and to improve the outcomes for those affected by these injuries.

Jo began her involvement with The MASIC Foundation in 2019, a charity that supports women who have suffered serious injuries like OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) during childbirth and is a MASIC Advocate.

She has also been engaged with project work for Colostomy UK, a charity that supports and empowers people living with a stoma

A keen sportswoman, she has sustained an active lifestyle despite facing numerous challenges as a result of her injuries. She enjoys yoga, walking, strength training and last year returned to competitive swimming.

Jo’s fitness and healthcare career spans over 17 years through her private work as a Personal Trainer and formerly in the public sector as a specialist Cardiac Rehabilitation Instructor.

You can find her on instagram @colostomummy

To find out more about MASICs please visit www.masic.org,uk