Founder's Perspective: My Pelvic Floor Toolkit for a Carefree Summer Vacation
At least as carefree as it can be traveling with a 2 and 4 year old…
It has been a fun-filled summer for Hem Support Wear and the Fleming House. My husband is a teacher so we travel a lot during the summer and our routine changes up a good amount. I thrive on a routine, so it always takes a little getting used to and requires me to reset expectations for what I focus on. This summer I enjoyed spending time with my girls and getting to do fun things with them outside our usual routine.
Summer Travel Pelvic Floor Toolkit
A key adjustment I have made with my prolapse as my girls have gotten older is carrying them on my back as much as possible.This helps me manage the pressure on my pelvic floor. After my second pregnancy I found the Happy Baby Onbuhimo carrier, which is a Japanese-inspired waistless carrier. I love it because you can wear it on the front or back and it doesn’t have a waist strap that adds pressure to my abdomen. I am able to use it with both of my girls who are two years apart.
It takes a little getting used to, but once I got the hang of it I was so glad I had it. I hadn’t used it in a little while because I don’t have to carry the girls too far in our usual routine. I was glad I thought to take it on our trip to Florida at the beginning of the summer because it was a critical part of my toolkit as we navigated the airport (first flights with the girls, yay!), the beach, and Disney World.
In addition to my carrier, our evenflo stroller wagon was a lifesaver this summer. It went on all our trips with us. We took it to the airport and gate checked it for our flight. It was great because we were able to push on luggage on it when the kids didn't want to ride and have it available for them when they wanted to ride. Using a stroller is a great option for people with prolapse because it gives you another option other than carrying your kiddos.
The other key part of my summer toolkit (in addition to my pelvic floor support garment) is my pessary. I got my first pessary in late March 2024 after trying to get one a couple years before. You can read about my previous experience here. All I can say about my pessary is I am so thankful for it and wish I would have gotten it sooner.
My pessary came in clutch for all our travels this summer. I was able to do full travel days, days walking to the beach and playing with my kids, and a full day at Disney with little to no prolapse symptoms. If you are even curious about a pessary, I would highly encourage you to at least try it. If you are curious to learn more about pessaries and about the process to get a pessary check out this article.
Hem Happenings This Summer
Hem Support Wear has been working to spread the word about our garments. Our sample kits are in over 125 healthcare practices around the country!
We Launched A Wholesale Program for Healthcare Professionals
In between travels, we have been working on some exciting things for Hem Support Wear. We launched a Wholesale Program for Healthcare Professionals this August. We are really excited for this launch because it means healthcare professionals like pelvic floor physical therapists can carry our garments at their practice and you can try them on, get the perfect fit, and walk out with your new garments that same day! One of the best parts of this program is the Try-On Kit. It comes with 10 garments in both styles so you can try them on at the practice and find the best fit. If you would like your healthcare team to offer this please let them know about our program. We are working to spread the word.
New Garment Photos
We have been wanting to refresh our garment photos and work to get photos of the garments on people but product photography is expensive and we are working on a tight budget. We are working to be very strategic with our investments to bring the most value to our customers. With that said, we completed a photo shoot and are working to put the final touches on the photos. We are so excited to roll these out. Here’s a sneak peek!
Expert Spotlight Series Launch
I had the honor of interviewing two influential pelvic floor physical therapists.
The first was Dr. Beth Olson, founder of Beth Olson Physical Therapy and the acclaimed online course Core and Pelvic Floor Foundations. Check out 5 of the highlights from the interview, or catch our full chat on YouTube.
People are Loving the Garment!
I started this company with one goal in mind - to ensure that people have a better choice when it comes to their pelvic floor support. That is why it is so exciting when we hear about the great experiences our customers and healthcare professionals are having with the Hem Support Wear garment. Check out these amazing testimonials!
Dr. Margo Kwiatkowski PT, DPT, CSCS, PCES tried the garment and loved it! Here is what she had to say:
“Hem Support Wear gave me a support garment to try. It is the most discrete prolapse support garment I have tried (and trust me I have tried them all!) I started wearing Hem underwear when I was eight weeks postpartum with my second child. I had just delivered via cesarean section. My prolapse symptoms at the time included heaviness when baby-wearing and the sensation of a bulge present at the end of the day. I realized as my day came to an end that I had completely forgotten I was wearing a pelvic floor support garment at all! Not only that but my symptoms were extremely well-managed and hardly present at all. Hem underwear is supportive and comfortable - a perfect combination for women with prolapse looking for a discrete, daily garment.”
Stacey Rosselot, OTD, MOTR/L, CFo received a clinic sample kit and provided this feedback based on her experience recommending the garment to patients:
“Hem Support Wear is a great alternative to help support prolapse with the control and confidence of the individual! As an Obstetrics and Pelvic Floor therapist, I’m excited to provide examples of how the Hem garment works, and how surgical intervention may not have to be the first step! My patients are excited to give Hem a try!”
A recent customer, Katherine W., ordered a pair to wear postpartum and had a great experience. She said, “I ordered a pair to try about 6 weeks postpartum with my second child. I was feeling the dreaded “bulge” feeling as well as heaviness. After trying a few different sizes/styles I found the perfect fit! Lauren, the owner, was very supportive of me finding the right fit which has not been the case with other brands I’ve tried. The relief was immediate! I wore them the rest of the day and had no “bulge” feeling and no heaviness! I love that they are also discreet under clothing. I’ve tried other brands that are supportive but not discreet at all.
I highly recommend anyone with pelvic organ prolapse try a pair. I guarantee once you get the right fit you will love them!”
These experiences are why we do what we do. We want to provide a better option when it comes to pelvic floor support for women of all ages and we are so excited when we get feedback like this because it shows us that we are heading in the right direction.
As summer winds down and we settle back into our routines, I can’t help but reflect on the memories made and the lessons learned. From exploring new places with my family to launching exciting new programs at Hem Support Wear, this summer has been a time of growth, both personally and professionally. I’m grateful for the tools and support that have allowed me to fully enjoy these moments without worrying about my prolapse.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s that with the right support—whether it’s a carrier, a pessary, or a well-designed garment—you can embrace life’s adventures with confidence and peace of mind. Here’s to a new season filled with possibility and continued progress on our journey to better pelvic health!
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