The labor and delivery experience is unique to everyone. Depending on whom you ask, giving birth might feel beautiful, empowering, intense, scary… or all the above. And it isn’t just the few hours (or days) of labor that bring up all that emotion. It’s the after part,...
Your body may have changed a lot during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Especially in a world that glorifies “bouncing back” after birth, you might be feeling the pressure to go back to your pre-baby body. That means a “mom pooch” caused by diastasis recti or...
So much happens to our bodies during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. And in the aftermath of bringing an entire human or humans into the world, you might be wondering if a “mommy makeover” is right for you. First, please hear this: There’s so much pressure to...
Diastasis recti is one of the more common—and most misunderstood—conditions people experience - though most don't actually know how to fix diastasis recti without surgery. Not only does diastasis recti not resolve on its own, but it can actually worsen without proper...
Have you ever heard of using postpartum belly binding during your immediate postpartum recovery? Over the course of your pregnancy, your body changes shape and makes room for your growing little one. Then, in postpartum, your muscles and organs literally shift around...
Pain in the butt? It might be sciatica.
April is Cesarean Awareness Month! You may be wondering, do I need pelvic floor therapy if I’ve had a cesarean birth? Do I need to massage my scar? Can I work on my scar even if it has been a few years? What about a VBAC?
Over 30 percent of births in the United States are via cesarean section. After the initial healing period, many moms may want to know how to safely return to exercise and regain their core strength.
One third of women deliver by cesarean section, and the postpartum maternal care leaves something to be desired here in the US, particularly the education on a cesarean shelf.
Pubic symphysis separation (or pubic symphysis diastasis) is defined as the widening of the pubic joint of more than 10 mm and is considered a complication of vaginal childbirth or pregnancy. Is there anything you can do?
When you can start having sex again after pregnancy and childbirth? Most women wait until after their 6-week physician check up to get the okay to return to intercourse. Some women may want to start having sex sooner than that. I do encourage you to let your body heal...
One of the hardest parts of the 4th trimester is that you do not even know there is one.
Bowel movements are healthy and normal. There are some measures you can take to avoid a traumatic experience and to make the first postpartum poop easier.
We often get questions in our clinic and on social media about when it is safe to return to HIIT like Crossfit after having a baby. That is often a hard question to answer, or rather there are many factors that go into that answer. Here, we break it down.
As more pelvic health research is conducted and outcomes are gathered, guidelines will be updated and expanded so that healthcare providers have the highest quality information for developing postpartum programming. These current guidelines are FREE for all to access.
Continuing along in our “What to expect from your postpartum body” series, we will discuss 4-8 postpartum.
Up next in our “What to expect from your body postpartum” series, we will cover 2-4 weeks postpartum. Click to read what to expect in terms of healing, when to contact your healthcare provider or seek treatment from a pelvic floor PT, and how to safely begin returning to exercise.
There are plenty of books on what to expect during pregnancy, but women are often left without much guidance about what to expect after the baby arrives.
How to get the most out of your 6 week postpartum checkup, and how to know when you should ask about Pelvic Floor Therapy.
Diastasis recti is a separation of the connective tissue in the middle of the large abdominal muscles known as the rectus abdominis (6 pack abs). Here’s how you can help prevent it, and what to do if you have it.
Perineal tearing during a vaginal delivery can have varying levels of severity, and each woman’s tissue heals differently. While most perineal tearing heals on its own with stitching, there are times when the body can over heal and develop an excess of tissue at the wound site. This is known as granulation tissue.
How do I return to HIIT after having a baby? How much time do I take off before starting back up? The answers are not one-size-fits-all. What’s important is that you understand the principles for safe and effective progression.
We’ve all heard of “the baby blues,” but what happens when it’s not sadness you feel? What happens when all you feel is debilitating anxiety? Maybe it hits you in the hospital, maybe as soon as you get home, or (as in my case) many weeks into your postpartum journey. It’s scary, all-consuming, and quite frankly it can make you feel helpless.
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, Teresa Pitman Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for...
How does breastfeeding affect your pelvic health?
When and how should you return to sex postpartum? If you have a partner, have an open and honest conversation about easing back into sex or other forms of intimacy.
There are many familiar terms for postpartum symptoms, like “mummy tummy” and “sneeze pee”. Have you also heard of “mom thumb?” It’s a term for symptoms of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis – pain and inflammation of the tendons that run along the backside of the thumb and across the wrist.
During my pregnancy, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my son. I read the books and bought the supplies. I had the breastfeeding pillows and salves and shirts. I had the pump and the rocking chair and ice packs. I was ready for sore nipples and sleepless nights. I was not, however, prepared for the back pain.
A six week postpartum visit typically does not include screening or assessment for pelvic floor issues that would warrant a referral to a pelvic health physical therapist.
Tips to keep your breastmilk supply up when returning to work and how I wean my baby once I stop nursing
What to expect from your first postpartum period: when it will happen, what it will be like, and what you’ll need.
Sara shares her top product picks for leaky, over (and under) supplying, and soon-to-be sore boobs for expecting and breastfeeding mothers.
For most people hemorrhoids are annoying, but can usually be cleared up with some intentional habit/lifestyle changes or home remedies. Here we discuss what they are, who’s at risk and how they can be prevented.
Looking for an empowering and low-key alternative to traditional pumping? Try hand expression of breast milk! PT Melissa Stendahl the science and history behind hand expression.
“Mom Butt” is the term for a loss of ‘junk in the trunk,’ or a flat butt that tends to develop postpartum. Why does your bum go flat after pregnancy? Why do women’s bums seem to go flat after childbirth? What contributes to those weaker, less shapely glutes? What you need to know.
Perineal tearing, prolapse, diastasis recti, oh my! But what about a pelvic floor avulsion tear? Have you heard of an avulsion tear? Pelvic floor avulsion tears happen when a portion of the pelvic floor muscles tear away from the bone during childbirth. Yikes! So what can you do about a pelvic floor avulsion tear?
Jen Torborg, pelvic floor physical therapist, opens up about her breastfeeding journey and why tubular breast deformity led her to formula feed.
Following birth, many new mothers experience a range of emotions. It’s important for new moms to be aware of postpartum hormonal changes.
We often don’t see the struggle behind the scenes with breastfeeding or pumping, and one of my biggest challenges was plugged milk ducts I had more than 20 plugged ducts. Here are some tips (my top tip being sunflower lecithin supplements) that worked for me!
My favorite bras for pumping and nursing with some accessories, too
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