Podcasts about pelvic

Strength isn't the key to fixing urinary incontinence.Welcome back to another episode from the Rising Vault—where we bring back some of our most impactful episodes to highlight The Missing Piece in common pelvic health conditions.Today, we're tackling urinary incontinence—and the one thing that's often overlooked:

In this episode, Cathy Sykora chats with Dr. Stephanie Bathurst, a board-certified clinical sexologist and licensed relationship therapist based in Oahu, Hawaii. Dr. Bathurst shares her holistic approach to sex and relationship therapy, integrating mental health, trauma healing, nutrition, and bodywork. From treating libido misalignment to offering transformative couples retreats, Stephanie emphasizes the importance of treating core issues rather than just surface-level symptoms. She also discusses her innovative programs and the power of multidisciplinary collaboration to achieve deeper healing and lasting intimacy. In this episode, you'll discover: How trauma, stress, and pelvic health influence libido and sexual satisfaction The role of EMDR in healing sexual and relational trauma Why communication and emotional intelligence are foundational to healthy relationships Insights into Dr. Bathurst's 90-day relationship foundation program The benefits of couples retreats for rekindling intimacy and connection How integrative therapies like herbalism and Pilates are woven into her practice The importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in holistic mental health care Memorable Quotes: “Libido is a multi-dimensional, epigenetic thing that requires a multidisciplinary approach.” “When people start to feel drained by their relationship, it's often because they're giving in ways their partner can't receive.” “Reality is subjective for every person, and empathy means respecting your partner's truth without sacrificing your own.” Bio: As the founder of Bathurst Couples & Sex Therapy, Dr. Stephanie Bathurst is a leader in the fields of sex, relationships, and holistic mental health. She focuses on personalized approaches with individuals and couples, helping to uncover and resolve deeper, complex problems related to intimacy. As a licensed therapist in Hawaii, Florida, Virginia, and Maryland, she's a sex coach and counselor who has worked with thousands of clients. She can help you become more passionate, discovering your own romantic energy for your partner(s). Dr. Bathurst blends holistic and traditional tools, including: EMDR for trauma healing Somatic release for body-stored memories Nervous system regulation breath-work and acupressure Pelvic floor strengthening exercises Nutraceutical prescriptions for natural libido support Food-as-medicine and lifestyle planning for mental health stability Mentioned in This Episode: Bathurst Family Therapy My Flow Types Quiz Links to Resources: Health Coach Group Website: thehealthcoachgroup.com (https://www.thehealthcoachgroup.com) Special Offer: Use code HCC50 to save $50 on the Health Coach Group website Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider leaving a five-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Pelvic congestion syndrome is a controversial entity that does not currently have validated diagnostic criteria. In the ACOG PB 218 (2020), it states, “Pelvic congestion syndrome is a proposed etiology of chronic pelvic pain related to pelvic venous insufficiency. Although venous congestion appears to be associated with chronic pelvic pain, evidence is insufficient to conclude that there is a cause-and-effect relationship. In addition, there is no consensus on the definition of this condition, and diagnostic criteria are variable. Further research is needed to establish greater consistency in diagnosis and homogeneity in treatment studies”. Is that it? Is that all there is? NO! There has been great interest in the diagnosis of this enigmatic condition and in potential new treatment options. The last publication on this was just released in March 2025 as a “pilot study”. In this episode, we will combine multiple sources and explain this controversial condition and offer hope to patients who may indeed have this real disorder.

Dr. Christina Prevett // www.ptonice.com  In today's episode of the PT on ICE Podcast, ICE CEO Jeff Moore & Older Adult and Pelvic division leader Christina Prevett sit down to discuss her research in the fields of geriatrics & pelvic health, highlighting key topics such as the safety & efficacy of high-load resistance training for older adults and the postpartum population. Take a listen to the episode or check out the full show notes on our blog at www.ptonice.com/blog If you're looking to learn more about our live pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy courses or our online physical therapy courses, check our entire list of continuing education courses for physical therapy including our physical therapy certifications by checking out our website. Don't forget about all of our FREE eBooks, prebuilt workshops, free CEUs, and other physical therapy continuing education on our Resources tab. Are you looking for more information on how to keep lifting weights while pregnant? Check out the ICE Pelvic bi-weekly newsletter! If you're looking to learn more about live courses designed to better serve older adults in physical therapy or our online physical therapy courses, check our entire list of continuing education courses for physical therapy including our physical therapy certifications by checking out our website. Don't forget about all of our FREE eBooks, prebuilt workshops, free CEUs, and other physical therapy continuing education on our Resources tab.

Over half to as manyas 75% of pregnant individuals will experience some amount of muscular pain. The most common of which is pelvic girdle pain.   So many mamas can go to their providers and be told that there is nothing that they can do and that theyjust need to "wait until the baby comes out"   That is simply not true!  In this episode, Christina breaks down the myths then talks about the methods of treatment for pelvic girdle pain during your pregnancy.  If this is you, don't worry - there are things we can do to help! ___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

If you're over 40 and feeling like your waistband is suddenly holding a grudge, this BAM (Bare Arse Minimum) approach is your no-nonsense guide to staying healthy, strong, and feeling fabulous. In this episode, Jen dives into the real talk around weight gain after 40 and why your body starts playing by a whole new rulebook. She breaks down what's really going on with your metabolism, hormones, and muscle mass and how to work with your body, not against it.LINKS: Take The Burnout Quiz Everyone Is Talking About!⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/wellness-superpower-quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠Download your Podcast Shownotes (Ep 1 - 200)⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/shownotes/⁠⁠⁠⁠Feed Your Body⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/feed-your-body-eguide/⁠⁠⁠⁠Pelvic floor prolapse doesn't have to hold you back. Learn how to regain control and improve your quality of life with my team of expert guidance.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/pelvic-floor-prolapse/⁠⁠⁠⁠Have you checked out my new Healthy Life Hacks App? 

Women are juggling a lot at every age and stage, from engaging with exciting opportunities and caring for aging parents to raising kids and showing up for all the extras like bake sales and school events. With everything on our plates, it's easy to miss the signs of stress and burnout. We keep pushing through until our bodies start to whisper (or shout) that something's off, and for many women, it begins in the pelvic floor.So much of our well-being comes down to nervous system regulation, and the pelvic floor is more connected to this than most people realize. It's tied into things like anxiety, migraines, neck pain, even voice and immune issues. When we recognize those signs, we can start to care for ourselves and our patients in a deeper, more effective way.Today I'm excited to introduce you to Dr. Sara Reardon, a board-certified pelvic health therapist better known as The Vagina Whisperer. Sara is also the author of the upcoming book, Floored: A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage. If you've ever thought about being a thought leader in the area of women's health you're most interested in, you will want to hear all about the trajectory of Sarah's remarkable career.In this episode, Sara and I discuss her journey from working in hospitals and private practices to founding her own practice, why she created an online pelvic floor workout program, how she grew her social media platform, why we need to empower women to take charge of their health, the challenges of writing a book, the need for innovative healthcare approaches, how we can create more accessible resources, and more.Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!---Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/meet-the-vagina-whisperer-and-what-your-clients-need-to-know-about-their-pelvic-floors/.Connect with me and access our entire platform at IntegrativeWomensHealthInstitute.com (https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/). Find and follow us @integrativewomenshealth on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@integrativewomenshealth) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/integrativewomenshealth/).

This episode tackles a common concern: urinary incontinence after childbirth. This can affect about a third of women, so you're not alone. I dive into what you can do to minimize urinary leaks after your first delivery with insights from a major 2020 Cochrane Review. The big takeaway? Pelvic floor muscle training, like Kegels, can make a huge difference! I'll cover how to do these exercises, why they work, and the benefits they offer, including reducing the risk of severe tears during childbirth. I'll discuss risk factors such as multiple pregnancies, higher maternal weight, and age, as well as why maintaining a healthy weight and understanding your delivery options are essential. I also talk about how long recovery might take and what to expect. Importantly, if you're experiencing symptoms, there are strategies that can help. Join me for a friendly, informative chat about keeping those leaks at bay and feeling your best postpartum! https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub4/fullTimeline:00:28 Introduction and Podcast Series Overview 00:43 Understanding Urinary Incontinence Post-Delivery 01:03 Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: Evidence and Benefits 02:41 How Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Works 03:45 Theories Behind Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Benefits06:41 Risk Factors for Postpartum Urinary Incontinence 07:35 Prevention and Management Strategies 08:58 Post-Delivery Incontinence: What to Expect and Do 11:04 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In this episode, I interviewed Cheri Dostal Ryba. Cheri has devoted over 20 years to embodied inquiry & transformation as a movement educator, fitness trainer, dancer, C-IAYT yoga therapist, speaker and author. Her approach weaves the cyclical wisdom of nature with nervous system and polyvagal informed whole person pelvic care. Cheri published her first book in 2022, Pelvic Yoga Therapy for the Whole Woman: A Professional Guide. With abundant sound effects and heart-led facilitation, she helps women remember and trust their instincts and authentic expression.Her book is now in it's 3rd anniversary and she's been working on some new book-related content including the upcoming May 1-3 Pelvic Yoga Book Summit, which includes fresh insights, guided practices, and candid conversations with leading experts to inspire continued results. We spoke about all of this and more on the podcast.Support the showConnect with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy Email us: info@innerpeaceyogatherapy.com Website Instagram Facebook

Pain, particularly chronic pain, is hard to research. New therapeutics are hard to screen for. Patients are not all the same. Sergui Pascu and colleagues at Stanford university have been growing brain samples from stem cells. Then they began connecting different samples, specialised to represent different brain regions. This week they announce their most complex “assembloid” yet, one that even reacts to hot chilli, passing a signal from the sensory neurons through to the thinking bits. The hope is that it can provide insights on how pain, and potential painkillers, work.Human brains are notoriously large, particularly infants. Whilst for primates the human pelvis is quite narrow, to allow us to walk and run on two legs. This notoriously makes childbirth, well, not as straightforward as most other species. This evolutionary “obstetric dilemma” has been debated for decades. Marianne Brasil, of West Washington University, and colleagues, have published this week a huge study of contemporary human genes and anatomies available from the UK Biobank to shed some more light on this ongoing compromise.Malta is an island in the Mediterranean no less than 80km from land. So how come Eleanor Scerri and colleagues have discovered archaeological evidence of hunter-gatherers living there from 8,500 years ago? And they didn't just visit and leave. They stayed for perhaps a millennium before farming arrived. Maybe a rethink of what nautical capabilities our ancestors had in the deep past is needed? A year ago, Science in Action gate-crashed a conference looking at plans for meeting the forthcoming arrival of asteroid Apophis in 2029. This year the meeting is in Tokyo, and Richard Binzel, emeritus professor of Astronomy at MIT, gives us an update on how the space agencies are hoping to collaborate to maximise the scientific value from what will be a global, visible, phenomenon in just 4 years. Is there enough time to get our collective wits together?(Image: 3D illustration of Interconnected neurons with electrical pulses. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Josie Hardy

Christina Prevett shares powerful insights about pelvic floor issues in the military and advocates for better awareness and support for female service members. She connects her personal experience using exercise as a coping mechanism during difficult times to the importance of movement for pregnant and postpartum women's mental health.• One in three female service members experience pelvic floor or genitourinary complaints• Military physical testing and duties place significant demands on the pelvic floor• Six key gaps exist in military support: lack of education, stigma, toilet access during deployment, urge suppression, menstrual cycle management, and pregnancy/postpartum fitness• Research shows high-strain activities like paratrooper training can change vaginal wall mobility even in women who haven't given birth• Pelvic floor issues can be categorized as "not strong enough," "not coordinated enough," or "too tight" syndromes• Sexual trauma in military settings may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction• Building resilience through proper mechanics and individualized rehabilitation is key for returning to duty after pregnancy• These principles apply broadly to women in physically demanding occupations beyond the militaryI hope you found that interesting. If you have any other questions or comments, let me know. Otherwise, have an incredible week and I will talk to you all next time.___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

Have you ever found yourself rehearsing a choice in your thoughts, debating it back and forth, and yet feeling trapped? Many others are with you. Even the most assured individuals suffer from second-guessing; the truth is, it does not indicate incapacity. It merely indicates your brain is doing what it's designed to do: keep you safe. In this episode, Jen explores the causes of our second-guessing and how overthinking may subtly seize control of our everyday choices. She offers easy, useful tips to assist you escape the self-doubt cycle and re-establish contact with your inner confidence. This show is for you if you're ready to start believing yourself again and stop second-guessing every action.LINKS: Take The Burnout Quiz Everyone Is Talking About!⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/wellness-superpower-quiz/⁠⁠⁠Download your Podcast Shownotes (Ep 1 - 200)⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/shownotes/⁠⁠⁠Feed Your Body⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/feed-your-body-eguide/⁠⁠⁠Pelvic floor prolapse doesn't have to hold you back. Learn how to regain control and improve your quality of life with my team of expert guidance.⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/pelvic-floor-prolapse/⁠⁠⁠Have you checked out my new Healthy Life Hacks App? 

One of the most beneficial times to be aware of and train your root muscle is during your workouts... you'll improve your sexual health as well as your workouts directly.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HolisticAlpha.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosted by Steven Mathis. © Mathis Marketing LLC

In this engaging episode of Modern Mom Probs, host Tara Clark sits down with Dr. Sara Reardon, a renowned pelvic health physical therapist and creator of the Vagina Whisperer, to shed light on the often-overlooked topic of women's pelvic health. Tara and Dr. Reardon explore why proactive care is essential, how pelvic floor muscles function, and what women can do to maintain long-term pelvic health. Dr. Reardon offers practical tips—from proper posture and bathroom habits to breathing techniques and the importance of using lubrication for comfortable sexual experiences. They discuss how common events like C-sections and menopause can affect pelvic health, and why women shouldn't wait for symptoms to seek help. Dr. Reardon emphasizes the need to address both strength and relaxation in the pelvic floor and encourages regular therapy to prevent future issues. The conversation also touches on the importance of normalizing pelvic health discussions, building community support, and fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals. Dr. Reardon shares how the vibrant culture of New Orleans influences her work and content creation, and she introduces her new book, Floored, which serves as an empowering resource for women seeking to better understand and care for their pelvic health. Key Takeaways: Women often neglect pelvic health until problems arise—proactive education is key. Pelvic floor muscles need both strength and relaxation to function well. Posture, sitting habits, and proper bathroom techniques (like using a stool) make a big difference. C-section scars can create pelvic tension—therapy and awareness help. Breathing exercises and regular pelvic floor therapy can be preventive tools. Lubrication is essential for pain-free, enjoyable sex. Conversations around pelvic health must be normalized to break the stigma. Community and professional support are crucial, especially during menopause. Dr. Reardon's book, Floored, offers education and empowerment for every woman. Whether you're recovering postpartum, approaching menopause, or simply curious about your own body, this episode is a must-listen. Don't miss this empowering conversation that encourages women to take charge of their pelvic health—with confidence. Links: https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/?hl=en https://thevagwhisperer.com/about/

Today we are talking about the 2 most common groups in which my clients tend to fall: those who are postpartum and feel like they're the only ones who won't "just deal with" their leaking or prolapse or :insert any pelvic floor woe here: or clients who have never been/plan to be postpartum and feel like they are "weird" for having pelvic floor issues.If you can relate to either of these, I want you to stick around for this episode.You're not alone.Pelvic health is so much more than Kegels and squeezing balls between your knees. Your pelvic floor isn't just some moody muscle — it's the MVP of everything from laughing, sneezing, pooping, peeing, sexual pleasure, housing and having babies to things we don't normally think of: like working out, lifting human babies (and fur babies), and keeping our bodies stable in a world that can feel anything but.It's influenced by what you eat, how you move, what's on your mind, and everything life throws your way. Around here, we're ditching the fear, the shame, and the outdated advice. Instead, you'll get practical tips, honest conversations, and a whole lot of empowerment.Join the Mailing List by clicking here!Work with me: ⁠www.yournewquest.com⁠Follow me on TikTok: @dr.mel_dpt**Information presented in this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes only**Music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

The postpartum period is often overlooked, leaving many new moms struggling with recovery, emotional health, and lack of proper support—often lasting years after birth. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Phoebe Ajayi, a dedicated advocate for maternal health, to discuss the real challenges moms face after birth—and what needs to change. From pelvic floor recovery to mental health struggles and why healthcare systems fail moms, Dr. Ajayi shares essential insights and actionable advice to help mothers heal, advocate for themselves, and get the care they truly deserve.In the episode, Dr. Ajayi and I talk about:

Are your normal laxatives or other constipation remedies no longer providing enough relief? Luckily, there are several natural remedies that can provide a laxative effect. In addition, dietary changes, supplementation and even body movement have been proven to heal constipation. In this compilation, I'll share some of the best constipation treatments that provide you with both quick relief and long term solutions.    Start healing with us! Learn more about our virtual clinic:  https://drruscio.com/virtual-clinic/ Abdominal Self-Massage for Constipation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI4h_GXSJUk&t=2s Pelvic Floor Therapy: https://pelvicpainrehab.com/ The Low FODMAP Diet Simplified (Free Guide): https://drruscio.com/getlowfodmapguide/  

The BAM - the Bare Arse Minimum habits that create a rock-solid foundation for thriving health, not just coping. When you get the basics right, everything else starts to fall into place. In this episode, Jen breaks down the five essential, non-negotiable pillars you need to support your energy, hormones, and overall wellbeing.LINKS: Take The Burnout Quiz Everyone Is Talking About!⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/wellness-superpower-quiz/⁠⁠Download your Podcast Shownotes (Ep 1 - 200)⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/shownotes/⁠⁠Feed Your Body⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/feed-your-body-eguide/⁠⁠Pelvic floor prolapse doesn't have to hold you back. Learn how to regain control and improve your quality of life with my team of expert guidance.⁠⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/pelvic-floor-prolapse/⁠⁠Have you checked out my new Healthy Life Hacks App? 

To kick off this episode, Rachel shares some exciting updates about her personal life! The PSA girls also discuss how pelvic wands can help reduce pelvic pain and improve function, covering their parameters, indications, and contraindications.

Join me and physical therapist, Nicole Bobay as we discuss the problems associated with pelvic misalignment and her invention to treat it. Introducing the stability stick...stabilitystick.com

Join us as we discuss effective non-diet focused methods for IBS relief. In this episode, Kate and Dr. Riehl review key factors on how gender can influence common symptoms of IBS.Hormones significantly influence IBS symptoms, with women being diagnosed 2.5 times more often than men, in part due to differences in gut function and pain perception. This episode features the following key discussion areas:• Women's fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels affect gut motility and pain sensitivity throughout the menstrual cycle• Visceral hypersensitivity causes normal digestive sensations to be interpreted as pain - like a car alarm going off unnecessarily• The "microgenderome" refers to gender differences in gut microbiome that may contribute to women's higher rates of IBS and autoimmune conditions• Gut-directed hypnotherapy helps reprogram the subconscious mind to interpret gut sensations more accurately, with 70-80% improvement rates• Pelvic floor physical therapy can help address muscle tension that contributes to both constipation and diarrhea symptoms• Non-diet approaches including medications, supplements like enteric-coated peppermint, and lifestyle factors are effective IBS management tools• Regular exercise (especially in nature), adequate sleep, and stress management techniques complement other treatmentsFor more information on IBS-C treatments, check out our dedicated three-part series in episodes 14, 15, and 16.This podcast has been sponsored by Ardelyx and Nerva by Mindset Health.References:Mulak A, Taché Y, Larauche M. Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(10):2433-2448. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433Chang L, Heitkemper MM. Gender differences in irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2002;123(5):1686-1701. doi:10.1053/gast.2002.36603Houghton LA, Jackson NA, Whorwell PJ, Morris J. Do male sex hormones protect from irritable bowel syndrome?. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(9):2296-2300. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.02314.xPeters SL, Yao CK, Philpott H, Yelland GW, Muir JG, Gibson PR. Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy is similar to that of the low FODMAP diet for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(5):447-459. doi:10.1111/apt.13706Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

We are back, baby! Finally Fearless has gone through a makeover; today we are talking about what to expect from the show moving forward and where to find me!Pelvic health is so much more than Kegels and squeezing balls between your knees. Your pelvic floor isn't just some moody muscle — it's the MVP of everything from laughing, sneezing, pooping, peeing, sexual pleasure, housing and having babies to things we don't normally think of: like working out, lifting human babies (and fur babies), and keeping our bodies stable in a world that can feel anything but.It's influenced by what you eat, how you move, what's on your mind, and everything life throws your way. Around here, we're ditching the fear, the shame, and the outdated advice. Instead, you'll get practical tips, honest conversations, and a whole lot of empowerment.Join the Mailing List by clicking here!Work with me: ⁠www.yournewquest.com⁠Follow me on TikTok: @dr.mel_dpt**Information presented in this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes only**Music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Send us a textTrigger Warning: This Episode Isn't for EveryoneThis episode of the Pregnancy, Birth & Recovery Podcast is a deeply emotional and raw conversation. If you are currently in a vulnerable place, please be aware that we discuss postnatal depression, the loss of a loved one, conception through grief, and termination for medical reasons. If this isn't the right episode for you, please feel free to skip this one and join us for Part 2, where Brianne shares her beautiful birth story.Navigating Grief, Loss, and MotherhoodIn this powerful episode, Brianne shares her deeply personal journey of navigating motherhood through immense grief. Following the devastating loss of a family member to postnatal depression, she faced the emotional weight of conceiving through grief, only to be confronted with an incredibly difficult decision—terminating the pregnancy for medical reasons.This conversation is filled with raw honesty, vulnerability, and important reflections on the intersection of loss and new beginnings. If you or someone you know has experienced grief while trying to conceive, or has faced the pain of making an impossible decision for medical reasons, Brianne's story may provide comfort and connection.Topics Discussed:

In this Healthy, Wealthy, and Smart Podcast episode, host Dr. Karen Litzy welcomes Dr. Nicole Fleischman, a board-certified urogynecologist based in New York. Dr. Fleischman specializes in treating women with pelvic floor conditions, including urinary incontinence and organ prolapse, utilizing both medical and surgical approaches. During the conversation, they explore a paradigm shift in understanding pelvic health—moving away from the traditional view of pelvic weakness and the need for strengthening to a more nuanced perspective. Dr. Fleischman also discusses her book, "The Second Mouth," which delves into these concepts. Tune in to gain insights into women's urinary health and the importance of specialized care in this field. Time Stamps:  [00:01:26] Urogynecology and pelvic health. [00:04:32] Pelvic floor muscle understanding. [00:08:12] Pelvic floor awareness through breathing. [00:12:19] Stomach sucking and breathing issues. [00:14:14] Breathing and pelvic floor health. [00:18:45] Pelvic floor awareness and coordination. [00:21:51] Surgery necessity in urogynecology. [00:26:21] Empowering women through education. [00:29:10] Biopsychosocial lens in medicine. [00:32:19] Importance of proper toilet training. [00:34:55] Incontinence awareness and prevention. [00:38:26] Breathing techniques for health. [00:42:07] Knowledge sharing in healthcare.  More About Dr. Nicole Fleischman: Dr. Fleischmann is board certified in urology and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.  She received her medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, NY, where she graduated summa cum laude. Dr. Fleischmann completed her surgery and urology residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY and continued her training in a fellowship at NYU School of Medicine.  She is passionate about practicing an integrative approach to urogynecology, correcting the pervasive, unconscious and paradoxical behaviors which can turn into the structural problems and bothersome symptoms that prompt women to seek care. She is the author of the new book “The Second Mouth”, which addresses the powerful mind-body connection in functional urology.  Dr. Fleischmann serves as Director of FPMRS at White Plains Hospital Center where she has been in clinical practice for the last 25 years. She holds an active appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor in Obstetrics and Assistant Clinical Professor of Gynecology and Urology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Additionally, she is a member of the American Urologic Association and Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology (SUFU). Dr. Fleischmann is the author of several research publications and presentations. She lives and practices in New York.Resources from this Episode: The Second Mouth Book Dr. Fleischman on TikTok Dr. Fleischmann on Instagram   Jane Sponsorship Information: Book a one-on-one demo here Front Desk @ Jane Mention the code LITZY1MO for a free month Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media: Karen's Twitter Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher iHeart Radio

Heather Foord, an expert in women's health, discusses the importance of core and pelvic floor health. She explains that the core is a wine barrel shape, consisting of the pelvic floor, abdominals, obliques, and back muscles. Heather addresses common issues like incontinence and the different types of incontinence highlighting the importance of a thorough consultation to understand the individual's symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and life stage. In this conversation, Heather discusses the importance of pelvic floor health and how it can impact various aspects of a woman's life, including incontinence, sexual performance, and overall well-being. Heather also introduces technology such as EMSELLA and EMSCULPT for strengthening the pelvic floor and core muscles. Takeaways The core is a wine barrel shape consisting of the pelvic floor, abdominals, obliques, and back muscles. A functional core is essential for overall health and supports various bodily functions, including movement, sexual function, and continence. Incontinence is not normal and can be treated through various methods. A thorough consultation is crucial to understand an individual's symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and life stage. The EMSELLA chair and EMSCULPT device use electromagnetic technology to strengthen the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles non-invasively. Pelvic floor health is crucial for women's overall well-being and can impact various aspects of their lives, including incontinence and sexual performance. It is never too late to prioritise pelvic floor health and seek treatment, even for older women. The EMSELLA and EMSCULPT technologies are effective in strengthening the pelvic floor and core muscles, leading to improved symptoms and overall health. Education and support for women's health, including postpartum rehabilitation and perimenopause care, are essential for preventing and addressing pelvic floor issues. There is a need for better awareness and understanding of pelvic floor health, as well as more research and resources dedicated to women's health. Watch the episode here:https://youtu.be/Ps-LG2XcsmQ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever find yourself devouring snacks when you're stressed… or forgetting to eat altogether?It's not just about willpower—your hormones are calling the shots!When you're under stress, your eating patterns can change dramatically. Some people overeat, while others lose their appetite completely. These differences are largely driven by how our brains and hormones respond to stress.In this episode, Jen breaks it all down and shares how you can regain control.LINKS: Take The Burnout Quiz Everyone Is Talking About!⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/wellness-superpower-quiz/⁠Download your Podcast Shownotes (Ep 1 - 200)⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/shownotes/⁠Feed Your Body⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/feed-your-body-eguide/⁠Pelvic floor prolapse doesn't have to hold you back. Learn how to regain control and improve your quality of life with my team of expert guidance.⁠https://jenniferjefferies.com/pelvic-floor-prolapse/⁠Have you checked out my new Healthy Life Hacks App? 

In this special episode, Kristin, host of Ask the Doulas podcast and founder of Gold Coast Doulas,  gives tips on building your supportive birth team. Krisin and Meagan talk specifics on HOW to switch providers if you're feeling the push to do so.Once we have our dream team, we're good and don't have to do any more work, right? Nope! We keep educating and preparing ourselves. That's the way to truly get the most out of that dream team. Kristin's book ‘Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby' is a one-stop shop where you can get all of the education you need for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Her advice is so valuable for VBAC moms and birth workers, too!Supported: Your Guide to Birth and BabyAsk the Doulas PodcastNeeded WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello. Hello. We have a special episode for you today. We have my friend, Kristin, who is actually the owner of Ask the Doulas Podcast on with us today. She is going to be talking about establishing our birth team and the importance of it. We're going to talk a little bit more about what to expect when we might not find a provider that's supportive and how to navigate it. She's going to talk more about her book and so many things. You guys, I'm really excited. Kristin is a woman who has always had a passion for supporting other women both personally and professionally. In college, Kristin served on the executive committee of her sorority and organized events on campus related to breast cancer and other women's issues. After the birth of her daughter in 2011, a new passion awoke within her. Kristin began reading and studying birth from all perspectives, philosophies, and medical approaches. She joined organizations like The Healthy Kent Breastfeeding Collation and used her event coordinating skills to build and promote the organization and create community awareness. You guys, she has done so many incredible things. Kristin's research has led her to learn more about doulas, and in 2012, she hired doulas herself for the support of her second birth. The level of compassionate care and comfort that she received from her doulas ignited a spark within her and led her down the path of becoming a doula herself. And man, can I connect to this because this is exactly what happened to me. When you guys have a doula who inspires you and touches you and motivates you the way it sounds like Kristin did and I did, even though my doula wasn't a hired doula, she was just a nurse that was a doula for the time being, it does something to you. She earned the certification and became teaching sacred pregnancy classes in 2013. But as you'll see, Kristin is a firm believer in achieving the highest level of education available when providing a service. Shortly after, she earned the following credentials-- you guys, are you ready for this? She's amazing. Oh my gosh. Certified Sacred Doula in 2014. She is a Certified Elite Labor through ProDoula. She is the Elite Postpartum and Infant Care Doula through ProDoula. She's trained in Spinning Babies, Newborn Specialist, Mother Ship, Certified Health Service Provider, certified in VBAC. She is certified in transformational birth and a birth coach for the Birth Coach Method. She is a certified pregnancy and infant loss advocate and certified gift registry expert through Be Her Village, who we will talk about. We both love them so much.She is also an author of a book which we will be sharing more about. It's called Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby. So without further ado, we are actually going to be skipping a review today and an educational topic because this is such a great episode to be educated and learn more about what Kristin is offering in her community. Okay, my love. Hello. Kristin: Hello.Meagan: We're officially getting going talking about this amazing topic. Tell me what you think about this. I think sometimes people want to assemble this dream team, but they let finances or even partners or other opinions get in the way.Kristin: Yes. Partner comfort level, especially with VBACs is key, or with clients of mine who want their dream is to have a home birth and their partner isn't supportive, so then they say, "Oh, it'll be with the next baby if everything goes well in the hospital." But then if they're a complication, they might risk out of the option of home. I think as consumers, we don't fully appreciate the ability to choose all of our birth and baby team. We can change providers. I switched providers with my first pregnancy early on because I didn't feel like that particular OB was on board with my plans to have an unmedicated hospital birth. I ended up switching to Certified Nurse Midwives and completely changed practices, completely changed hospitals in fact. It's a lot. Meagan: Yeah.Kristin: But it was worth it. And I had the time where it was easier to switch, but I've had clients switch very late in pregnancy. It was harder to find the right office to accept them, but with VBACs, it is crucial to have not just a VBAC-tolerant provider, but someone who is fully on board with your unique desires because we are all individuals.Meagan: Yes. I love that you said your unique desires. Everybody is different. I think it's really important to tell these providers what your desires are. We have a list of questions that we give people in our course and, of course, on the podcast. You can go down that list and check and be like, "Okay, this provider seems pretty supportive," but you guys have to tailor your questions and your provider. You have to tailor it to what your individual unique circumstances and desires are because everyone's is different. I would love to know. You said, I was realizing that this wasn't the right place. What kind of things were you hearing or being told or feeling when you were realizing that maybe your first provider wasn't going to be as supportive and in line with your unique decisions?Kristin: Just when I was talking about my wishes, I could tell that that particular provider liked structure and patience to get that epidural, and so once I started talking about movement, delivering in different positions and some of the things I had researched-- I hadn't yet taken a childbirth class because it was early in pregnancy, but I had done a fair bit of research before knowing what a doula was. I didn't hire doulas until my second. But I could just tell in that gut feeling which I rely on. Again, we're all unique. And yes, I do research, but I make decisions on am I comfortable spending my entire pregnancy with someone who can tolerate me and will say, "Okay"? But I could tell it didn't light her up. So once I found a practice where my nurse-midwife spent time with me, I had longer appointments, I could ask questions, and she was 100% on board with me, and then I was able to meet the other midwives and the OBs who oversaw them throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. I felt very cared for. And again, we are consumers. Whether your insurance pays for everything or you're paying for part of it, you don't get a do-over of your birth, and so it is so important, especially with that first birth to get the care team that aligns with you. That could be everything from a Webster-certified chiropractor, a physical therapist, a mental health therapist to deal with any anxieties that may come up with having a VBAC and getting a lot of fear-filled advice from friends and family members. I find that again, my clients are all unique individuals, and my students in Becoming a Mother Course, and now the readers in my book, have different goals, so I want them to choose the best plan for them. I love that you have worksheets and templates, but knowing that every situation is different whether it's a home birth, a trial of labor, or a hospital birth, that setting is different and the type of provider whether it's a nurse-midwife or an OB practice, how likely is the OB that is very VBAC-supportive going to be attending your birth? Are there 12 providers or are there only 4? And so there's just so many things to factor in when deciding what is important to you.Meagan: Yeah. That point that you just brought up, are there 12 providers? Are there only 4? Does your provider guarantee that they'll be there? These are things that I think a lot of people may not be aware of that because they found their provider. They're feeling good about their provider. They're jiving. They're having the feels, but then they may not be the ones to be there, so there are 11 other options. It feels overwhelming to be like, "Wait, wait. Do I interview all 11?" Yeah, guys. Yeah. You set up visits. It's okay. Go and see if you can meet with those. Make sure that that full team is aligned. It is a lot. That's a lot to take on, but it's okay to rotate and say, "Hey, I saw Dr. Jack last time. I'd like to see Dr. Joe this time," or whatever it may be. Really, really dive in, find out more about your provider's team if they have a team, and make sure that they align with your unique decisions and desires.Kristin: Absolutely. And that goes for doulas as well.Meagan: Oh, yeah.Kristin: So for VBAC clients, I, over the last couple of years, I do all of the matchmaking, I like to call it, between client and the birth doulas and postpartum doulas on my team, in fact. I like to find out what they're looking for. If they are attempting a VBAC, then many times, they're telling me they want a VBAC-certified doula. I have doulas that have gone through your program and are certified through you and other different VBAC trainings. They're not just wanting VBAC experience like in my early days of having Gold Coast Doulas. Now, they're wanting that certification because they know that information is being updated as things change. And there's more evidence for VBACs. They also want more than just, "Oh, I've attended four VBACs." They want the education behind it. So I think that is crucial. I'm not going to match, unless there's no one else available on my team, a client with someone who is not certified as a VBAC doula.Meagan: Yeah, I do the same thing with my group here where they're like, "This is really important to me. I want this specific type of doula." Some of my doulas have taken The VBAC Link course. And so I'm like, "Yep, this would be who I would suggest." But I also want to point out that even if you assemble your dream team doula, and they've got all the education and information on VBAC, and they're up to date, I want to just point out that it doesn't mean that you shouldn't inform yourself that you shouldn't get the information because sometimes I feel like it's easy to want to just hire your provider or your doula or your person and let them who know VBAC kind of help and guide you. But it is really important. You're doing yourself a disservice if you personally do not learn more about VBAC and your options as well and rely only on your provider or your doula.Kristin: 100%. The doula, I mean, unless you're paying her for it, will not be attending every one of your prenatal visits during pregnancy. The education that you have to make informed questions and decisions surrounding your birth plan or birth preference sheet, so those conversations are critical. The more information you have as a patient, the better. And as we all know, unless you're having a home birth, your visits are short even with a nurse-midwife. And so it's important to have those questions and to have time to really express concerns. Or if you're finding that that practice or that provider is not in line with your plans, then you can look at other options. And the hospital-- are VBACs even allowed at the hospital that you plan to deliver at? Are they going to induce? What are the Cesarean rates? And looking at all of the different options, and if you need to consider NICUs, that's always a factor in hospital selection as well.Meagan: Yeah, I'm going to kind of go back to where we were in the beginning where you realized based after your feelings and other things that this provider was not the right provider for you, you then changed to CNMs and had a much better experience. Can you discuss your process of that change? How did you change? Did you find the CNMs, have them request your information from the OB? Did you do a formal breakup with your OB? What suggestions would you give to someone who is wanting to do that? I know that sometimes, you were talking about it, in the end, it's a little harder to find, so that's why we stress so importantly to find your provider from the beginning. But we know that sometimes things change. So can you kind of talk about that process in then assembling that dream and getting the steps to get to that dream team?Kristin: Yes. So for me, I had asked friends about which providers they had worked with. So the original OB, a friend of mine, it was her doctor, and she had a great experience. I just wasn't feeling it. She had a student. We have teaching hospitals in my area, so there was a student in the room. I wasn't feeling like she was 100% on board. I could tell that she was very medically driven. I wanted essentially a home birth in a hospital. So I talked to more friends and did research online, and a friend of mine had used this particular practice. I ended up going with the midwife that delivered her three children, and it worked out beautifully because it was early in pregnancy. That practice had openings. It took me a while because I was changing hospitals and practices completely. My insurance, luckily, covered all of the options. But that's another thing to look into. Does your insurance cover the hospital where the provider you want to switch to delivers that if it is a hospital birth? Of course, you can VBAC at home in certain states. So just looking at all of the factors that would come into play. So for me, it was dealing with the paperwork of switching out of that practice, getting admitted, and going to that initial get-to-know-you visit with a nurse and doing my labs before I got to meet with the midwife that I had wanted to work with. And so it took a bit. I mean, no one likes to deal with the paperwork and the phone calls it takes, but your health is so important and especially again, for VBACs.Meagan: Yeah. So you essentially did all the paperwork and the transfer yourself.Kristin: Yes.Meagan: Okay.Kristin: I made all the phone calls, dealt with insurance and made sure that the initial visit was paid for along with the nurse visit, and then that insurance was comfortable with me.Meagan: Yeah. Awesome. Yeah, I did, when I switched, because I switched it 24 weeks, my midwife just faxed a request to my OB office. It took them a while to send it. We had to ask five times which I think probably would have been faster if I, like you, made the phone calls and did all the things, but I was like in this weird, vulnerable spot of like, I don't want to go back there.Kristin: Right. You don't want to deal with it.Meagan: Yeah, I don't want to deal with it.Kristin: Even just talking to the front desk.Meagan: Yeah, yeah. So we waited for it and they eventually got it. But I think that that's important to note. You guys can make the calls too. You can call and say, "Hey, I'd like to request my records to be printed out or to be sent to this place." Kristin: Yes, and that's what I did. Because otherwise it's six weeks oftentimes or you have to keep calling. They get lost. so I just handled it. But it can be challenging. And as doulas and certainly VBAC doulas, we know the providers who would be not only tolerant but supportive of VBAC. So we get those questions frequently from potential clients and clients of, am I at the right place? And of course, we support whoever our clients choose to have care from. But there's also, if asked, I will tell them about the practice and my own experience as a doula or the agency's experience. And again, in those large practices, there might be four who are so VBAC-supportive. They love it, but then there might be some physicians who are not as comfortable. They feel that a surgical birth might be the better route to go, ad so there's that. So what I like to do as a VBAC doula is to have my clients talk to their provider. Again, go over a birth plan or birth preference sheet and have them sign off on it. That way, if they don't attend the birth, then the other physicians know that this was approved. It's not just a birth plan that is thrown out there, but it has been discussed. It doesn't work all the time, but it has been helpful for my clients no matter if they're a VBAC client or this is their first baby, and again, they have certain goals that they want to achieve like potentially avoiding an induction unless medically necessary.Meagan: Oh my gosh. So I'm just going to re-touch on that, you guys, because that was really, really, really good advice and something I've actually never done or even thought about or suggested to my own doula practice clients. Get your birth preference sheet or birth plans everyone calls a difference. I call it a birth preference sheet, which is a list of all your preferences that you desire. Go over that with your provider, and have them physically sign it. Physically sign it and date it showing that your provider went over it. And like she said, every provider may not be willing to do that, but I will say, if a provider is willing to do that, that says something to me.Kristin: It does. Yes.Meagan: Yeah. Super powerful. Oh, my gosh. Okay, nugget. Grab it, put it in your pocket, everybody. Sign your birth preference sheet so you can have it and keep that in your bag, so if you do have that random on-call doctor who may not even know you or not be so supportive, be like, "This has already been discussed. We were aware of this. My doctor has signed off." Also, you could maybe ask if your provider could make a copy of that and put it in your chart.Kristin: Right. Because yes, it's not just the one that they have on file, but it's also for the ones that you have, that copy that you're bringing and showing the nurse so the nurse and everyone is on the same page. Meagan: Love that. Kristin: And again, with teaching hospitals, you might have residents in and out. There can be some difficult conversations with VBAC and residents who have never seen a VBAC. We're not fully trained yet to support VBAC, and so they might be making suggestions while the provider is not in that check-in. So every state, again, every area is different. I just happen to be in an area with multiple teaching hospitals.Meagan: Same here. We have seen it where I think, I don't want to say this badly. The VBAC world is a world that can have a lot of negativities in it, negative things and big words like uterine rupture. We've got residents who may be coming in and may be training under a provider who has seen a uterine rupture or has maybe molded an opinion on VBAC and is projecting their opinion to that student. Whether or not they're consciously doing it or not, they're saying their opinion, and those opinions might morph that resident's opinion into negative for VBAC. You never know. And so they might be doing things or be more hesitant in areas that they don't need to be, but they are.Kristin: Yeah, it's such a good point. And as you mentioned, I mean, we don't know the traumas that our nurses and medical team, even home birth midwives, have experienced, and they carry that with them. And how can they not? Even as doulas, we witness, but we don't have the liability and the medical training to make it, but we are witnesses of trauma and have our own healing to do to be able to better move on and support the next client. So certainly keeping that in mind that they may have seen something that alters the way they practice.Meagan: Yeah.Kristin: It's not just fear of lawsuits.Meagan: It's really not. It's not. There's a provider here in Utah who is literally so scared of vaginal birth herself. She scheduled all of her Cesareans, even the very first one from the get. She never had trial of labor or TOL. She just doesn't. So can you imagine what her Cesarean rate may be? And she kind of reminds me of the provider you're talking about. She really likes it just so controlled. Come in, start Pitocin, and get the epidural. She likes those things, which we know can sometimes lead to those Cesareans. And so really also discussing with your provider, how do you feel about birth? Have you had babies? And then we have another OB who's like, "I work in the hospital, and I love the hospital, and I trust the hospital system, but I actually gave birth at home with all three of my babies," and so really getting to know your provider, I think, is so good. Okay, let's keep going on this topic of assembling your dream team of experts when planning for birth and baby. What other things would you suggest to our Women of Strength?Kristin: Yes. So as we know, birth is as physical as it is mental, and just the opposite, as mental as it is physical. So preparing with a childbirth class, a comprehensive class, even if you took one before, use the lens of your goal of attempting a VBAC, a trial of labor. And so for us, we happen to teach HypnoBirth at Gold Coast Doulas and that mind/body connection that HypnoBirthing or a gentle birth offers where it's more of using the visualization the way an athlete would in preparing for a marathon or a triathlon, you are using things to reduce fear. You're understanding all of your options. It's very partner involved. I think taking a comprehensive childbirth class, whichever meets your individual goals, is great. That childbirth instructor is a great person to add to your birth and baby team. And then moving your body. So taking a fitness class that is appropriate for pregnancy. So prenatal yoga, there are Barre classes for pregnancy. There are prenatal belly dancing classes, whatever it is. Meagan: Aqua aerobics.Kristin: Yeah, water aerobics are amazing. And so thinking about baby's position and helping labor to go on its own or be quicker. There's acupuncture, acupressure, the Webster-certified chiro for positioning or body balancing experts, so many different options. But I am a big fan of educating yourself and preparing because as you mentioned earlier, Meagan, a doula is not your end all, be all. Just because we have the information and the training, we can't think for you. We don't want to think for you. The more informed you are, the more likely you're going to feel like birth didn't happen to you this time around and you were a direct participant, even if you end up having a surgical birth again.Meagan: Yeah, yeah. Yes. Oh my gosh. So talking about courses, you guys, we have our VBAC course. This VBAC course goes into VBAC, the stats about VBAC, the history of VBAC, the history of Cesarean, the stats of Cesarean, the questions, finding the provider, a little bit more of the mental prep, and physical prep. But when it comes to a childirth education course like with the course that she has, they're on different levels. I actually suggest them both.Kristin: Yes, me too. Absolutely.Meagan: But it's so important to know the information that is in your course. I know you go even past preparing for birth and then birth and then postpartum. You go into all of it. We're going to talk more about it. But you guys, we as doulas, love getting information and we love sharing information. But like she said, we don't want to be the only one that knows the information in a team. When our clients come in, at least here in my group, when our clients come in and they are fully educated and we're like, yes. And then we can come in with our education and our experience and knowledge, you guys, it is a powerhouse team. It is a powerhouse team. We have clients who, when they take child birth education classes like yours, they are able to advocate more for themselves. They feel stronger to stand up and say, "Hey, thank you so much, but no thanks" or "Maybe later," when our clients who haven't had that childbirth education or just any information other than maybe what we're providing, which is great, but not enough in the full length of pregnancy, it's a little harder. We have to try to encourage those clients a little bit more because it's harder for them because they don't know everything. We're there to help guide them and help advocate for them and educate them, but it is very different.Kristin: It is. It's so different. And I feel like, again, partners, especially male partners, want to fix things. They don't want their love to feel any pain, and so they may have the fear of a VBAC. So taking a VBAC class course, having a VBAC doula, giving information is just as helpful, if not more for the partner and their comfort level and to have them fully get on board because they may be resisting and just going along for the ride, but if you can get them to be an active participant in education, then they're going to be able to help you. And sometimes in labor, we get to a point in transition where we can't fully speak for ourselves. But if our partner understands, is educated and on board, and if there's time to talk through the risks and benefits and alternatives with your doula, then yes. But sometimes decisions have to be made quickly, and so for that partner to be informed and educated is crucial.Meagan: So crucial. It's so powerful. My husband-- he was not so on board. He was like, "Whatever. I don't care. You can go to the courses. You can do these things."Kristin: And that's very typical.Meagan: It's very typical. And I did. I did do those things. When I said, "Hey, I'm going to birth out-of-hospital," and he was like, "No," I was like, "Well, sorry. I've done the education. I know this is really where my heart is pulling." We touched on this in the beginning how partners really can influence decision making. And in no way, shape or form am I trying to say partners are terrible or don't listen to your partner or anything like that. That's not the goal of what we're saying is have an educated partner. Know that you can assemble a birth team, like a provider, a chiropractor, a massage therapist, a doula, a PT, or whatever it may be, but don't forget about your partner. Your partner is a huge part of your team, and if they're not educated and they're not able to help guide you through, or if they're not being supportive, find ways to help them be supportive by taking a course with them and helping them realize, oh, VBAC actually isn't that scary. Oh, that chance isn't really 50+%. Oh, okay. Hospital birth, out-of-hospital birth. Yeah. They're both reasonable, and really understanding that.Kristin: Absolutely. And sometimes I find that my students and clients may have not had success with breastfeeding the first time and potentially didn't take a class. So if their goal is to breastfeed or pump exclusively, then taking a breastfeeding class and having that IBCLC as a resource for their dream team in case it's needed because many times, you have the lactation consultant who's teaching the class, at least in my practice, and then they're also available for say, a home visit or a hospital visit, depending on where the class is taking place. And so I think that that's something. Even if it isn't your first baby and maybe you breastfed for a little bit or had supply issues or challenges after a surgical birth, that it is important to consider any education during pregnancy because it's much harder to get that education after you have your baby.Meagan: It really is. I love that you're touching on that, really getting into all the things and having your partner go with you. I remember I was like, I had a C-section, and I was swollen and tired, and I couldn't move very well. I was sore and all the things that sometimes come with C-sections. I'm trying to nurse, and I'm engorged.  I don't feel my letdown, and I'm just so engorged. I don't know. All I know is I have really big, swollen boobs. It's all I could tell. I couldn't latch. My husband was like, "That's it. We're going to the store. We're getting formula." Formula is fine. Not anything against formula.Kristin: He's trying to fix the problem and make you feel better.Meagan: Yep, yep, yep. Trying to fix that problem. But I was like, "No, I really want to breastfeed." At that point, I wasn't able to communicate. Like, I didn't get the birth I wanted. I already felt like a failure because I was actually told that your body failed. That's what I was told. So I was already dealing with this mindset that I failed. I had a C-section. I didn't want a C-section. And now the only thing I could try to do because I couldn't take that C-section back is breastfeed my baby. I wanted to breastfeed my baby. And again, we didn't take those childbirth education classes. He for sure didn't download any apps. I at least had an app trying to help me at that point, but he didn't understand. He didn't understand.And I'm like, no.I'm crying, and I'm like, "Please, just help me. I don't know what I need to help me." And he's like, "No, we're going to the store. Our baby's mad. You're crying." He was trying to fix that problem. But if we had already done that information education before and found that IBCLC before and him understanding how important that was to me, he could have been like, "I'm going to call her IBCLC. I'll get her over here right away."Kristin: Exactly. The last thing you want to do is go into the hospital to see a lactation consultant there if you can even get in.Meagan: Exactly. Yeah. So it just could have been so much smoother. Sometimes I feel like we were against each other at that point because he didn't have any education. With our first, I really didn't have much education. But with our third, it was like he really didn't have a lot of education. and I was over-the-top educated, so I was saying these things, and he was thinking I was demeaning him or saying he was stupid because it was just this weird thing. So if we can just come together with our partners and get all the education and get it all before really, find out a postpartum plan. Find out a breastfeeding plan. Right? Find out what you want. You guys, it just makes the pregnancy journey and the postpartum journey, so much better. It truly makes you feel like you're on that team because you are.Kristin: Yes. Absolutely. And certainly, I mean, you mentioned apps. Not everyone has the means or even lives in an area where they can take a comprehensive five, six, ten-week childbirth class. There are, obviously, online classes. There are some Zoom virtual ones where students are all over the place. But there are watching birth videos and YouTube and in my book, Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby, we talk about apps, so count the kicks. Especially for VBACs, doing the self-monitoring if there's fear of fetal movement and any sort of distress during the end of the pregnancy, then really understanding your own body and doing monitoring. It's not just when you're in your provider's office being monitored. You can make a difference yourself. So having some different apps and some education on your own, listening to podcasts like yours to get this information and reading books. So there's more than if you can't afford a childbirth class like HypnoBirthing, there are still ways that you can get educated and your partner can get educated. So yeah, take a look at all of your options and your budget.Meagan: Yeah, and we talk about this all the time because I love them, but Be Her Village is a really great resource where you can go fill out a registry and, hopefully, get some help for these things. Childbirth education classes, doulas, IBCLCS. But I want to dive a little bit more into your book, actually, while we're talking about different resources. We talked about the childbirth education, but can we talk about more about Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby and how this came into fruition and what all is included in this amazing book.Kristin: Okay, Meagan. So essentially the book came out of our online course. Becoming a Mother launched in the early pandemic when everything was shut down and our classes all had to go virtual. I was fortunate to be in a state where doulas who were certified were able to work thanks to our governor. So we were working, but there was still a lot of isolation even with our clients' prenatal visits. They wanted a connection, so we launched this course. We had talked about and did three live launches, got VBAC from our students, pulled people in from all the moms' groups before creating the first draft of the course. And then the course just led to the book. So the content in Becoming a Mother is what is in the book in a different format. So in Becoming a Mother, we have expert videos, so VBAC specialists and Webster-certified chiropractors talking about what that is. Pelvic floor physical therapists, car seat safety technicians, cord blood banking donation centers.Meagan: Awesome.Kristin: We have the experts speaking for themselves-- a pediatrician. And so in the book, anything that is medical and out of the scope of a doula, we had expert contributors, so I have a pediatrician friend of mine who contributed a newborn procedure section of the chapter and a prenatal yoga studio instructor, she's also a certified body balancer. She contributed to some of the fitness options in the book, and a mental health therapist who is PMA focused and certified contributed to the mental health chapter. We have an IBCLC that contributed to the feeding chapter, and so a lot of involvement, and then sharing client stories throughout the book and then our own wisdom. We have doula tips and wisdom at the end of every chapter. Meagan: Wow.Kristin: And so as clients were asking me for books over the years, I couldn't find anything that was positive. I felt like there were a lot of, this is your cry-it-out method for sleep because we have a whole chapter on sleep and it's very attachment-focused. It's like, one way for feeding, and we wanted our clients, with their unique choices for themselves, to have a book that supports people who want to plan surgical birth like that OB and that's their comfort level and a book for the same person who wants a home birth. You don't have to buy five different books. It's not always Ina May which is a great book but not for everyone. All of her different-- she's got Spiritual Midwifery and so many different books. It is great for grandparents to read and partners but is targeted to the mother or the mother-to-be and is great in preconception in that early planning. But also, we wanted to make it similar to the course and just as valuable for seasoned bombs as it is for new moms. And again, it's affirming. We tried not to have any fear-filled information in a simple, easy-to-read guide that you can pull out for reference and a lot of different, again, apps and podcasts and books to read and resources and evidence-based information about Black maternal health and where we're at in the country now and how the pandemic impacted birth especially, but also that postpartum time.Meagan: Wow. That book sounds amazing. So amazing. And you guys, you can get it in every form, even Audible. I'm a big listener. I like to listen to books. Kristin and Alyssa actually recorded it. She was telling me they had 10+-hour days recording this this book. You can get it, and we will make sure to have the links for that in the show notes. I found it at goldcoastdoulas.com/supportedyourguidetobirthandbaby.Kristin: It's there. You can find it off that website or it has its own page. It's supportedbook.com. Meagan: Supportedbook.com, okay. We'll make sure that's all in the show notes, so you guys can grab that. Okay, so you know a lot. Obviously, you wrote a whole book and a whole course and all this stuff. Is there anything else that you would like to share in regards to just our final assembling of that powerhouse birth team?Kristin: So don't forget, I know we're talking a lot about pregnancy and birth prep, but don't forget your recovery phase. And you had talked about your own personal struggles with breastfeeding engorgement, recovery after a surgical birth. If you have, well, you do have other children at home with VBACs, and so looking at childcare, postpartum doula support, or what kind of family support you're going to have after, it's more than just meal plans and prepping the nursery. We strongly believe that as part of your dream team, the postnatal team is crucial as well. So whether it's a lactation consultant, a pelvic floor physical therapist, if you want to get back to running marathons again or are leaking. I mean, we can all use pelvic floor physical therapy. It's not just the athletes who they support. Some people, again, with building a home or other life occurrences like a wedding or preparing for college, you look at your budget. You look at your main goals. For a wedding, it might be food. For postpartum, it might be sleep. So hiring a sleep consultant when baby's old enough or an overnight postpartum doula or a newborn care specialist. What are your priorities? And take the budget. What might be paid for by insurance or, a health savings flex spending plan that you need to run down? What might be gifted? Like you mentioned, Be Her Village. There are different ways you can budget. And in the book, we talk about all of that and looking at employer plans, how to navigate that, what questions to ask your HR department about other members, like a chiropractor, could that be covered? A therapist? Oftentimes, we don't know our own benefits and certainly, I don't know my husband's benefits fully, so to be able to investigate that early in pregnancy and figure out what might be fully or partially paid for.Meagan: Wow. That is incredible itself. I feel like that's a whole other conversation of, how to navigate how to do that. So definitely go get the book, you guys, because it sounds like there are just so many things in there that are honestly crucial to know. really, really important things to know. You are incredible. Kristin: So are you.Meagan: I just enjoy chatting with you so much. Anything else? Yeah, anything else you'd like to add?Kristin: And obviously, take taking trainings and courses. If I know you have doulas who listen. It's not just parents.Meagan: Yes.Kristin: As doulas go through The VBAC Link. Get certified as a VBAC doula. Keep up with information that is ever-changing. We all want to be the best doula for each of our clients, but I am a firm believer in continuing our own education and that more and more of our clients are choosing to attempt VBACs, and so the more information you can get as a professional, the better you're able to support. It's just not the number of VBACs you've attended anymore. It's clients wanting that knowledge so you can be busier and also a more effective doula by getting that training and then going through the certification process that you offer.Meagan: Yeah, have a directory actually with birth doulas where people can go and find it because when Julie and I created this company way back in the day, we knew that we were just two people here in Utah. We couldn't change the VBAC world. We could give as much information as we could. We could share the podcast. We could do those types of things. But when it comes to birth workers, we wanted to reach birth workers everywhere. It's so great that we have and we're still having more people come on because they're helping people so much. I mean, we know you have doulas that do it all the time. These doulas do help and there are actual stats on doulas that do it. But I agree. If you're a birth worker, stay up to date. Be in the know. Know what's going on because you will likely need to help guide your client through it. Kristin: Then you can charge more. So take that investment in a training like The VBAC Link, and then you're able to charge more because you're more experienced. You have more certifications. So don't look at like, oh, I don't have any money for continuing education. Look at how that's going to change your career.Meagan: Yeah, and I think sometimes too you can charge a little bit more, take less clients, and be more personal with those clients and dive into it. Especially because we do know that VBAC does take some extra stuff that goes on with VBAC. There's some extra work to be worked through. There are some extra things and so yeah, I love that.Kristin: Well, thank you so much for having me on Meagan, I loved our chat.Meagan: Thank you. You as well. As always, I loved our other chat as well. We have to keep going. I think I'm going to order your book today and get going on that. Even though I'm not a mom preparing, I think this would be such a great book to suggest to all of my clients. So thank you for sharing. Thank you.Kristin: Yeah. My secondary audience is certainly anyone who works with families in the birth and baby space, but it is targeted again, just similar to my podcast. It's like I have the listener of the pregnant individual and family, but also birth workers. The book is similar. Thank you for ordering.I appreciate it. Meagan: Yes. And can you also tell everybody where to find you not just in your book, but Instagram, podcast, and all of the social medias?Kristin: So my podcast is Ask the Doulas. You can find us on all the podcast players and you were a guest recently, so very fun. And certainly, we're at Gold Coast Doulas on everything from Pinterest to YouTube to Facebook to Instagram. I don't have separate social sites for my book because I honestly don't have time for that.Meagan: That's okay. Yeah, it's a package. It comes with everything, so you don't need to have another book page. Well, awesome. Well, thank you again so much.Kristin: Thank you. Have a great day.Meagan: You too.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

The statistics on early childhood sexual abuse are heartbreaking. One in four girls and one in thirteen boys have experienced some form of childhood sexual trauma—at least the cases that get reported. It's hard to wrap your head around how something so dark can be happening so often. This is why talking about childhood sexual trauma is so difficult and often carries so much shame—it feels so unimaginable, even when it happens to you. But we know that shame thrives in silence, and the first step in healing is unpacking that trauma. In today's episode, Elisabeth and Jennifer sit down with Lovey Bradley, an NSI-certified practitioner, trauma therapist, and brain-based coach, to talk about the lasting impact of sexual trauma on our lives. Together, they explore how deeply trauma affects the body—from freeze responses and dissociation to bracing, pelvic floor tension, and pain—and how these experiences shape our lives. They also open up about their personal journeys and the ways they've worked to re-pattern their nervous systems with healing modalities like NSI, helping them heal and thrive after early childhood trauma. When shame has been your constant companion, it can feel impossible to set boundaries and reclaim your sense of self. But healing is possible. Lovey, Elisabeth, and Jennifer are living proof of that. Our bodies are always sending us signals on how to heal; the key is learning how to listen. If this episode resonates with you, whether you've experienced this trauma yourself or know someone who has, we invite you to listen and share. Topics discussed in this episode: Sobering statistics around sexual trauma in the population How the freeze response shows up in early childhood sexual trauma Why the freeze response is actually a survival mechanism Lovey's experience with becoming aware of her own freeze response pattern The most common ways sexual trauma shows up in our lives Pelvic floor contractions and how they affect intimacy How dissociation shows up in those who've experienced childhood trauma The ways our bodies naturally repress emotions, leading to dysregulation The role of shame in childhood sexual trauma Why setting boundaries feels so challenging for those affected by early trauma Healing from trauma with modalities like NSI, and what life can look like on the other side   Connect with Lovey Bradley on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drloveyb   Learn more about the Neuro-Somatic Intelligence Coaching program and sign up for the next cohort now! https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com   REWIRE RETREAT This spring, gift yourself the transformative experience of our Trauma Rewired Retreat in the tranquil gateway of Texas Hill Country. Escape the demands of daily life and immerse yourself in a 4-day journey designed by Jennifer and Elisabeth to reset and rewire your nervous system www.rewireretreat.org   Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com   Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired   Join the Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846   FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired   This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Trauma Rewired podcast  is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.  We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.  If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911.  We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available.  We don't warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It's very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren't responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast. We  invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization. We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.  We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional. The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system health, somatic processing and stress processing. It is not a substitute for medical care or the appropriate solution for anyone in mental health crisis.  Any examples mentioned in this podcast are for illustration purposes only. If they are based on real events, names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.  We've done our best to ensure our podcast respects the intellectual property rights of others, however if you have an issue with our content, please let us know by emailing us at traumarewired@gmail.com  All rights in our content are reserved  

Honestly, if you've given birth (either vaginally or via c-section), this is for you!Are you leaking pee, just wanting to return to exercise, dealing with prolapse, experiencing pain in sex in postpartum, urinary incontinence, or any other pelvic floor issues?? then listen in!In this episode with Christina from Tighten Your Tinkler, we discuss:What is the pelvic floor?Why is the pelvic floor important?Pelvic floor misconceptions What is normal when it comes to the pelvic floor?Proper bathroom positions to protect the pelvic floorHow do we address our pelvic floor problems?and more!!We discuss practical, evidence-based advice to help you navigate these common postpartum pelvic floor issues. Join Tighten Your Tinkler for advice and expert tips on your postpartum pelvic floor and learn about many misconceptions!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IMPORTANT LINKS:- Sign up for the Mom Club on Patreon: HERE- Duncan And Stone ( journals and memory books): HERE                  Use code LEARNINGTOMOM for 20% off your order                  Connect with them on Instagram Here                  Connect with them on Facebook Here- The Little Rose Shop (best Catholic and Christian toys and gifts): HERE.                   Use code LEARNINGTOMOM for 15% off!                  Their website                  Their instagram-Tighten Your Tinkler: (Pelvic Floor Healing Program): HERE                   Use code LEARNINGTOMOM  for $50 off their signature plan- Connect with Tighten Your Tinkler  HERE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Postpartum, pelvic floor, postpartum pelvic floor, What is the pelvic floor, why is the pelvic floor important, Pelvic floor misconceptions, urination, postpartum urination, c-section, sleeping through the night postpartum, what does pelvic floor pain feel like postpartum, postpartum pelvic floor exercises, when to start pelvic floor pt postpartum, postpartum pelvic floor and core exercises, postpartum pelvic floor care, postpartum pelvic floor issues, postpartum pelvic floor pain,  postpartum pelvic floor strengthening, postpartum pelvic floor therapy, mom, Mom podcast, parenting podcast, First time mom podcast, motherhood podcast, postpartum podcast, infant podcast, newborn care podcast, urinary incontinence (leaking urine), fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, rectum bulge into the vagina, pain during sex, and pelvic pain, all stemming from the stretching and weakening of the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth

My pelvic floor therapist's website says it best;  “there is a good chance that you have already been told that pelvic floor issues are “normal,” “part of getting older” or “just how your body is after childbirth.” We are here to tell you that there is help and hope. At Moses & Johnson (MOJO) Therapy Associates, we treat the issues that are talked about the least but often impact our daily lives the most.”  I have the wonderful and beautiful Ellen, a PFT and new mommy, on to talk all about pelvic floor, who is it for (aka everyone), what areas of life it can help you with such as fertility, pregnancy, post partum, sexual intercourse, PAIN, etc.  We dive into many things, like our own stories + how specifically it has helped us, all the muscles in your pelvic floor, Ellen talks about the benefits of dry needling, we talk about potty training, why it hurts to have sex and what we can do to fix that, ending period cramps, pros and cons of kegels, how PFT is more than helping with the physical stuff…mental health too.  Pelvic floor issues are common, not normal, and it's time we all know about it, it's time we give people in pain hope, it's time to change these certain hardships we face.  I truly cannot thank Ellen enough for coming on and sharing the important things about PFT.  We both believe it should be a requirement after delivery and Ellen shares a little about how MOJO's research could help make that a possibility. BIG DEAL.  I can't wait to have Ellen back and possibly some other PFTs to come on and share more about this.MOJO's website— https://www.mojoph.comInstgram— https://www.instagram.com/mojopelvichealth

Send us a textAs a physiotherapist specialising in pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and pelvic floor health, I'm a huge advocate for pelvic floor exercises— I love them, I live them, and I quite literally breathe them (haha!). But, with so much information online, it's important to ask: Are pelvic floor exercises right for everyone?In this episode, I dive into:The benefits of pelvic floor exercises in reducing the risk of incontinence and pelvic health issuesWhy traditional pelvic floor strengthening might NOT be appropriate for some womenHow factors like overactive pelvic floor, anxiety, athletic training, and birth trauma need to be consideredMy gold standard approach to pelvic floor recovery—before, during, and after pregnancyWhat does an ideal pelvic floor care plan look like?✅ 33/34 weeks pregnant – Pelvic floor assessment + birth prep✅ 2 weeks postpartum – Telehealth check-in✅ 6 weeks postpartum – Full pelvic floor assessment✅ Beyond 6 weeks – Individualized return-to-exercise plan based on birth recoveryAfter working with hundreds (if not thousands) of women, I know first-hand that one size does NOT fit all when it comes to pelvic floor health.Tune in to learn how to best support your body during pregnancy and postpartum—without falling into the “one-size-fits-all” trap!Free Register now: https://www.fitnestmama.com/pregnancyworkshopLINKS: Preparing for birth Pelvic health checklist Free 7 Day Trial Pregnancy Workouts Free 7 Day Trial Postnatal Workouts FitNest Mama Website Instagram @kathbaquie.physio ** This podcast has general information only. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health or medical condition.

Fix your pelvis with Bill's RECON program at http://www.reconu.co Free articles and courses from Bill Hartman at http://uhp.network Episode Summary:In this episode, Chris and Bill delve into the complexities of anterior pelvic tilt, discussing its definition, common misconceptions, and effective management strategies. Chapters & Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction to Anterior Pelvic Tilt01:07 – Definition of Anterior Pelvic Tilt vs. Orientation04:17 – Biomechanical Considerations05:31 – Why Posterior Orientation Isn't the Answer11:10 – Causes of Anterior Pelvic Orientation13:34 – Traditional Perspectives and Misconceptions19:04 – Reconsidering Stretching and Strengthening21:58 – Solutions: Reducing Muscle Activity and Managing Center of Gravity28:27 – They summarize the discussion, emphasizing the importance of understanding pelvic mechanics.Key Takeaways:Understanding Pelvic Mechanics: Distinguish between pelvic tilt and orientation to address issues effectively.Center of Gravity Management: Reducing muscle activity and managing the center of gravity are crucial for correcting anterior pelvic orientation.Exercise Strategies: Utilize exercises that promote relative motion and manage the center of gravity, such as reclined squats and elevated goblet squats.Avoiding Misconceptions: Traditional stretching and strengthening methods may not address the root cause of anterior pelvic orientation.LEARN MOREJOIN the UHP Network to learn directly from Bill through articles, videos and courses.http://UHP.network FOLLOW Bill on IG to stay up to date on when his courses are coming out:IG: https://www.instagram.com/bill_hartman_pt/TRAIN WITH BILLInterested in the only training program based on Bill Hartman's Model?Join the rapidly growing community who are reconstructing their bodies at https://www.reconu.co FREE EBOOK by Bill about the guiding principles of training when you fill out your sign-up form. http://www.reconu.co SUBSCRIBE for even more helpful content:YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BillHartmanPTIG: https://www.instagram.com/bill_hartman_pt/FB: https://www.facebook.com/BillHartmanPTWEB: https://billhartmanpt.com/Podcast audio:https://open.spotify.com/show/7cJM6v5S38RLroac6BQjrd?si=eca3b211dafc4202https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po

We talked about the plan that's in place to move MSG across the street to make more room for Penn Station. Bill Cowher was on with Dan Patrick and talked about Aaron Rodgers still not making a decision as it seems to be down to the Giants and Steelers. Boomer said we will find out something before the draft. If not, that means Minnesota is still in play. Boomer thinks he wants to come back one more year, and the Vikings would be the best place for one year. Boomer said Abdul Carter is the best player in the draft, then Travis Hunter. But they still won't have a QB. C-Lo returns for an update and starts with the sounds of St. John's beating Omaha by 30. Charles Barkley finally listened to a producer and went to a break during NCAA coverage. We heard from Sal Licata who couldn't believe how bad a job Evan Roberts did in securing the pizzas before the tournament started. The Knicks lost again to a bottom feeder team. Steph Curry injured his pelvis, which made Boomer think about Al's ‘pelvic floor syndrome' he suffered from a few years ago. In the final segment of the hour, Jerry played some great calls from Sam Rosen over the years, as the Rangers are honoring him this weekend.

The Big Hit: Murph & Markus react to the Warriors win, but Steph Curry leaving the game with a pelvic contusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Hit: Murph & Markus react to the Warriors win, but Steph Curry leaving the game with a pelvic contusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Do you know and understand the importance of your pelvic floor?? Let's talk about it! -- Don't forget to join us for our Crunchy Christian Mom's Summit April 26th! This podcast is pre-recorded so please note: We have fewer spots remaining and the pre-sale price has been extended thru FRIDAY 3-19-2025. ***Purchase HERE: https://square.link/u/yKb7uGwQ ---- Here is a bit more about Dr. Elissa and where you can find her! Meet Dr. Elissa! Pelvic floor Physical Therapist. - She started practicing pelvic floor Physical Therapy after Dr. Jesse convinced her to combine her love of women's health and Physical Therapy and it ignited a passion in her that changed her career forever. - She is also a mom to two boys that have been a complete blessing to her life. This transition to being a mom has also informed how she treats patients as entering into motherhood is such a special and tender time in a woman's life. - She was a collegiate swimmer and so has always been active and athletic but now that looks more like camping in the pop up with her husband and kids, running, biking and being outdoors in the summer, and cold swimming in the winter. She has also recently been dabbling in baking with sourdough and loving sharing the fruits of her labor with family and friends! -- Chiro for Moms YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chiroformoms -- Pelvic Floor for Moms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicfloor_for_moms/ -- My email address is team@pelvicfloorformoms.com

Did you know that two of the most powerful superfoods in your kitchen are probably the ones making you tear up?Garlic and onions aren't just flavour boosters—they're packed with potent compounds that fight inflammation, support your immune system, and even help detox your body. These humble kitchen staples are nature's own antibiotics, heart protectors, and gut health champions, all rolled into one.So, if you're not already loading up on garlic and onions daily, you're missing out on some serious health magic.In this episode, Jen explores why these powerhouse ingredients deserve a prime spot on your plate!LINKS: Take The Burnout Quiz Everyone Is Talking About!https://jenniferjefferies.com/wellness-superpower-quiz/Download your Podcast Shownotes (Ep 1 - 200)https://jenniferjefferies.com/shownotes/Feed Your Bodyhttps://jenniferjefferies.com/feed-your-body-eguide/Pelvic floor prolapse doesn't have to hold you back. Learn how to regain control and improve your quality of life with my team of expert guidance.https://jenniferjefferies.com/pelvic-floor-prolapse/Have you checked out my new Healthy Life Hacks App? 

We all know that movement is good for us - but what happens when you're too exhausted, achy, or unmotivated to get started? In this episode, I sit down with physical therapist Preeti Jha, who specializes in helping women over 40 build strength, confidence, and resilience, especially during perimenopause and menopause. Preeti shares invaluable insights on how hormonal shifts impact our bodies, why traditional fitness advice often misses the mark for women in midlife, and how to build a movement practice that feels good and sustainable - without the pressure of diet culture.    But don't skip this episode if menopause isn't on your radar yet! The wisdom Preeti offers applies to anyone looking to rethink their relationship with movement in a way that prioritizes self-care over punishment. If you've ever struggled with exercise motivation, this conversation is for you. Be sure to share it with a friend who could use some encouragement, and let me know your biggest takeaway by sending me a DM!   Episode Highlights   The biggest struggles that women have with exercise  How perimenopause/menopause changes the way we should approach exercise Ways to reduce knee pain (without dieting) Pelvic floor physical therapy - and how it's for more than just postpartum women   Resources Mentioned   - Connect with Preeti Jha on Instagram - Grab Preeti Jha's FREE beginners strength training guide   Read the full episode show notes here.   Resources for Your Intuitive Eating Journey   Intuitive eating education on the blog Work with Katy Explore the self-paced mini-course Stepping Off The Dieting Rollercoaster   Connect with Katy Harvey   Website: KatyHarvey.net Instagram: @katyharvey.rd Facebook: KatyHarveyRD    Subscribe and Review   Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts   I would be thrilled if you could rate and review my podcast! Your support helps me reach and encourage more people on their intuitive eating journeys. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Don't forget to share what you loved most about the episode!   Also, make sure to follow the podcast if you haven't already done so. Follow now!

Pelvic radiation can have many impacts on the body, including fibrosis, vaginal tissue narrowing, infertility, and bowel and bladder changes. In this episode, the PSA girls elaborate on how pelvic floor physical therapy can help manage these changes, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Youn, known as America's holistic plastic surgeon, has an insightful conversation with Dr. Rena Malik, a well-respected urologist, about pelvic health. They dive into topics like bladder leakage, ways to strengthen the pelvic floor, and cosmetic treatments related to urology. Dr. Malik highlights how crucial pelvic floor exercises are and advises seeing a urologist if issues persist. The discussion also touches on non-invasive treatments, lifestyle choices that impact pelvic health, and how education and social media play a role in raising awareness. Dr. Malik shares her expertise on PRP for erectile dysfunction, the decline in sperm counts, prostate health, and clears up some common myths about sexual health. Links and Resources: Connect with Dr. Malik Where can you find more information about how to autojuvenate your skin to a younger you? Check out my new book, Younger For Life! It's available at https://autojuvenation.com, and if you buy it now, you will receive over $100 in FREE gifts, including a $30 gift certificate for my online store younbeauty.com! Check out Dr. Youn's skincare products and nutritional supplements - younbeauty.com Download his FREE eGuide: "What to Eat to Look Younger" - dryoun.com/eat-look-younger Follow Dr. Youn on Instagram - @tonyyounmd Follow Dr. Youn on YouTube - youtube.com/tonyyounmd Follow Dr. Youn on TikTok - @doctoryoun Follow Dr. Youn on Facebook - @dryoun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you noticed changes in your pelvic health with age? Pelvic health physiotherapist Clare Bourne joins Liz to reveal why there is more to our pelvic health than just our pelvic floor.Clare shares common mistakes we make with kegel exercises, simple tips to improve going to the loo, and other lifestyle changes we can adopt to improve our pelvic floor.Liz and Clare discuss what can be done about pelvic organ prolapse (and share why it's not always just an issue seen in later life), cover urinary and fecal incontinence, and reveal the life-changing and life-saving benefits of vaginal oestrogen.Links mentioned in the episode:Strong Foundations by Clare BournePOGP free resourcesClare Bourne's websiteA Better Second Half by Liz EarleEmail us your questions at podcast@lizearlewellbeing.com OR leave a voicemail, text, WhatsApp message or WhatsApp voicenote our number - 07518 471846 for the chance to be featured on the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is pelvic floor therapy? Dr. Sara Reardon had two unmedicated vaginal births with no perineal tearing.  So, how? Sara has her online pelvic floor fitness platform The V-Hive (everyone can try free for 7 days) and her book available for pre-order now and releasing June 10, 2025 Floored: A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage  3 Key takeaways from the podcast that listeners will learn today: Pelvic floor issues affects almost 50% of women and there is help to prevent and overcome My book Floored can help guide you through Pregnancy, birth and postpartum to manage common issues like urinary leakage, prolapse and painful sex Preparing for birth can help improve birth outcomes and birth experiences for women and moms 3 Keywords that people would want to search when looking for content that you would provide in this episode: Floored The Vagina Whisperer Pelvic floor therapy Favorite baby product or new motherhood product? What would you buy for someone who was currently pregnant or a new parent?:   My book Floored, a comfortable pair of pajamas with buttons in friend, Frida Mom postpartum recovery kit Summary of guest experience – Who are you? What are your credentials? Dr. Sara Reardon, board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist and known on social media as The Vagina Whisperer. I have an online pelvic floor fitness platform, The V-Hive, for pelvic floor workouts for pregnancy, childbirth preparation, postpartum, perimenopause and painful sex.  I live in my hometown of New Orleans with my husband and two boys.  Website: www.thevagwhisperer.com - sign up for 7 days of free pelvic floor workouts Book: https://thevagwhisperer.com/floored/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thevagwhisperer YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thevaginawhisperer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-reardon-pt-dpt-wcs-4a6b1025/  Photography/Videography: Please email hello@birthstory.com subject YOUR NAME PODCAST PICS/VIDEOS any images I can share in my stories to promote your episode.  XOXO -Heids ___________________________________________________________________ We have seats available in Birth Story Academy. Join today for $20 off with code BIRTHSTORYFRIEND at https://www.birthstory.com/online-course   Resources: Birth Story Academy Online Course Shop My Birthing Workbooks and Guides   I'm Heidi, a Certified Birth Doula, and I've supported the deliveries of over one thousand parents in my career. On the Birth Story Podcast, I'll take you on a journey through your pregnancy by providing you education through storytelling. I provide high-level childbirth education broken down to make it super digestible for you because I know you are a busy person on the go. Plus, because I am so passionate about birth outcomes, you will hear from many of the top experts in labor and delivery. Connect with Me! Instagram YouTube Birth Story Boutique Doula + Pregnancy Concierge Services in Charlotte, NC Birth Story Media™ Website Pinterest  

The vagina is a dark and mysterious place. It is the passage by which most of us enter the world. As an adult, it is the place where our sexuality is housed, hopefully, associated with pleasure, but it can also be a place associated with pain, and sometimes trauma.  It is impossible to see the vagina without a speculum since the vagina is completely internal. And it was the invention of the speculum that allowed physicians to help women suffering from gynecologic conditions.  But, there is a dark history to the origins of the speculum exam, and even in recent times there are those that have taken advantage of this very vulnerable moment to harm, not help women.   In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Wendy Kline, a Professor at Perdue University who is internationally recognized for her scholarship in the history of medicine, the history of women's health, and the history of childbirth.  She is the author of many books, including her most recent book: Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam.  19th century- The invention of the speculum and how it changed gynecology The 1960s- the age of medical paternalism  2010 when the American College of Physicians said pelvic exams were no longer necessary Today- how predators and abusers have taken advantage of women during gynecologic exams Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam  Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK DrStreicher.Substack.com Wendy Kline Ph.D., Dema G. Seelye Chair in the History of Medicine at Purdue University, is internationally recognized for her scholarship in the history of medicine, history of women's health and the history of childbirth. She is the author of four major books: Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam (Polity, June 2024); Coming Home: How Midwives Changed Birth (Oxford University Press, 2019);  Bodies of Knowledge: Sexuality, Reproduction, and Women's Health in the Second Wave (U. of Chicago Press 2010); and Building a Better Race: Gender, Sexuality, and Eugenics from the Turn of the Century to the Baby Boom (U. of California Press, 2001). Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society. She is the Medical Director of Community Education and Outreach for Midi Health. Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago's top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine.  DrStreicher.com Instagram @DrStreich Facebook @DrStreicher YouTube @DrStreicherTV LinkedIn @DrStreicher                   Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER'S FREE NEWSLETTER   Books by Lauren Streicher, MD  Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist's guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain   Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy                                      To Find a Menopause Clinician Midi Health   www.Joinmidi.com Midi Health is a telehealth company that provides high-level menopause care and takes insurance in all 50 states. Dr. Streicher is Midi's Medical Director of Education and Community Outreach and is familiar with their medical protocols, which are all regularly updated and set by the top academic menopause experts in the country.  The Menopause Society- Certified Menopause Practitioner List Menopause.org To find a menopause practitioner: https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx Put in your zip code and designate NCMP or CMSP to get a certified menopause practitioner. While all people on this list have passed a competency examination, Dr. Streicher does not vouch for every one of these clinicians. Most are excellent.   Major Medical Centers It also may be helpful to check with major medical centers in your area. Many have menopause clinics or lists of doctors who have an interest and expertise in menopause.    If you are in the Chicago area, the center founded by Dr. Streicher:  The Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause Sexmedmenopause.nm.org      Dr. Streicher's Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.

While we can't control many parts of birth, there is so much we CAN do to quite literally change the trajectory of our birth outcome. First: Feel safe with where and with whom you will give birth.Second (but just as important!): Prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. During her first VBAC attempt, Maria hired a midwife. Her second birth had so much more advocacy, progress, and positivity, but there were still missing pieces, new traumas to process, and things she wished had gone differently.You will NOT WANT TO MISS hearing all of the things that changed for Maria from her first two births to her third. The proactive work, the passion, the prep, the healing, the research, the manifesting, the surrendering, the trust, and to top it all off, the beautiful, unmedicated VBA2C outcome. Just like Maria, our greatest hope is for all of you to unlock this birthing power that is already within you, no matter the birth outcome. Needed WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, hello, you guys. It seems like a common theme lately. A lot of people are wanting to submit their VBA2C stories, and I love it. I love it absolutely so much. We know so many of, these listeners in our community are wanting to know, is it possible? Can we VBAC after two Cesareans? I'm sure you've been noticing the theme in January and February, and now here in March, we have another VBAC after two Cesarean stories coming to you today from our friend Maria. Hello, Maria.Maria: Hi.Meagan: Thank you so much for being here and sharing your stories. We were just chatting a little bit before we got started about kind of where her birth took place, and she'll tell you more. But the VBAC was in Texas, right?Maria: It was. Yes, it was in Texas.Meagan: It was in Texas. So Texans. Texans? I don't know. we have Floridians, Utahns. Is it Texans?Maria: Texans. Yeah. Yep. And you know, Texas is a huge state, so this is central Texas in the Austin area. Yeah, because it's such a big state. It is.Meagan: It is very huge. We know people have to sometimes drive really far away to find support. And when it comes to VBAC after multiple Cesareans, we know sometimes that can be really challenging. And when I say sometimes, it's often. It is often challenging to find that support. So I really like to show everybody where you are in a way because we want people who are in Texas or who can get to Texas or who find it manageable, that they know that there is a supportive provider there. We'll learn more about that. But also, just a reminder, guys, if you're looking for a supportive provider, we have a supportive provider list. How many times can I say "supportive provider" in three seconds? A lot, apparently. Go to Instagram and hopefully at this point we'll have it on our website, so check our website too, but we will have that list.If you want to submit your provider, please let us know. Okay. We have a Review of the Week, so I want to get into that. This is by Whitney Goats, and the review title is "Amazing" on Apple Podcasts. It says, "I've been wanting to write a review for a while, but wasn't sure what I could say that would explain how much The VBAC Link meant to me. I had an unplanned Cesarean with my first and for the longest time, I felt broken and defeated. When I heard Julie and Meagan share their VBAC stories on the podcast, I cried. It was the first time that I felt understood and like I was not alone. Listening to their podcast has lifted my spirits, healed my emotional scars from the previous birth, and given me the confidence in myself and my body again. "I am now 28 weeks pregnant and preparing for my VBAC. Instead of being scared for this upcoming birth, I feel excited sometimes. I never thought it would happen. Thank you, Julie and Meagan, for the work that you have done connecting and educating all these amazing moms, and thank you for reminding me that I am a Woman of Strength even when I doubted it myself." Oh, that gave me chills. That gave me chills reading that. Oh my gosh. We love your reviews. That is amazing. And girl, Whitney Goats, I hope that you had the most amazing birth ever, and thank you for being here. Just like Maria and all the storytellers that have become before her, you guys, they're amazing and so are you. These storytellers are here to do that- uplift you, motivate you, educate you, and find the healing within yourself because it can happen, right Maria?Maria: Absolutely. 100%.Meagan: It absolutely can happen. Okay, you guys, as always, if you do not mind and if you are enjoying the podcast, will you leave us a review? You can go to Apple Podcasts. You can go to Google even and leave us a review there. You can go on Spotify or really wherever you listen to your podcasts, leave us a review. If you feel extra special and the platform that you're listening on can leave a comment, leave us a comment. You never know, it may be read on the next podcast. Okay, Maria, I want to turn the time over to you to share these stories.Maria: Thank you so much, Meagan, and I just want to say again how excited I am to be here. I agree 100% with that reviewer. This podcast was so impactful for me, and I hope that it can continue to be that for other women. I was also so excited that you're getting so many VBAC after two stories because I hope that that will continue to normalize that instead of it being this crazy thing that we're doing. Meagan: Yes.Maria: That's so exciting that it's becoming more common.Meagan: I know. It's actually making me smile so big because in the beginning, back in 2018, we had to search, and I mean search. We had to go on forums and type in "VBA2C" and really look for stories and almost had to seek them out. We had to go and ask, "Hey, would you be willing to share your story on the podcast?" And now we're just getting a flood of submissions which is so awesome. I love seeing it, and I would love to hear even more VBAC after three or four or five Cesareans because it is possible. It's not as easy to navigate through, but it is possible. And yes, there are risks. There are risks with anything that we do including a repeat Cesarean, but I want to help normalize this because, I mean, there are so many women just like Maria and myself who have gone on, done the work, got the education, and been able to have a vaginal birth. So. All right, well, we know with every VBAC or VBAC after two Cesareans, there's at least one Cesarean involved, so let's start with that story.Maria: Yeah. Okay. Thank you. So when I got pregnant with my first baby, this was in 2018, it didn't take me very long to find my way to the natural birth world. I watched The Business of Being Born like a lot of women, and I was fully convinced that I wanted to birth vaginally and naturally if possible. So, when my husband and I decided to move to Costa Rica halfway through my pregnancy, the very first thing I did was research the C-section rate versus natural birth rates in the country. I was pretty disappointed, although I wasn't surprised, to find that the rates there are pretty high. I mean, they're about the same as the US but a bit higher in the private hospital setting which is where I was going to give birth.I didn't want to let that deter me, and I was determined to build my team. From when I was still here in the States, I started researching the best OBs and doctors in the area and hospitals. I found two in the city of San Jose which is where we were living, the two most quote unquote natural OBs.Another interesting thing I found out was that midwives are actually not legally permitted to work in Costa Rica independently.Meagan: Really?Maria: Yeah, at least back in 2018. I don't know if things have changed since then, but they are not allowed to work independently. They are allowed to work alongside an OB. So I was like, okay. I went with one of these OBs, and there was one midwife who practiced in the city of San Jose, and they worked together as a team. And so I was like, okay, all right, well, I guess this is it. I have my team, and I thought I was done. I don't think that I fully understood the intensity of birth or the mental and physical stamina that would be required of me because it was my first baby.Meagan: You don't know what you don't know.Maria: You don't know. Exactly. I took a Bradley birth course with my husband, and I just assumed that everything would be fine as long as I had a good team, and I'd be able to escape the dreaded cascade of interventions that I'd heard so much about. I wasn't informed, but I don't know. I was very intellectually informed, but I didn't really know how intense labor is. So intellectually, I knew what I had to do. But anyway, we were living abroad. I went into labor naturally at 40 weeks, and I had a very long labor which began in the middle of the night which was a common theme in all my birth. They always started in the middle of the night which I think is pretty common. And because it was my first baby and I was so excited, I was unable to really stay calm and rest.I got very ramped up way too soon.I burned through a lot of my energy in the first 24 hours of what I now know was very early labor. So by the time it was actually more intense and I made it to the hospital, I was exhausted because I slept so little. We get to the hospital and my labor slowed down, which again, I know is not uncommon, but I think I was also just not feeling very relaxed. I started actually feeling uncomfortable with this midwife /doula as she told me she was. She said, "I'm a midwife/doula." I later learned that is not a thing. It's like, either you're one or the other. I just didn't feel like she was really supporting me as I expected she would. It seemed to me like she wasn't really a doula. I started realizing, okay, this is not what I was expecting. She was more of a quasi-nurse, really, for the OB and just assisting him. She was like his private nurse, basically. She was sitting there in the room either watching me. She'd come in and give me a position, but then just sit back and she was on her phone. At least that's how I was perceiving it. I just started kind of not feeling very safe with her, and I just shut her out. In hindsight, I think I should have asked her to leave. But at the time, I didn't really know that I could do that, and that I could really advocate for myself in that way, so I just kind of shut her out. She probably felt that it just wasn't a good click. So then I began to feel pressure by the team because I'd been there for probably, what is it, maybe 8 hours or so? They started pressuring me to get things going. And so the OB approached me about using what they call natural oxytocin which is what they call Pitocin.Meagan: Pitocin, yeah.Maria: Yeah. But they're like, "No, no, it's natural oxytocin." And I was like, "Okay, I know what that is." I could already see that I was being slowly kind of backed into this corner. I refused it several times, but I finally agreed to it. Of course, my contractions became excruciating, but I just was just determined to not have the epidural so that I could walk, even though I was already plugged into the IV and really not walking as free as I wanted. Eventually, one of the nurses, after a while, came in and she asked me when the last time I peed was. I couldn't remember. That's when I was like, "Oh yeah, it's been a long time." Nobody reminded me. I just didn't think about it. I had been drinking water, so they had me try, and I just couldn't pee. It's like my body just kind of shut down. So they decided to try and insert a catheter to see if it would empty my bladder and help baby descend. So I was laying on the bed. I had five people around me trying to place this catheter in me. I was on Pitocin, so I was having these intense contractions, and they weren't able to insert it. They said it was because of the way my body was. I guess my urethra was towards the back or something, and they just weren't able to do it. That was really disappointing because I was really hoping that that would be the magic thing that would help baby descend. Finally, the OB came in and was like, "Listen, if you want to avoid a C-section, you should just do an epidural so that your body can relax, and maybe that could help us place up the catheter and then, baby will descend." I was like, "Okay, all right. Let's do it." They did it. It felt amazing for a couple of minutes, and then immediately, my baby's heart rate dropped. The OB basically just called in an emergency, and I was whisked off to the operating room for an emergency C-section. I was traumatized because I legitimately thought I was dying. I thought it was a true emergency. I was like, oh my gosh. I can't believe it. I'm gonna die. Of course, I've learned since then that a baby's heart dropping after an epidural is pretty common.Meagan: Pretty common, yeah.Maria: And that it wasn't really a true emergency that merited a C-section right then and there. That's been a really hard thing to process.Meagan: And frustrating, too, because he was like, "If you want to avoid a Cesarean, this is what you have to do," and then you did that, and then it immediately went that way.Maria: Yeah. I honestly thought he was. I think he was probably just prepping me in advance to just have the epidural so we could just go there.Meagan: Yeah, that's hard.Maria: Yeah. After baby was born, the hospital policy required me to go into the post-op room for 30 minutes to recover, and I would then be rejoined with my baby.Meagan: Oh, so your baby wasn't allowed to be with you?Maria: No. Meagan: What?Maria: Yeah. So my first 30 minutes as a mom, I was separated from my baby. He was with my husband. I was taken to this room where I was recovering alongside other people that I didn't know who were also recovering from other types of surgeries.Meagan: Whoa.Maria: Yeah, so I was like on this bed paralyzed still because of the epidural and shivering. It was a really surreal moment because I felt like, oh my gosh. I just had a baby. Wait, why am I here? What is happening? It was really, really traumatizing, and that was just their policy at that hospital. So it was really traumatizing for me. I was eventually joined back with my husband and baby, but needless to say, it really affected me.I did struggle with postpartum depression and anxiety for a long time. I had a very hard time bonding with my baby for that first year. I felt really robbed of that dream birth I had envisioned, and I felt robbed about the golden hour right after when you get to enjoy your baby and celebrate the fact you just had a baby. I felt like I never got that.Meagan: That would be very difficult. There are a lot of people who get their babies taken away, and it is so frustrating. I just wanted to give a little reminder that if you don't have your baby and you want your baby, it's okay to demand your baby and find someone who will do anything in their power to get that baby back to you.Maria: Yeah, so that was my first birth. So the second birth took place about two years later, and we were back in the US due to the pandemic. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I was actually in Costa Rica when I found out I was pregnant, and then we moved back to the US halfway through my pregnancy. I just knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was going to try for VBAC. I was extremely confident that I could do it because I felt that if I found a truly supportive provider, there just was no reason why it wouldn't go smoothly. I had a lot of unprocessed anger and trauma that I hadn't fully worked through. I was still very angry at my OB, at the midwife, at the hospital, even though I did do therapy actually in Costa Rica, but I don't think I fully worked through this part. Even though none of it was truly 100% their fault, I still felt really let down, and of course, I felt anger at myself even for my perceived failure of my body to birth my baby. My way, at the time, of avoiding a repeat of this was to just completely avoid the hospital setting and go the complete opposite direction. So I opted for full midwifery care and home birth. I just didn't want anything to do with the hospital. It was traumatic. I was like, no hospital. At the time, we were living at my parents' home in their hometown. I basically hired the only midwife that I knew in town. I didn't really interview anyone else. I just went with her. I think in my mind at the time, as long as you were a midwife, she would be 100% better than an OB. Again, I was very angry at OB at the time. But also, I did meet the midwifery team and they seemed experienced and I liked them, so I felt really confident that everything would work out like it was going to work out. There was no plan B. Meagan: Yeah. Maria: In terms of preparing for my birth, I didn't really do much outside of remaining active. I did prenatal workouts. I walked. I was healthy. I thought that was pretty much what you had to do. I just thought again that not being in a hospital would solve all my problems, and that was the only ingredient I was missing for my dream birth, which, of course, I later learned was just part of the equation.So this time, my labor started actually pretty slowly. I had a premature rupture of membranes. It was a very slow trickle. It took over 24 hours of that for my labor to actually start. That was even after some homeopathic pellets. I don't really know what it was, but my midwife gave it to me and some castor oil that I took. I'm a pretty anxious person, so I was getting very anxious about my labor not starting because I had it in my head that I couldn't go too long without my water breaking. In my mind, I was on this timeline. I don't do well under pressure, so right off the bat, I was already in my head about it.Meagan: Yeah.Maria: I was so antsy to get labor going that I just wouldn't let myself rest. I actually went walking in the middle of the night with my husband instead of trying to rest. I was like, I will get this labor to start. I was just not really saving my energy. I was getting revved up again too soon. So again, once labor got going, I was exhausted.This time, I'd opted to give birth at my parents' home which in hindsight was probably not the best idea because I felt their presence in the home. I'd sense their worry and their concern over me, at least in my head. I was mostly in their bedroom, so I started getting claustrophobic in there. I felt like a caged lion at one point. I was like, ah. Now nobody was actually pressuring me, but I felt it. I just felt like my whole family knew I was in labor. Everyone was waiting for me. Again, hindsight is 20-20, right? I was like, man, I could have asked them to just leave for a while, but I just didn't feel like I could.Meagan: Yeah, it's their house. It's their house. It's their space. Yeah, it's weird. But I will just point out that who you have in your space and where you labor can impact your labor for sure because you're in your head.Maria: Yes, 100%. It took me two labors to learn that. Especially if you're a sensitive person and feel energy and if you're anxious, you have to be really aware of is somebody helping you or not? And if they are re not, then you can say you can ask them to leave. I just didn't know that I could do that.Anyway, I powered through it. Even despite that, I think labor was better in my home than it was at the hospital. I definitely felt more comfortable. I was more free. I was trying all these different positions and shower, bathtub, you know, everything. I felt really powerful. It was really positive at first. It was, despite the fact that I was really tired too. But it was a very long labor. Once again, my body shut down and I could not pee even though everybody was trying to remind me to go. I was trying to go, and there just came a point when my body just stopped wanting to go. We got to that point where they were like, "Okay, well let's try and place a catheter." They were not able to do it. I guess I have a very small urethra or something. Something happens in my body during labor. It's hard to get to it. This was a home birth, so they had their equipment on hand. They didn't have all the options that maybe they would have in a hospital of different sizes or something, so they just weren't able to place it. It was very, very disappointing. They also felt that I was getting weak, and I didn't want to eat anymore. They hooked me up to an IV. They gave me oxygen. This started triggering this fear in me that this was heading in a direction that I didn't like. It wasn't feeling like the peaceful home birth I had envisioned. I eventually got to 10 centimeters, and they said I could start pushing even though I didn't really feel much of an urge to push but I was like, okay, I'm 10 centimeters. I guess I'll try pushing. I started pushing for multiple hours, but the baby just wasn't descending. And at one point, the midwife could see the baby's head higher up, and she actually attempted to pull the baby out with her hands.Meagan: Kind of went in like a soft forceps.Maria: Yeah, exactly. It was very painful. Super traumatic. I was like, oh, my gosh. This is not what I envisioned. But she wasn't able to do it. He was just too high up. After that, I just remember seeing her throw up her hands and with her body just kind of say, I give up. There was nothing more that she could do for me. At that moment, with a surprising amount of clarity and conviction, I decided to call it and request to be transferred to the only hospital in my town that accepted VBAC, any other hospital would have had me go straight for a C-section. So this was my last chance because I wasn't done trying to VBAC. I was like, okay, home birth isn't gonna happen, but maybe VBAC will at a hospital. And so, we got to the hospital. When I got to triage, they checked me, and they actually said I was nowhere near complete and that I was 8 centimeters dilated, and that I was very swollen.Meagan: That's what I was gonna just ask. I'm wondering if you got swollen.Maria: I was definitely very swollen, but they also said I wasn't 10 centimeters. I was like, "What? What do you mean?" Because in my mind, I was like, I'm almost there. I'm 10 centimeters. Maybe all I need is an epidural maybe. Maybe I just need that final little push. At that point, I was okay with drugs. I was like, "Give me whatever." I'm so close, right?Meagan: Yeah, yeah.Maria: But no, they were like, "No, you're 8 centimeters." And also, my contractions had really spaced out, so they gave me an epidural. They gave me Pitocin, and they let me rest.Meagan: Did they give you a catheter and empty your bladder?Maria: Yes, they gave me a catheter to empty my bladder, but baby was just not coming down. And also, the epidural did not sit well with my baby again. They didn't whisk me away to a C-section this time, but they were starting to bring up, "Okay, it's been a long time." They also were pretty concerned that my water had broken two days before, and that was a big red flag for them. They started mentioning C-section as the safest route for me. After, I don't know, probably 8 hours there, I just kind of said, "Okay, let's just do a C-section, and we just went with it." This time was less traumatic because it wasn't an emergency. I chose it. I was also never separated from my baby, and that was very huge.Meagan: Yes.Maria: That was huge. Yeah, 100%. Like, I got to carry him immediately after birth. I was able to breastfeed him. I was like, nobody is separating me from this baby right now, and they didn't. So that was very healing, and I was very grateful for that. That was that birth. After the birth, the midwives did come to see me at my house, and when I asked them what happened, they weren't really able to give me an answer. The final consensus was that my hips were likely too narrow. At the time, this diagnosis actually gave me comfort because at that point--Meagan: It validated you.Maria: Yeah, it validated me. I felt like, okay, I tried everything. It felt like an answer. It was a neat and clean end to this journey. There was a lot of mourning still. It was a heavy weight on me, this disappointment of a failed VBAC and something that I would need to process for a long time because I felt really cheated. I really felt like I'd run an entire marathon, and that I could see the finish line only to find myself pulled back to the starting line again and have to run another marathon.I felt like I had gone through two whole births, the super intense home birth and then C-section. So I felt like, oh my gosh. I was wiped out. So, yeah. Those are my two C-sections.Meagan: Yeah. I mean, lots of really forward-moving progress with the second for sure and still work to be done. But also, you had some validation for you at the time. It felt better. Overall, it went better.Maria: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It definitely was better. It was better, but it was, in a way, almost more frustrating though because I got so close. I was like, I'm so close and yet I was pulled back to the exact opposite birth.Meagan: Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about swelling because swelling can happen. You can be 10 centimeters. Swelling can happen. It causes puffiness and causes our cervix to swell which then presents as not 10 centimeters. There are a lot of different factors like a baby that is maybe not putting equal pressure on the cervix during pushing or pushing before our body is really ready for us or going in there and doing that, I call it, soft forceps. This is just me making this up, but my fingers are a lot softer than forceps. So her doing some soft forceps was in effort to help baby come down and move but could have disturbed the cervix a little bit and then sitting in on the way. So I just wanted to point out that is it possible that you could have been 10 centimeters? Yes. Is it possible that swelling could have caused the regression? Yes, there are some hem-- oh my gosh. How do you say it? Hemopathic. Is that how you say it? Hemopathic. They're little tablets.Maria: Homeopathic.Meagan: Homeopathic. Why do I say hemeo all the time? Homeopathics. Just like they had given you those little tablets that can actually help with swelling of the cervix. So if you have a midwife or you want to look into that and have that in your bag at the hospital, if that happens, you might want to check that out. While you're telling your third story, I will see if I can find the exact name because I cannot place it in my mind right now, but I've seen midwives use it, so that's another thing. And then sometimes Benadryl. A lot of the time, I'll see moms be given Benadryl for swelling.Maria: Yeah, I don't think they gave me any of that. I think at the hospital they were just kind of like, "Oh, 48 hours. Okay, let's--".Meagan: Yeah, the typical.Maria: And yeah. I think they knew from the beginning probably that I'd end up in a C-section. I don't know.Meagan: Might have. Yeah. So baby one, baby two. How did things change with baby number three?Maria: Everything changed. So when I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I, was very surprised and excited. But as soon as I actually thought about the birth you, I felt dread. I knew I was out of options mostly because my fate had been sort of sealed with this diagnosis of narrow hips. I was pretty much certain that my only choice was a third C-section. That really filled me with dread because I had a really rough recovery with my second C-section. I was really unhappy with my scar. I just felt really not looking forward to a third C-section. So I was like, okay. It felt very scary. I decided to approach my husband about trying for a VBAC again. I was sort of certain he would be nervous about supporting me about that. I felt like it was gonna be like, "Maria, you've tried twice. Let's just accept it. Let's move on." But surprisingly, he was actually supportive and he told me to just start with doing some research about VBACs after two and to get some opinions. So I did. The first thing I actually did though was I looked into gentle C-sections because I was like, "Okay, I'm going to get my kind of worst-case scenarios out of the way just in case. If I'm going to have a C-section, I want it on my terms." I looked up the best gentle C-section OB in the area. I was like, "Okay, I've got something there." Then I reached out to my midwife for my second birth and asked for her opinion about going for a VBAC again. I reached out to a few birth centers in the area, and my midwife pretty much told me that she did not think I was a good candidate for VBAC again and that I would end up likely in a C-section. Again, because she was like, "You did everything you could. It just didn't work. I just don't think you're a good candidate." And then most of the birth centers in the area declined me because they only did the VBACs after one.Meagan: After one. Yeah.Maria: Only two birth centers in the area accepted VBAC after two. I was like, "Okay, I'm gonna go see one of them and just get a second midwife opinion."Meagan: Yeah.Maria: When I got there, this place inspired a lot of peace and comfort. It was this really cozy little space. It was a little cottage near hospital. The midwife I met with, her name is Galyn. Can we give you the name?Meagan: Yeah, yeah. Uh-huh.Maria: Yeah. So this is called The Family Birth Center. It's just amazing and Galyn is amazing. So she just was very confident. I told her my entire birth story. I was sure to add every single complication and also tell her what my previous midwife had said. I honestly painted a really dire picture for her. I was like, "I have really long labors. I can't pee." You know, blah, blah, blah. I was prepared for her to tell me that I was not a big candidate. Honestly, I almost wanted her to say that so that I could just close that chapter and go get my scheduled gentle C-section and move on because that felt easier and safer. Yet her response was not a no. It was actually a non-hesitant, "Absolutely, you can do this." I was shocked. I mean, she obviously asked for my op-reports and everything, but she said that she didn't see why I wouldn't be able to. She had a ton of experience with VBAC after multiple C-sections. She even said that she had a very special place in her heart for these mamas because, as she called us warrior mamas, who really, really wanted it. She did not believe that I was too narrow because that's actually quite rare. She thought it was likely that the baby was simply badly positioned. So right off the bat, she was like, "Okay, I would start you on some Vitamin C to strengthen your bag," which I didn't even know a thing. She was like, "Pelvic floor therapy right off the bat, and you need a proper doula." I was like, "Yes, yes, yes." I'll do all those things because I realized I had not really had a proper doula in my previous birth. And honestly, every concern or worry that I brought up, she was able to talk through it with me, provide a solution or just remind me that no birth is the same. She couldn't really control or predict the outcome of the birth but there were lots of things that we did have control over.One of the things that I was really worried about was my inability to pee during labor. She was like, "Okay well, we'll place a catheter." I was like, "Yeah, but they tried both times and it didn't happen." And she was like, "Well, I'll get you a really tiny one." I was like, "Okay." So she didn't seem worried about that. I just went with it and went with her confidence. I think I decided then and there that I wanted her because I just felt really heard and I don't know. She provided lots of practical and realistic solutions that we could control. Anyway, this time around, I hired a doula. Shout out to Jenna, my doula. Also an amazing, amazing woman. I went to pelvic floor therapy. I also did therapy again to process my past births. I worked really, really hard on radically accepting whatever this birth came to be. So unlike my first two births where I had a really rigid idea of what it would be, this time I worked really hard to just sort of surrender to whatever it ended up being. I also read several books, including how to Heal From a Bad Birth.Meagan: Yes.Maria: A really good book, and Birthing From Within which I also loved. It was a really impactful book, actually. I started doing some art therapy just to process some of my feelings and just about this pregnancy and birth. I listened to every single episode you guys had on VBAC after two. I took The VBAC Link course. Honestly, I hardly worked out mostly because I had two little boys under four, and I just did not have it in me. But I was still very active with just normal life and taking care of two little kids. I did walk a bunch and did some gentle, prenatal yoga. I also did some exercises recommended by my doula from Spinning Babies. The other thing which was different was that I was really mindful of my body positioning throughout my pregnancy. I was always trying to listen to my body and be mindful of my alignment. When I was watching TV or sitting at my desk, I'd sit on a ball. I'd sit on the floor. I love to go on my hands and knees. That felt really good on my back. So just kind of listening to what my body was asking me to do and just being more aware of my body. My whole motto was, throughout the whole time was, "Get out of my head into my body." Preparation felt really different for me this time. I felt like I was preparing my body from the inside out physically speaking. Like I said, I was going to pelvic floor therapy. I was also making room in my uterus for my baby with these exercises to be in the best position possible but I was also really focused on my mind, my spirit, processing all my fears, my traumas. It felt just so much more holistic. I did HypnoBirthing with an app. I wrote down my own prayer affirmations which actually became a really central anchor during my labor. I felt just really ready this time in a new way. And not just because of my dream team but because I was really just ready to surrender to whatever was to come. And also, what was driving me was this new goal which was this idea of just giving my body a chance to labor was the best thing both for me and my baby regardless of the outcome of the birth. Even if it ended up in a C-section, I was still doing what was best for my body and my baby. That's what I kept repeating to myself. It just gave me a lot of peace because the success of this birth was not tied to what kind of birth it was. You know what I mean?Meagan: Yes, yes.Maria: It removed a lot of that pressure, a lot of that fear, and that was just such a game changer for me. Yeah, that was the preparation. A few weeks before the birth, I'd been starting to get more intense Braxton Hicks, but nothing really consistent. I was really just trying to practice the art of basically ignoring them because my goal for my early labor was to just pretend like they weren't happening. I didn't want to get too excited too fast. I wanted to ignore them for as long as possible especially if they started in the middle of the night which is kind of a theme for me. It ended up being really great practice to do that because on Labor Day, of course, I started getting my first contraction at 2:00AM and I just denied it. I was like, nope, they're Braxton Hicks. I just wasn't allowing myself to get riled up. I managed miraculously to doze off for 20 minutes at a time until they started coming on stronger. Once I realized that this was early labor, I had decided before that I wanted to labor alone for a while. This was actually something that I'd been wanting to do just to have this early early labor be a sacred moment for me and my baby. I wanted to be able to pray, to talk to my baby and to prepare together for the work which we would be doing together, both of us. I went into the living room. I let my husband sleep a bit longer, and it was a really special time for me. I'm so happy that I did that.Meagan: Yeah, I was just going to say that is a very powerful moment. Our babies are so connected and if you can have any time, even if it's just like 20 minutes. "Hey, I'm going to the bathroom." Take 20 minutes in the bathroom and connect with your baby. I just think it's so powerful.Maria: Yeah. Yes. It was amazing because I did feel connected the whole labor in a way that I did not in my previous ones where I was very disconnected to what was happening in my body. I was in my head a lot. So at about 6:00am, my contractions were getting stronger and I was like, okay, it's a reasonable time. I'm going to go ahead and wake my husband up. I also knew that my boys would be waking up soon, so I wanted my husband to focus on them and get them breakfast. And then I explained to my boys that baby was coming soon, that they were going to go stay with their cousins for a night or two. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to fully relax if they were still in the house. It felt really important for me to say goodbye and to make sure that they were going to be happy and in a safe place. As soon as my brother-in-law picked them up, I just really felt my body, okay, let go and things just started picking up. I took a shower. I had breakfast. I knew it would probably be a very long labor, so I wanted to eat. I called my doula. She came over and her presence was just such a game changer because she was just this calm, comforting presence. Not to say my husband was not, but she's just more-- this is her job. She's more objective. She was able to suggest different positions. She knew when to let me be. She pushed me when I had to be pushed and let me be when I had to be left alone. But the best thing she did was she did not let me head to the birth center too soon. I wanted to go and she'd be like, "Okay, let's just wait for 30 more minutes. Can you do 30 more minutes? Yeah, let's try this position. Let's walk a little bit. Let's do this and that." That was so important because I would have gotten there way too soon. She and my husband were in touch with Galyn, the midwife. Everyone was just super chill and relaxed. Everyone ate lunch. I don't think I did, but everyone else did. It was just a nice day. It was a cool rainy day. And then at about 2:00 PM my contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart. They were lasting about a minute, and they were getting intense. I was like, "Okay, I need to go." They were like, "Okay, yeah, let's go." We got to the birth center. I was just wrapped in this fluffy blanket. I just picked it up like I was in this daze. I was listening to my HypnoBirthing app. And Galyn, she was so relaxed about everything. Everyone was just very relaxed. It was during the daytime. She'd come in. She'd leave. I got in the bathtub at point. At one point, she checked my dilation and asked me if I wanted to know. And I said, "Nope, I don't want to know because I don't want to get in my head." She was like, "Even if you're 9 centimeters?" And I was like, "No." Okay. That was so amazing. That was such a push of encouragement. And so that was very helpful. Once again, I ran into the issue of being unable to pee. Of course, not surprisingly. So Galyn asked me want if I wanted a catheter. I said, "Okay, let's try it," but I was super nervous about it.Meagan: Yeah.Maria: But this time it was super easy. It was amazing. It went in right away. She had the right size. I don't know what it was, but--Meagan: Right size, pelvic PT.Maria: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was easy. I had a ton of pee. After that I was like, oh, my gosh. I surpassed these two huge obstacles of being really well-dilated and also, an empty bladder. Like, I got this. It's amazing. I felt this new surge of energy. After that, I just focused on one contraction at a time. Each one lasted four breaths for me. Each breath coincided with a short prayer that I would say to myself. The hardest breaths were always breath two and three because it was the peak of the contraction. But I knew the pattern in it, and so I knew what to expect. I just remember opening my hands every time and surrendering and just trying to just relax my body and just accept it, and let it wash over me. I was doing a lot of visualization of my body, my pelvis opening, my baby coming down. I was so connected to my body and my baby. I just remember communicating with her and visualizing her coming closer to me. And this, like I said, was something so new for me, this connection. After about two hours of labor, there I was fully dilated. They had me do some focused pushing. Unfortunately, I never really felt that overwhelming urge to push that I'd read so much about and that I had wanted to feel. My pushing was more directed, but it felt a lot less forced than with my second birth. I decided to push on the bed on my hands and knees. My husband and doula were each holding a hand. Galyn was encouraging me. Every time I pushed and she would feel the baby come down, she'd let me know. That was really encouraging to know that it was productive pushing. I was just so focused. After about 40 minutes of pushing, she told me, "Okay, the next push, you're going to feel a burn." Before I knew it, it was the ring of fire I'd heard so much about. Although it was painful, I was just in awe that I was feeling it. I was like, oh my gosh, this means something. I'm so close. It was surreal. I was experiencing it in this weird, out-of-body way. And then the next push, baby was born. I was just in shock. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't fully believe that I did it. They passed her to me immediately. I was still on my hands and knees. I will just never, ever forget the feel of her body and her skin when I held her for the first time. It was the birth of my dreams. I think one of the other things I just loved was just that time afterwards that I never got to experience and that moment of coziness where we were just laying in this queen bed, my husband and I and my baby, and just eating together, holding her immediately, breastfeeding her like it was just a dream. I got to take a bath with some healing herbs. It was amazing. And then, after several hours, we just drove home with our baby.Meagan: Just amazing. That is what birth is about right there. All of those feelings, all of those smells and experiences and bonding moments. I am so happy for you. Let's just say you debunked the myth. Your pelvis was great. Your pelvis and your hips were just fine. It really just took someone educated to know that your baby was in a poor position and that okay, instead of doing this size catheter, let's do a smaller catheter. It's just these little things that made such a big difference. I think it's really important to vet our providers when we are interviewing them. I love that you were like, I gave her all the bad. Like, all of it. I just laid it on her. I wanted her to know everything that I was being told or that was said or that had been done. And then for her to be like, "Okay yeah, I hear those. I see these op-reports, but still don't believe there's anything that makes you not be able to," is just so powerful. So those are the types of providers, and if there really, really, really is a medical reason, they can back it up. "Okay, let's consider something." But I do love that you just came in with all of it, just all of it, and expecting her to be like, "No." And then when she said yes, you're like, "Wait, what?"Maria: What?Meagan: "Wait, what? Can you repeat that?" We really are getting more of that flack and doubt, so it's so great to hear that there's such a supportive provider out there in your area because every area needs it. I would love to see more support coming in because the fact of the matter is, it can happen. It can happen. It is possible, and really, the risk is relatively low, right? It's low, and it's something. And then we do know that to some people, it's not acceptable, and that's okay. But know that the risk is relatively low and that the world paints it to be so much bigger than it is.Maria: Right. Well and also, nobody talks about the risks of repeat sections. Right? Nobody mentions it. I'm like, why is this not being even mentioned at all?Meagan: We talk about it here because it isn't talked about. We have providers say, "Oh, uterine rupture, uterine rupture this and that," but they're not like, "Hey, dense adhesions connecting to your bladder for life, scar tissue gaining for life, back pain that you may discover in your 50s that is related to your Cesarean adhesions and pain." And then, not to mention there are a lot of things like hysterectomy, increased blood loss. You guys, there are things to talk about and complications that can come forth in the future pregnancies as well. We don't talk about those to scare you. We don't talk about uterine rupture here to scare you. We don't talk about uterine rupture or share uterine rupture stories to scare you. We are here to educate you. We want you to know there are pros and cons on both sides. If you find a provider who is all about sharing the risk about VBAC instead of repeat Cesarean, you might not want to be with that provider because there are risks for both sides so if you're getting a one-sided risk, there are some concerns there.Maria: Yeah. Yeah, exactly.Meagan: Well, thank you again so much for sharing your stories. Congratulations. I'm so happy that you found the right provider. You found the dream team. Everyone was on your side and supporting you along the way.Maria: Thank you, Meagan. Again, I think that's only one part of the equation. We as the moms have that other responsibility of really healing ourselves and our past traumas and doing more than just, I guess, working out. A lot of people don't think about the inner work that we have to make for our pelvic floor and even the uterus with making space for your baby in there for optimal positioning. I never heard of these things before you. All of that knowledge was very helpful.Meagan: Yeah, there's a lot of work. Before we started recording you were like, "With my second birth, I just hired a midwife and put it in her hands and was like, hey, I did the work. I hired a midwife," but there's so much more than that. And yeah, finding a supportive provider, getting the education, but there's so much work. We talk about this in our VBAC course-- mental and physical prep. We talk about it early on in the book because it is such a big part of how things can go and if we don't do those things, it can impact us. That doesn't mean you can't get through it and have a VBAC. I don't want to say if you don't go to therapy, you won't get a VBAC or if you don't do these things, but these things will impact you in a positive way more than a negative. I also want to talk about trauma and birth and going through and working through it from the inside out. It's not even birth. It's life. It's affecting us for life. We hold trauma in our body. We hold emotions. We pent them up and yeah, it's just you. We gotta work through them. We can't just shove them in and be like, "Well, that was that. I'll let it go," because it's not going to be let go. It's inside of us.Maria: Yeah.Meagan: Yeah. It'll show up. It will show up. It might be years. It might be months, you never know, but it's important to work through it. Okay, well I will not take any more of your time because I know you've already been with me for a bit, and I just wanna thank you again.Maria: Thank you so much, Meagan. It's been such an honor.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Pelvic floor challenges like incontinence and prolapse are common and very treatable but so many women struggle with shame, uncertainty and a belief that the only option is surgery or kegels.  Learn the true reasons for your situation and how you can eliminate the bothersome symptoms and feel like yourself again.  Watch my Free Masterclass herehttps://www.vaginacoach.com/kmworkshop_______________________________________________________________________________________Moisturize Your Vaginahttps://www.feel-amazing.com/?ref=vaginacoach_______________________________________________________________________________________Join the Buff Muff Method and get the 28 day challenge Free!https://go.buffmuff.com/method?utm_source=cf-redirect&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organicThank you so much for listening! I use fitness and movement to help women prevent and overcome pelvic floor challenges like incontinence and organ prolapse. There is help for women in all life stages! Every Woman Needs A Vagina Coach! Please make sure to LEAVE A REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE to the show for the best fitness and wellness advice south of your belly button. *******************I recommend checking out my comprehensive pelvic health education and fitness programs on my Buff Muff AppYou can also join my next 28 Day Buff Muff Challenge https://www.vaginacoach.com/buffmuffIf you are feeling social you can connect with me… On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VagCoachOn Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vaginacoach/On Twitter https://twitter.com/VaginaCoachOn The Web www.vaginacoach.comGet your Feel Amazing Vaginal Moisturizer Here

Pelvic health disorders can disrupt women's quality of life. The conditions might be considered common and inevitable, but they should not be ignored.

The Kegel debate is heating up… but what are we really disagreeing about?Over the past few years, the conversation around Kegels has shifted big time. We've seen an explosion of “no-Kegel” content, frustration from those pushing back, and even research articles challenging each other in the literature.In this episode, we break down the three major camps in the Kegel conversation:

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