Talking Pelvic Health with a PT, with Sara Reardon

Adriana talks with Pelvic Health Physical Therapist Sara Reardon about what optimal pelvic health looks like. They go into the details about what to do- and not do- when peeing or pooping, discuss common issues such as leakage, painful intercourse, and abdominal separation, and explore proactive actions you can take during pregnancy to support your postpartum recovery. Check it out.

What we talked about:

• Your relation with your pelvic floor
• How’s it functioning?
• Leakage, painful intercourse, abdominal separation, oh my!
• Required thoughts on kegels (hint – can do damage if not needed or done wrong)
• Optimal pooing function: what it looks like, how to support it, what not to do
• Optimal peeing function: what it looks like, how to support it, what not to do
• Preventing prolapse
• Pelvic pain and intercourse
• What does a pelvic PT visit look like?
• Proactive actions during the second trimester
• Proactive actions during the third trimester
• Abdominal bands: support or crutch?
• Early postpartum and your pelvic floor
• Breathing! The magical tool
• Too much exercise is a thing
• The “Goldilocks perineum”
• Checking your postpartum expectations for recovery
• Suggestions for pushing during birth

Helpful resources & links*:

• The Vagina Whisperer’s Blog, lots of great articles from Sara’s website
• Finding a pelvic PT specialist directory here, or here, or here
• Squatty Potty
• Mama Strut wearable soft brace (exclusive for Birthful listeners: use the code BIRTHFUL2018 for free shipping in the US)
• French mothers don’t suffer from bladder incontinence. And nor should you, from The Guardian

Related Birthful episodes:

• Can Exercise During Pregnancy Make Labor Harder?, Deb Flashenberg
• Structural Body Changes, with Molly Deutschbein
• Protecting Your Perineum, with Rachel Reed
• Rethinking the Pushing Stage, with Whapio
• Vaginal Rehab, with Susi Hately
• Diastasis and Tummy Fitness, with Bethany Learn
• You Pelvic Floor, with Lisa Gillispie

Courtesy of Sara Reardon

About Sara Reardon

Sara Reardon is a pelvic health physical therapist with a doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT) and board certification in women’s health physical therapy (WCS). She specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions and is the owner of NOLA Pelvic Health, a pelvic floor physical therapy clinic in her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. Her Instagram @the.vagina.whisperer increases awareness that pelvic floor physical therapy exists and helps women navigate pelvic floor issues like urinary leakage, painful sex, constipation, and organ prolapse and provides support for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. She also founded The Vagina Whisperer to provide online education and pelvic floor consultations to women, especially around the tender times of pregnancy or postpartum recovery.

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).