THE VAGINA DIALOGUE

"You're cleared." Two words that many moms hear at their six-week postpartum appointment. For some, it's a relief. For others, it's confusing. Does it mean you're fully healed? Ready to run? Ready for intense workouts? Ready to have pain-free sex? Ready to lift heavy weights, chase toddlers, return to work, and do everything exactly as you did before pregnancy? Not exactly. What Does "Cleared at 6 Weeks" Really Means At your six-week postpartum checkup, your provider is typic

"You're pregnant. Pain is normal." If you've been told that your pubic pain, SI joint pain, sciatica, hip pain, or round ligament pain is simply caused by pregnancy hormones and there's nothing you can do about it, I want you to know something: There is often much more to the story. Yes, pregnancy hormones like relaxin create changes in the body. They help prepare your body for birth by allowing tissues to adapt and expand. But blaming every ache and pain on hormones can leav

As a pelvic floor physical therapist who specializes in prenatal and postpartum care, I’m hearing something more and more often from expecting moms: “I want to strengthen my pelvic floor for birth.” And honestly? I love that pelvic floor health is finally getting the attention it deserves. For so long, pelvic floor conversations were mostly reserved for postpartum leaking, pain, or “mom bladder” jokes. Now people are becoming proactive during pregnancy, learning that the pelv

As a pelvic health physical therapist, I’m always looking for supportive, non-invasive tools that complement the body’s natural healing process. Red light therapy is one I personally use and often recommend for people dealing with pelvic discomfort. One tool I’ve been loving for well over a year now is the large red light wrap from Fringe Heals. I love that it wraps all the way around the belly and low back so you can comfortably treat both areas at the same time. It’s become

I got a call from a woman who wanted to come in for pelvic floor PT for Vaginismus. She told me her pelvic floor felt tight and she couldn’t figure out how to get it to relax. Her main goals were to have a gynecological exam without pain and to have pain-free sex. But is this really just a pelvic floor tension issue? Not necessarily. Before I get into the why behind that (possibly unexpected) answer, let’s define vaginismus according to medical literature: Vaginismus is defin

You had a C-section. Maybe it was planned. Maybe you labored for hours. Maybe you even pushed first. And now… you’re leaking urine. Not exactly what you expected, right? A lot of people assume that a C-section means skipping pelvic floor issues altogether. So when leaking shows up—whether it’s 6 weeks postpartum, 6 months, or even years later—it can feel confusing… and honestly, a little unfair. Let’s clear something up right away: you didn’t do anything wrong, and your body

When you think about pelvic floor symptoms like leaking urine or that heavy, pressure feeling in your pelvis, your feet are probably the last place you’d look. But they matter—a lot. Because your pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. It’s part of a full-body system that starts at the ground and moves up. And if your feet aren’t moving well, your pelvic floor often ends up picking up the slack. Let’s Talk About Your Arch (Because It’s Not What You Think) There’s a lot of foc

When most people think of their pelvic floor, it’s usually during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, or menopause. But here’s the secret:...

Postpartum recovery is no small feat. Your body has gone through one of the most significant events of its life—pregnancy and...

I don't have enough fingers to count the number of times postpartum moms tell me: "I'm sick of people asking me when my baby is due." "I...

Let's talk Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA), what some people refer to as "the belly bulge, mummy tummy, and the momma pouch". I get a...

The birth process is a journey that is affected by both the mind and the physical body. One influences the other, just as gears movement...

I admit it, I was snipped and tore like a potato chip bag during childbirth. If you get skeeved out by vagina talk and birth stories,...

Hey there, mama-to-be or new mom! If you’re experiencing discomfort around your tailbone area after giving birth, you’re not alone....

Let's have a candid chat about something many new moms shy away from discussing openly: painful sex postpartum. As a pelvic floor...

As pelvic floor physical therapist, I want to chat with you about something that might (and might not) be on your radar yet: Kegels. In...

I have to admit, vaginas are like snowflakes, each one is unique. There's no right or wrong style or shape vagina, but since we're all...

It seems instinctual to poo. Little babies wiggle their legs around, hug their knees in tightly and get out their poo without moms...

I admit it, I was snipped and tore like a potato chip bag during childbirth. If you get skeeved out by vagina talk and birth stories,...

What's the deal with tampons sliding out vaginas once you become a mom? After having children, things don't stay where they're supposed to anymore. It's as if gravity pulls harder on postpartum moms. Boobs begin to slowly move closer to my belly button, the bags under my eyes sink deeper into my socket and tampons begin to work their way out before I'm ready to swap it for a new one. Sorry, not sorry for the TMI. Actually, I don't follow the rules of TMI and gladly share all