When it comes to your bladder, have you ever wondered, is this normal? Most of us have asked ourselves that at some point in our lives, especially after having a baby, surgery, or any injury. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I've been asked that question countless times. So here's a breakdown of urinary habits and functioning: what is normal, what is not, and what we can do about it.

You just returned from your 6-week follow up appointment with your medical provider and they cleared you to return to activities and sex. What are the first thoughts that go through your mind? Are you excited? Or hesitant? Maybe nervous or scared? Some moms are thrilled and get right back to it. Great! BUT the majority are on the other side...

Many people who give birth are ‘cleared’ at either 6 or 8 weeks by their medical provider. However, there is often a lot of confusion about what exactly someone is cleared for at that early postpartum checkup. Many people have questions about when they can resume exercising and often interpret that 6 or 8 week checkup as the green light to start their pre-partum exercise routine.

The winter holidays are a special time of year for many. They are filled with family get-togethers, delicious treats, and heart-warming traditions. For as sweet and jolly as this time of year can be, it can also be a sneaky pelvic floor saboteur! Watch out for the following things around the holidays so you can be prepared to keep your pelvic floor happy...

Vaginal flatulence, queefing, or farting from your vagina. These are all the same thing and can take you by surprise when you're moving through a yoga class. So what is vaginal flatulence? Is it actually gas like what passes through your rectum? Short answer: vaginal flatulence is when air that is trapped in the vagina is released. It is not created by digestion but rather by air that gets trapped as we move through space.

When it comes to disordered eating and body image, the experience is physical as well as emotional. In treatment, one explores and works to change one’s relationship with food, self, others and beyond. Treatments often utilize a team approach and can include a psychologist, social worker, dietitian or nutritionist, and medical doctors. What may not be known, however, is the relationship between eating disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction and how a pelvic floor physical therapist can help.

Congratulations! You’re embarking on the incredible journey of pregnancy, complete with its joys and challenges. As your due date approaches, the thrill of impending motherhood mingles with the realization that your little one will soon need to make their grand entrance into the world.This thought can be quite overwhelming, but fear not! I am here to share five tips to help you and your pelvis feel fully prepared and empowered for labor and delivery.

Before I discuss treatment options (including a pelvic fitness program you've probably never heard of), let's learn about prolapse. What is a prolapse? What does it feel like? What causes it?‍ Prolapse is a medical term to describe the descent of an organ. This can happen in different areas of the body but in regards to the pelvic floor, it can occur in the anterior and posterior wall of the vaginal canal. There are 3 main types of prolapses...

I would argue that most, if not all women, would absolutely benefit from physical therapy during and after pregnancy. Your abdomen and your pelvic floor undergo significant trauma throughout the 9-month pregnancy and birthing journey. Your muscles are stretched, atrophied, cut through, and scar tissue forms.

Pelvic floor strength is more than just the ability to squeeze the muscles while waiting in line for the bathroom. Pelvic floor muscle functioning is about a muscle’s ability to adapt and the amount of muscle activity it is able to generate and coordinate. So let’s dive into pelvic floor muscle functioning and adaptability in pelvic floor strength and overall pelvic health.