255 | Pelvic Floor Changes from Puberty through Postpartum with Dr. Sara Reardon
Welcome to episode 255 of The Optimal Body Podcast
Pelvic Floor Changes from Puberty through Postpartum with Dr. Sara Reardon
Pain with sex, issues with leaking, physiological changes during pregnancy, and post-partum. We discuss it all here. Dr. Sara Reardon dives into her experience with pelvic floor education and shares the driver for her passion for pelvic floor health. She explains the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor, explaining the missing links in pelvic floor education during puberty. Then, she speaks to pain with penetration and why it might be happening, the repercussions of straining while passing stool, and how exhaling is an effective tool when passing stool. She explains what is normal and not normal when it comes to the pelvic floor and abdominal changes during pregnancy and how to decrease the severity of pelvic floor weakness with age. She dives into the common pains that occur and the extent to which leaking can be expected. Then, she provides tools for pelvic pain and SI joint pain during pregnancy and why you may be dribbling pee after passing urine. Finally, she discusses when you should see a physical therapist post-partum. Let’s dive in!
GRATEFUL FOR MY BODY 2022! We’re focusing on RELIEVING pain, RELEASING stress, and RESETING the body for optimal RECOVERY for 30 days during the month of November. You will have access to mobility flows, pelvic floor relaxation classes, pelvic floor activation classes, breathwork classes, and soft-tissue mobilizations. Additionally, DocJen will be going live every Sunday with anatomy and physiology webinars and question-and-answer opportunities. Get ready to recover with the community and spend 5-15 minutes every day to downregulate the body and upregulate that rest, relax, digest physiological response! Click here and join us.
What You Will Learn In This Interview with Dr. Sara Reardon
4:26 – Why did Dr. Sara specialize in pelvic health?
6.36 – Why does the pelvic floor matter?
9:05 – The missing link in sex education during puberty years
11:50 – Pain with penetration? Why might it be happening
13:48 – Is it bad to strain when passing stool?
16:32 – Why you should exhale when passing stool
18:42 – Pelvic floor and abdominal changes during pregnancy
22:19- Pregnancy consideration to manage the severity of pelvic floor weakness
28:22 – Common pains that occur during pregnancy
31:06 – To what degree can you expect leaking? Signs and symptoms.
33:22 – What you can do at home to help front of the pelvic pain or SI joint pain
35:36 – Why do you still get dribbles of pee when you’ve finished passing urine
37:15 – When should you see a physical therapist post-Partum?
45:42 – Courses with Dr. Sara
About Dr. Sara Reardon
Sara Reardon PT, DPT, WCS is a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified pelvic floor specialist since 2007. Sara specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor health, pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She is the founder of the The Vagina Whisperer, an online platform for pelvic floor education and exercise, and owns a private practice in her hometown of New Orleans, NOLA Pelvic Health. She is a wife and mom of 2 boys. You can find her on Instagram at @the.vagina.whisperer and TikTok @thevagwhisperer.
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