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In this episode of The Healthspan Collective, host Nicole Doran sits down with Dr. Leticia Ory, pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of Anatomy Pelvic Health, to cover everything women are not being told about their pelvic floor during pregnancy, birth, and beyond. From why leaking when you sneeze is not something you just have to live with, to what actually happens during pushing and how to reduce your risk of severe tearing, this is the conversation every pregnant and postpartum woman deserves to have before she ever steps into a delivery room.
Dr. Ory brings both clinical depth and genuine warmth to a topic that still carries far too much silence and shame. She breaks down why Kegels are not always the answer, how your nervous system and posture affect your pelvic floor more than most people realize, and what postpartum recovery actually looks like when you have the right support from two weeks out through returning to running, lifting, and sex. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, or just a woman with a body, this episode will change how you think about your core forever.
What We Cover:
🌿 What the pelvic floor actually is and why every woman benefits from knowing how to work with it
🤰 How to prepare your body for birth, including pushing technique, positioning, and tearing prevention
💨 Why Kegels can do more harm than good in pregnancy and what to focus on instead
🩹 Postpartum rehab timelines, C-section recovery, prolapse, and how to return to exercise safely
🧘 How breath, posture, nervous system regulation, and pressure management affect long-term pelvic health
💕 Sexual health after birth: painful intercourse, dilators, orgasms, and when to bring in more support
Chapters:
00:00 What the Pelvic Floor Is and Why It Matters
04:53 When to Start Pelvic Floor PT in Pregnancy
07:01 Why Kegels Are Not Always the Answer
13:06 Birth Prep, Pushing Technique, and Internal Assessment
20:37 Pushing Positions, Tearing Risk, and Perineal Massage
28:57 Early Postpartum Rehab and C-Section Recovery
34:44 Prolapse, Pressure Management, and Core Rehab
41:27 Ab Safety in Pregnancy and Postpartum Training Timelines
45:42 Binders, Posture, Mom Butt, and Sciatica
01:01:41 Sexual Health, Pain, Dilators, and Returning to Life
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