The word “perineum” conjures up a feeling of uneasiness in me. What exactly is a “perineum? It sounds icky. Will it hurt before, during, and after childbirth? As a pregnancy and postpartum physical therapist and a mom of three, I’d like to share my professional knowledge and personal experience with childbirth preparation and healing. The perineum is the tissue (meaning skin, fascia, and muscle) between the vulva and the anus. During childbirth the perineum (as well as all th

I thought I had more time to ease into the identity of motherhood, but my little one was born unexpectedly early at 36 weeks. This, on top of having a 2.5 hour precipitous birth where I felt like a freight train had hit me leaving my emotions and endorphins scrambling to catch up. On top of feeling isolated because Kevin and I were the 1st couple in both of our birthing classes and all of our local friend groups to give birth. On top of learning to nurse a premature baby whos

You’ve found out you’re pregnant (Congratulations!) and you’re getting all of the important things in place in preparation to welcome your baby to the world. Many expecting parents find that one vital decision to make is who should be invited to share in their birthing space. Does it matter? YES! For one-on-one, non-judgemental support to help you reach your birth goals, a professional doula is the way to go. Research shows that continuous doula support positively influences

I've had a lot of questions about my "unconventional" birth, so I thought I would share ALL of the details with you. Disclaimer: I think that all births are beautiful. I'm sharing this because I am passionate about changing the negative perception that encompasses pregnancy + childbirth. I want every woman to feel empowered when making informed decisions regarding her birth plan. That being said, the best birth for me was completely natural (zero medications, no IVs) and not

I'll start off by saying that I've always been passionate about natural birth, so I knew exactly what I wanted and I was SO willing to prepare for it. I believe that if more women planned their birth like they prepared for their weddings, that an "unconventional" birth like mine may become the new normal! During my pregnancy, I worked hard to take care of myself and prepped for my dream birth by doing these four things: 1. I stayed active. I have always been a very active per

From learning to create a deeper connection to your baby, to gaining some relief from back pain and headaches, there are many reasons to join a prenatal yoga series or class. Here are a few things to consider if you are still on the fence about how it might be able to help you: 1. Community - One of the most important aspects you may find when you join a prenatal yoga class at a local gym or studio is the exposure to the others who are going through the same thing. Often, pr

New pregnancy and parenthood come with a lot of fears. Will I survive birth? Will I be a good parent? Will I ever sleep again? But one fear that isn’t talked about as much is the dreaded public defecation that can come during delivery. That sh*t (pun intended), is real. Yes, the fear is real, but what I want to talk about is the actual for real shitting part. That’s right, everybody poops. And when you have a baby coming out of you, sometimes the burger you ate the night befo

The New Year is a big time where a lot of us start over, set goals and integrate new habits into our lifestyles. It’s also a time to relax from the hustle and the bustle of the previous busy year and from many holiday parties. Here are a few prenatal-approved poses that are great for restoration and for creating more energy: Meditation and centering: I always like to start off class with a centering meditation, which is designed to connect mama with baby, right from the start

According to the American Pregnancy Association 50 - 70% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. In our society this is often considered to be a normal part of pregnancy. Many women spend a significant amount of time during their pregnancy uncomfortable and unable to function well during normal daily activities. This can be disrupting to their lives and take away from the joy of pregnancy. Is Back Pain One Of Your Body’s Normal Response To Pregnancy? Back pain is comm