As I question female patients about any urinary leakage they’re having: on the way to the bathroom, with coughing, sneezing, exercise, jumping, after urination; many times they’ll kind of shrug their shoulders and say “well sometimes, but I’ve had babies.” Additionally, there seems to be more presence of urinary incontinence products for women in ads recently, where women are raising their hands in solidarity, in regards to experiencing leakage, while glitter flies and fanfar

Christina McGee PT, DPT Christina McGee is a physical therapist at Sullivan Physical Therapy, a pelvic floor specialty clinic in Austin, Texas. She received a bachelor of science in Athletic Training from University of Iowa and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of Delaware. Christina treats men and women with bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction, as well as abdominal and pelvic pain. She has specific interests in pregnancy and postpartum care and is additio

So you’ve been hearing all about these pelvic floor muscles that you apparently have and have started to think that maybe some of the symptoms that you’ve been experiencing could be related. You’ve sought out a physical therapist in your area that specializes in treatment of the pelvic floor. Now what? What is this appointment going to look like? Not every practice set-up is exactly the same, but I can give you insight into what to expect if you were to come to our office,

If you are expecting you might be wondering how you should be exercising with your new body. The American Pregnancy Association recommends exercising 30 minutes on most days. If you are having a pregnancy without complications your doctor might not provide much guidance on how to exercise or what exercise is appropriate for you. As a certified Pre/Postnatal Pilates Instructor who had Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy I have several tips on prenatal exercise. If you are ha

“Know your food, know your farmers, know your kitchen” Joel Salatin Spring has sprung and life is in full bloom! One way to soak it all in is to visit a farmers’ market and enjoy fresh, local goodies. There are many open-air markets in and around the Austin area that offer more than just your typical seasonal produce. These family-friendly markets are great places to enjoy live music, eat from delicious food trailers, and find unique treasures made by local artists. With that

It can be hard for busy, tired moms to get regular meals, much less healthy ones. If you start asking people about the most healthy approach to eating, you might get 20 different answers. The nutritional strategy that makes one person feel fantastic can leave a different person tired and hungry. Our bodies are so unique! But there is one type of food that goes a long way to helping mothers maintain steady energy, even moods, and sound sleep. It may not be what you think, and

Reshaping eating habits can be tricky for many people, but one thing is certain to promote success: meal planning. Meal planning takes time and dedication, but once you get the hang of it, it’s just filling in the blanks. Before you get started, ask yourself these questions: 1. How many meals do you want to cook from scratch each week? 2. How many times a week do you grocery shop? 3. Do you like leftovers? Your answers will dictate how you plan. Here are six tips to set you u

Your pelvic floor is a bowl-shaped group of muscles that live at the base of your pelvis and essentially span the range of all the areas on which you sit. They attach to the pubic bone in the front, the tailbone in the back, and the sit bones on each side. They act like a floor (thus the name), holding up and in all of your internal organs. The pelvic floor activates at a low level throughout the day and coordinates with your abdominal musculature and deep muscles around y

Your first 3 months postpartum are for recovering and bonding with your new baby. It is a common rule of thumb that mamas should wait 6 or 8 weeks after birth to start exercising again. You might be eager to get back into your exercise routine but those activities might not be appropriate for your newly postpartum body. It is crucial that we are gentle with our bodies at this time and slowly reintroduce exercise. Here are 3 gentle exercises for newly postpartum women. Follow

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

Valentine’s is traditionally the day you show love to your significant other. And that’s awesome! I am writing to challenge you to think of one more person on Valentine’s: YOU. A warning: reading this may make you feel uncomfortable. We’re so used to showing others love on Valentine’s (that’s what it’s for right?!), why would we consider showing it to ourselves? There’s stigma around self-love or its requisite, self-compassion. Many people generally associate it with self-cen

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