32. Honest Chat Around Postpartum Care and the Need for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy After Baby with Jessica London, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

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Host Lina Forrestal and Jessica London, Doctor of Physical
Therapist, sit down for an honest discussion around postpartum
care (or lack there of) and the need for advocacy surrounding
physical therapy for your pelvic floor after birth.  

Jessica shares her birth story and how after birth, she felt lost
in the system. Luckily, her midwives were able to follow up with
her but otherwise her doctors never called her for her 8-week
check up after her C-section. 

Jessica was surprised at the lack of education around pelvic
floor physical therapy. She's passionate about postpartum care
and helps moms prepare and recover from birth. 

Topics discussed in this episode:


Honest discussion around postpartum care and hospital
discharge plans

Postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression

How patient education reduces anxiety and pain levels

The women's health dilemma in the United States

Why the US's postpartum maternity care is lacking

Why it's important to take care of your pelvic floor

What is a kegel and what’s the appropriate way to do them?
How many times per day or week should we focus on doing kegels?

What's in Jessica's free guide for rebuilding your pelvic
floor (download it here)



Schedule your free 20 minute consult with Jessica here.

Follow Jessica on Instagram here: @yourpostpartumpt


Resources mentioned in this episode:


Sara Reardon, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD, of NOLA Pelvic Health
and affectionately known as The Vagina Whisperer, says: “I hear
women say, ‘I don’t know what’s normal.’ They are not given a
baseline. You’re frantically looking for information. Once you’re
home, you’re over that initial high, and you realize you’re
totally on your own, and there’s no help. It’s up to you now.
They don’t give you resources, they just say, ‘It takes time,’ or
‘It’ll go away,’ or you call your doctor or nurse, and they say,
‘Let us know if it doesn’t get better,’ and there’s no follow-up.
It’s all on you. It’s all on the mother.”  (via
Healthline)


In the Netherlands and Belgium, new mothers will have a
kraamverzorgster, a maternity nurse who comes to the home to
provide a minimum of 24 hours of care within the first 8 days
after discharge. In Spain, you’ll receive a cartilla de embarazo
(mother’s passport) and check in with a community midwife
monthly. (via Healthline)



Connect with Lina:


Personal Instagram: @linaforrestal

Blog: www.linaforrestal.com

Podcast Instagram: @newmam



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