Breastfeeding is a very personal journey, filled with triumphs and challenges. While many mothers may use breast pumps to express milk, learning the skill of hand expression can be empowering and beneficial. Whether you’re managing an oversupply, dealing with engorgement, or simply want a convenient, pump-free way to express milk, hand expression is a valuable tool for every nursing mother.

I often get asked by patients what they can do to improve success with Lactation during pregnancy so below are my 3 recommendations:

As a Pelvic PT there are 3 main things I look at: 

1. Pushing Strategy: being effective with both open and closed glottis pushing strategies and utilizing each pushing strategy to control desired pressure and intensity. 

nfertility affects 72.4 million people worldwide, which can result in emotional distress and unexpected challenges on the path to parenthood.

Infertility is a dysfunction in the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve or maintain a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse for those <35 years old, and after 6 months of trying for those over 35 years old.

Heavy Lifters focus on their breathing and muscle performance to achieve incredible power and strength, the same is true for pushing a baby out. The combination of your pushing strategy with coordination of core compression and pelvic floor relaxation is key for effective pushes!

Today on the blog we are discussing pushing strategies!

There are 2 types of pushing strategies used during the second stage of labor, Closed or Open glottis and both can either be coached or occur spontaneously.

On average, one year of breastfeeding equates to 1,800 hours of time compared to a full time job that is 1,960 hours so it is very clear that breastfeeding is a full time job in itself. The majority of breastfeeding individuals find at some point in their feeding journey that they need to use a breast pump, so ensuring that you have a properly fitted flange is essential.

The American Urology Association in partnership with the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction released the 2024 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).

Overactive bladder is defined as urgency with or without urinary incontinence, often accompanied by frequency and nocturia (night time voiding).

With spring sports season in full swing we want to dive into the new study that the American Academy of Pediatrics just published in January 2024 regarding overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout in young athletes.

There’s no question that children and teens experience numerous physical and mental health benefits from participating in organized sports but according to the newly published study, 70% of them will drop out by the age of 13. This is a huge problem because dropping out of organized sports plays a major role in 75% of adolescents not getting the recommended amount of physical activity for their age.

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy (BFRT) is defined as “the brief and intermittent occlusion of arterial and venous blood flow using a tourniquet while at rest or exercising”.

Endometrial tissue lines a woman’s uterus and each menstrual cycle our body grows a new endometrium (uterine lining) to prepare for a fertilized egg. Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. These cells can grow anywhere in the body, and are often associated with inflammation, severe and chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Endometriosis affects about 5.5 million reproductive-aged women in the United States.

Did you know more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, yet 93% of cervical cancers can be prevented through screening with Pap smear and HPV vaccination.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends Pap smears to begin at age 21 and repeated once every 3 years.

When polling women on why they most commonly miss their Gyn visits the most common answer was "pain or discomfort with exams"

It is estimated that 1 in 4 women suffer from a pelvic pain condition impacting a couple's sexuality and intimacy, activities of daily living and psychological well being.

In fact vulvodynia is the leading cause of pelvic pain in perimenopausal women.

A urinary tract infection is an infection of the urinary tract. They are very common and can be treated with antibiotics. The urinary tract has two parts; the upper and lower. The upper part consists of the ureters and kidneys and the lower part is made up of the urethra and bladder. All of the organs work together to aid in urination…

Dry needling is a therapy intervention using a thin needle that treats myofascial trigger points for the management of pain and improved muscular function. This is a treatment used to complement other treatments prescribed by your physical therapist. After a thorough history and physical assessment, your physical therapist may recommend dry needling as a part of your comprehensive plan of car