Are You Pushing Wrong? What Your Pelvic Floor REALLY Needs for Birth with Dr. Sara Reardon
What if the way you’re told to push during birth isn’t actually the whole story? And what if leaking, pelvic pain, painful sex, or feeling like your body just never fully recovered after having a baby aren’t things you simply have to live with?
In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer — a board-certified pelvic floor therapist with 20 years of experience — to talk about the part of your body that plays a HUGE role in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery, but doesn’t get nearly enough attention. We’re talking about how your pelvic floor changes during pregnancy, how to breathe and push more effectively, what actually happens to your pelvic floor during birth, and why the standard “6 weeks and you’re cleared” checkup may not tell the whole story.
Whether you're pregnant and preparing for birth, newly postpartum, or years past your last baby, this conversation will help you understand your body in a whole new way — and recognize when something isn’t just something you’re supposed to “put up with.”
Here's What You'll Learn in This Episode:
[2:05] How Sara became The Vagina Whisperer — and her mission to normalize the conversation around pelvic floor health, not the problems themselves.
[5:30] Real stories from her clinic that show just how much pelvic floor therapy can change a woman's life and confidence.
[9:40] The signs you actually need pelvic floor therapy — from leaking to pelvic pain — and why these issues rarely resolve on their own.
[14:20] What pregnancy does to your pelvic floor, and why it changes whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section.
[17:30] What to do in each trimester — strengthening early on, birth prep later — plus the truth about exercising while pregnant.
[23:00] How to actually push your baby out, why breath matters so much, and the role your pelvic floor really plays.
[30:15] Why the "6 weeks and you're cleared" checkup falls short, and what real postpartum recovery timelines look like.
[34:00] The link between breastfeeding, low estrogen, and pelvic floor healing that most moms are never told.
[38:00] Why it's never too late to get help — and how symptoms tend to progress if they're ignored.
[40:30] Sara's biggest message for every mama on taking care of herself.
One quick note — this episode is for information and education, not medical advice. Always work with a provider you trust for your pregnancy and birth.
Connect with Sara:
✅ Free Pelvic Floor Prep Guide
📱 Sara's Instagram
🌐 Sara's Website
📖 Sara's book: Floored: A Woman's Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage
Links & Resources
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