Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

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Episode 37: Prepping Your Body for Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum with Krystle Howald, DPT

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I consider pelvic floor physical therapy to be one of the most important things for women to do. This is one of the topics I talk about with physical therapist and co-owner of Expecting and Empowered, Krystle. She gives us tips and tricks from every stage of pregnancy, from preconception to postpartum. As Krystle mentions, if the information that we cover was more widely known to the public, labor and delivery could likely go much smoother for women. 

As a mom of three, Krystle is so passionate about providing women the information they need to empower them to thrive physically throughout pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Through Expecting and Empowered and her physical therapy clinic, she utilizes her physical therapy background to rewrite the narrative around women’s health (especially during pregnancy and postpartum).

During their first pregnancies, Krystle’s sister Amy Kiefer and her realized that women were not being given the information that they needed during pregnancy and postpartum. Together they created Expecting and Empowered with the goal to use their combined professional expertise as a women’s health PT, nurse, doula, and certified personal trainer to help women thrive from their pregnancy journey through postpartum. They currently do this through offering pregnancy and postpartum fitness guides, educational courses, and free information on their blog and social media.

Use code MOTHERHOODMEETSMEDICINE for 10% off Expecting and Empowered digital products and resources.

In this episode we discuss:

• How physical therapists can assist women from conception to birth
• 3 things you can do to relax your body during labor and delivery
• The importance of the pelvic floor during pregnancy and birth
• Birthing strategies that correlate with each stage of labor 
• Helpful tips for pregnancy stretching, hemorrhoid prevention, and postpartum recovery

Resources:

• Prepping for Labor + Delivery Course
• Expecting and Empowered Fitness Guides
• Grab your copy of It Starts with an Egg

Connect with Krystle:

• Expecting and Empowered website
• Instagram: @expectingandempowered
• Facebook: @expectingandempowered
• Pinterest

Connect with Lynzy:

• Join the Motherhood Meets Medicine community at patreon.com/motherhoodmeetsmedicine
• Instagram: @motherhoodmeetsmedicine
• Sign up for the weekly newsletter here
• lynzyandco.com

Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice. The information on this podcast is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

Questions Asked In The Episode:

1. What are some things to focus on in order to prepare for pregnancy?
2. What can we do to prep our pelvic floor for pregnancy and delivery?
3. What is a diaphragmatic breath?
4. What can we do during the laboring period to put less strain on the body?
5. Do you have any suggestions on how to start laboring?
6. What do you suggest for taking care of yourself postpartum?
7.  What are some stretches that can prepare the body for pregnancy?
8.  Is there anything that can be done to lessen hip pain during pregnancy?
9.  Do you have any tips for hemorrhoid prevention?
10.  Are there ways to help prepare your body for a repeat C-section prior to being pregnant?
11.  What would you put in your hospital bag?
12.  What are some recommendations for incontinence issues?