Your Body After Baby: Pelvic Floor Health, Strength & Learning to Trust Yourself Again with Rachel Nicks

Episode Summary
What does it actually mean to get your body “back” after having a baby — and should that even be the goal?
In this episode of Since I Became a Mother, Taylor sits down with Rachel Nicks to talk about postpartum recovery, pelvic floor health, rebuilding strength, body image, and learning to trust your body again after pregnancy and birth.
They discuss what the body physically goes through during pregnancy and delivery, common pelvic floor symptoms, diastasis recti, core recovery, Kegels, pelvic floor physical therapy, and the pressure to “bounce back.” Rachel also shares how mothers can return to movement and exercise in a way that feels strong, sustainable, and rooted in respect for the body they have now.
In This Episode
• What your body actually goes through during pregnancy and birth
• Pelvic floor health and symptoms that deserve attention
• Why Kegels are not the answer for everyone
• What it means to have a pelvic floor that is too tight
• When pelvic floor physical therapy can help
• Rebuilding the core after pregnancy
• Diastasis recti, breathing, and core function
• What the six-week postpartum clearance does — and doesn’t — mean
• How to return to strength training and exercise safely
• Body image and the pressure to “bounce back”
• Learning to trust your body again
• Why getting “back” to your old body may not be the goal
• Black maternal health and Birth Queen
This Week’s Guest
Rachel Nicks is a Juilliard-trained actor, longtime fitness professional, pre- and postnatal specialist, doula, lactation counselor, and founder of Birth Queen. She is also a mother of two and an advocate for Black maternal health.Her work sits at the intersection of movement, birth, postpartum recovery, maternal health, and body trust.
Website: rachelnicks.com
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Disclaimer
The information shared on Since I Became a Mother is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider about questions related to you or your child.
Credits
Host: Taylor Rae Roman
Podcast: Since I Became a Mother
Artwork: WK Creative Studio
Photography: Ambe J. Williams
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