169 | Pregnancy, Pelvic Floor and the Post-Partum Journey with Dr. Breanna Welsh

Whether you are looking to get pregnant in the near future, are pregnant, or are due soon, Dr. Breanna covers it all in the interview. As a board certified physical therapist with post-doctorate training in obstetrics and pelvic health, and a mother of three, she dives into the lack of education about the birthing process and where you can find resources to get educated. As she rides the wave of her birthing experiences and the differences between them, she dives into the psychological and physical trauma she experienced. Explaining the roles of doula, the OBGYN, and the midwife in the birthing process, Dr. Breanna explains the importance of finding the most optimal birthing position for you. Then, she dives into tools to prepare the body for labour, what tears are normal and of concerns post-partum, diastasis and prolapse, as well as Episiotomy. In light of preventing pelvic floor and core dysfunction, she provides her best core cues and how you can prevent dysfunctional tears post-partum. Lean into how Dr. Breanna navigated her birthday and her expert advice! What You Will Learn in this interview with Dr. Breanna Welsh 3:49 - Dr. Breanna identifies the differences between her 3 births 7:46 - Why is there lack of knowledge on how to birth 10:10 - Resources for birth & pregnancy 12:34 - What is a Doula? 16:00 - Dr. Breanna’s Trauma during birthing 21:00 - Why is birthing in your back common & recommended? 23:33 - Positons for birthing 26:04 - Tools to prepare your body for birthing 31:06 - Is diastasis and prolapse normal during pregnancy? 32:52 - When should you see a pelvic floor therapist? 35:38 - Differences in dysfunction with multiple births & prolapse 38:17 - Cues for pelvic floor and core awareness 42:20 - What is an Episiotomy? 44:09 - Preventing the risk of tears during birthing 47:30 - Did Dr. Breanna predict her third pregnancy accurately? 54:25 - Finding what works for you is key 56:11 - The importance of support Items mentioned: Dr. Breanna’s Website Dr. Breanna’s Services Dr. Breanna’s Instagram DocJen’s Diaphragmatic Breathing with Resistance Band Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tobpodcast/message