The Barbell Mamas Podcast | Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pelvic Health

• Inside a Missed Miscarriage: Choices, Pain, and Partner Perspectives

  The room got quieter when the number landed: HCG at 5,000—far too low for nearly thirteen weeks. From that moment, everything we’d been planning—the crib shuffle in our three-bedroom house, the baby names our kids were arguing over, the assumption we’d crossed into a “safe zone”—shifted into the harsh clarity of a missed miscarriage. We’re sharing the story we needed to hear: what the ER limbo feels like, how bedside ultrasound can foreshadow a formal diagnosis, and why lab values can be both information and heartbreak.We walk through the real choices families face after pregnancy loss: expectant management and its long, uncertain timeline; medical management with misoprostol, including what the pain, bleeding, and safety thresholds actually feel like at home; and surgical management via D&C when speed, tissue testing, or medical necessity make it the right call. Along the way we talk about follow-up plans, HCG monitoring, when to seek help, and how to make decisions that match your values, schedule, support system, and mental health. This is practical, compassionate guidance from people who just carried it.You’ll also hear the partner’s perspective—what it’s like to hold hope in a waiting room, to field waves of well‑meant messages, and to grieve a child without the physical markers of loss. We share how we told our kids, why simple rituals like a barefoot hike helped, and how community support can be both overwhelming and lifesaving. If you’ve been here, you’re not alone. If you haven’t, this conversation can help you support someone who has with empathy instead of minimization.Subscribe for more honest, evidence‑informed conversations on pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic health, and strength. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs it and leave a review to help others find these stories.___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

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• Rethinking Kegels in Pregnancy: Evidence, Nuance, and What Your Body Actually Needs

  The internet turned pelvic floor training into a turf war—“always Kegels” on one side, “never Kegels” on the other. We cut through the noise with a clear, evidence-backed framework that shows how to build strength, practice relaxation, and keep moving with confidence through pregnancy.We start by grounding the conversation in what the research actually supports: pelvic floor muscle training can reduce postpartum urinary incontinence and help many pregnant athletes and recreational movers maintain function as load increases. From there, we zoom out to the system that matters most—the diaphragm, abdominals, hips, and pelvic floor—and explain why coordination beats clenching. You’ll hear how to choose your focus based on your starting point, what symptoms to watch, and why both contraction and full release are essential skills for labor, lifting, and daily life.Together, we map a practical plan you can live with: simple tests to decide when to prioritize strengthening, how to practice relaxation without overthinking it, and easy “habit cues” to fit training into a full schedule. We also challenge the myth that strengthening blocks relaxation during pushing and show how education and timing are the real game changers. Whether you’re entering pregnancy with previous leaks or feeling strong and symptom-free, you’ll learn how to adapt training to your week, trust your body’s signals, and stay aligned with long-term pelvic health.If this helped you drop the confusion and find your middle ground, follow the show, share it with a friend who lifts, and leave a quick review with your biggest takeaway. Your questions shape future episodes—what should we unpack next?___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

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• Cesarean Delivery: What Every Mother Should Know

  Cesarean delivery affects one in three births in America, yet many expectant mothers remain unprepared for this possibility. As a pelvic floor physical therapist and athlete who has competed while pregnant, I'm pulling back the curtain on C-sections with compassion and expertise.The journey begins with addressing the emotional landscape. If you experienced an unplanned cesarean, hear this: you did not fail. You delivered your baby. This message resonates deeply with listeners who've felt disappointment when birth plans changed unexpectedly. I explore the value of doulas as advocates during these pivotal moments and explain why grieving an unexpected birth experience is both normal and important.We dive into the different types of cesarean births - planned, emergent, and emergency - demystifying each scenario with clear explanations that go beyond medical jargon. You'll learn what actually happens during the procedure, from the horizontal skin incision to the lesser-discussed vertical internal cut that impacts your recovery.The podcast shines in its practical recovery guidance. We explore the concept of a "gentle cesarean" with music, delayed cord clamping, and skin-to-skin contact. I share evidence-based rehabilitation techniques including early walking, pelvic floor exercises, and the crucial but often overlooked scar mobilization techniques for both the visible and internal incisions.Most powerfully, this episode transforms anxiety into agency through knowledge. Whether you're currently pregnant, recovering from a cesarean, or planning future pregnancies, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of cesarean delivery that empowers rather than frightens. The techniques shared apply whether your C-section was six weeks or six years ago.Ready to rebuild your strength after cesarean birth? Visit thebarbellmamas.com to explore our programs designed specifically for athletic mothers at every stage of the journey.___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

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• Pregnancy Exercise: Do We Really Need Modifications?

  Exercise during pregnancy has long been shrouded in caution and confusion. What if many of the modifications we've been taught are unnecessary? Drawing from both cutting-edge research and personal experience through multiple pregnancies, this episode challenges conventional wisdom about prenatal exercise.The fitness landscape for pregnant women has dramatically evolved over the past decade. Where once pregnant women received advice limited to walking or gentle yoga, we now recognize the benefits of maintaining strength and conditioning throughout pregnancy. But questions remain: should every pregnant woman modify exercises in the same way? Does holding your breath while lifting actually increase your risk of pelvic floor issues? What's the difference between physiologically-based recommendations versus outcome-based evidence?Two distinct approaches have emerged in pregnancy fitness guidance. One camp bases recommendations on physiological changes happening during pregnancy, suggesting universal modifications regardless of individual fitness levels. The other acknowledges the body's remarkable adaptability, suggesting women continue their pre-pregnancy routines until symptoms indicate a need for change. My journey as both a clinician and researcher has led me from firmly believing in the first approach to increasingly embracing the second.Most compelling is emerging evidence showing that fitness level entering pregnancy serves as a protective factor against pain and dysfunction. Rather than focusing exclusively on which movements to avoid, we might better serve pregnant women by emphasizing the importance of strengthening their bodies before and during pregnancy. This represents a profound shift away from fear-based messaging that can unnecessarily limit movement during a critical life stage.Ready to explore how your body's signals might guide your pregnancy fitness journey better than universal modifications? Listen now to discover why the most beneficial approach might be less restrictive than you've been led to believe.___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

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• The Evolution of Prenatal Exercise: Breaking Down Barriers

  Pregnancy fitness has undergone a revolution. What was once a landscape of caution and restriction has transformed into one of empowerment and evidence-based freedom. In this candid exploration, pelvic floor physical therapist Christina Previtt shares both personal experience and cutting-edge research showing just how dramatically prenatal exercise recommendations have evolved.Remember when lifting anything over 20 pounds during pregnancy was considered dangerous? When heart rate limits were gospel? When certain sports were absolutely off-limits? Those days are rapidly disappearing as research consistently demonstrates that pregnant bodies are far more capable than previously believed. Christina walks us through the mountain of evidence now supporting strength training during pregnancy, including studies showing that previously feared practices like lifting heavy weights, exercising on your back, and holding your breath during lifts pose no threat to mother or baby. Similarly, intensity restrictions for cardio have been largely debunked, with studies of ultramarathoners and other endurance athletes challenging our assumptions about exercise limits.Perhaps most fascinating is the shift in how we approach sports participation during pregnancy. From soccer players to equestrians to even bull riders, athletes are pushing back against blanket restrictions in favor of individualized risk assessment based on their intimate knowledge of their sports and bodies. The trend is clear: pregnancy exercise is moving away from one-size-fits-all prescriptions toward personalized approaches that respect each individual's unique pregnancy journey.Christina also candidly addresses where research gaps remain, particularly around the pelvic floor, and shares exciting developments from her current research that may soon provide answers to these lingering questions. Whether you're an athlete, fitness enthusiast, or health professional, this episode offers valuable perspective on how far we've come and where we're headed in the world of pregnancy fitness.Have questions about exercise during pregnancy or postpartum that you'd like to see addressed by future research? Christina would love to hear from you as she continues her work in this rapidly evolving field.___________________________________________________________________________Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes. Interested in our programs? Check us out here!

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