Why I Became a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist: Because I've Been There, Too
Some of the most meaningful things we do in life are born from our own experiences. For me, becoming a pelvic floor physical therapist wasn't just about expanding my clinical expertise. It was personal.
I became a pelvic floor physical therapist because I know what it's like to need one.
After giving birth, I experienced complications that changed the way I understood women's health. I suffered a postpartum hemorrhage, later developed Asherman's syndrome, and experienced post-void urinary leakage. I was navigating physical symptoms, uncertainty, and the overwhelming changes that come with motherhood.
And when I tried to find a pelvic floor physical therapist to help me, the earliest appointment I could get was three months away.
Three months.
When you're dealing with symptoms that affect your comfort, confidence, and quality of life every single day, three months can feel like an eternity.
That experience stayed with me. I knew there had to be a better way to support women through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and all the other stages of life when pelvic health challenges can arise.
I didn't just want to understand pelvic floor dysfunction as a physical therapist. I wanted to help other women feel heard, supported, and empowered in ways I had needed myself.
Pelvic Floor Problems Are Common, but That Doesn't Mean You Have to Live With Them
One of the biggest misconceptions about pelvic health is that symptoms like urinary leakage, pelvic pain, constipation, or painful intercourse are simply part of being a woman, especially after having children.
How many times have you heard someone say, "Oh, that's just what happens after you have a baby"?
But common doesn't mean inevitable, and it certainly doesn't mean untreatable.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect women who have never been pregnant, women preparing for childbirth, women recovering from delivery, and women navigating perimenopause and menopause.
At balanced & rooted pelvic health, I help women experiencing concerns such as:
- Urinary leakage with coughing, sneezing, jumping, or exercising
- Post-void dribbling or difficulty fully emptying the bladder
- Pelvic pain and painful intercourse
- Pregnancy-related discomfort and birth preparation
- Postpartum recovery, including scar mobility and muscle coordination
- Constipation, difficulty with bowel movements, and pelvic floor-related bowel dysfunction
- Pelvic pressure and symptoms associated with prolapse
- Difficulty relaxing or coordinating the pelvic floor muscles
These symptoms deserve attention, and you deserve individualized care.
Why Kegels Aren't Always the Answer
If you've ever mentioned urinary leakage or pelvic floor weakness, chances are someone has told you to "just do Kegels."
But here's something I wish more women knew:
Not every pelvic floor needs strengthening. Sometimes, it needs to learn how to relax.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, just like the muscles in your neck, shoulders, or hips. These muscles need to contract, relax, lengthen, and coordinate with the rest of your body.
Imagine being told to strengthen your shoulders when they're already constantly tense and painful. More contraction isn't necessarily the solution.
The same principle applies to your pelvic floor.
For some women, strengthening exercises are an appropriate part of treatment. But for others, the pelvic floor may be overactive, poorly coordinated, or unable to relax fully.
In those situations, repeatedly performing Kegels without an assessment may be ineffective or even aggravate symptoms.
Sometimes treatment begins with breathing, relaxation, mobility, and learning how to coordinate the pelvic floor with movement.
The goal isn't simply a stronger pelvic floor. It's a pelvic floor that functions the way your body needs it to.
You Don't Have to Wait Until Things Get Worse
One of the most important lessons from my own experience is how frustrating it can be to need help and not be able to access it.
I encourage women to seek a pelvic floor physical therapy assessment when symptoms first arise, rather than waiting months or years hoping they'll resolve on their own.
Whether you're experiencing stress urinary incontinence, pain with sex, constipation, pelvic discomfort, or changes after childbirth, an individualized assessment can help identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can also be beneficial before problems begin.
Preparing for childbirth, learning strategies for managing pressure during exercise, and understanding how your pelvic floor coordinates with your breathing and abdominal muscles can all be valuable parts of preventive care.
You don't have to wait until you're struggling to learn about your body.
Nothing Is Too Embarrassing to Talk About
I know that discussing bladder leakage, bowel habits, painful sex, or pelvic discomfort can feel uncomfortable.
These are deeply personal concerns, and many women have spent years feeling like they're not supposed to talk about them.
But I want you to know something.
I'm a pelvic floor physical therapist. You're not going to shock me.
I've heard the questions women are afraid to ask. I've worked with patients experiencing symptoms they thought they had to hide. And I've been on the other side of the treatment table myself.
There is no judgment here.
You don't need to apologize for your symptoms, minimize what you're experiencing, or feel embarrassed about how your body is functioning.
My job is to listen, understand, educate, and help you find a path forward.
And sometimes, simply having someone take your concerns seriously is the beginning of healing.
Why I Created balanced & rooted Pelvic Health
I founded balanced & rooted pelvic health because I believe women deserve more than rushed appointments, generic exercise handouts, and being told that their symptoms are just part of life.
I believe in individualized, one-on-one care that looks beyond the symptoms to understand what is happening throughout the body.
I believe in education, collaboration, and helping women reconnect with their bodies.
Most importantly, I believe every woman deserves to feel heard.
My journey into pelvic health began with my own experience as a patient. Today, that experience shapes how I show up for the women who trust me with their care.
Whether you're preparing to give birth, recovering postpartum, navigating pelvic pain, or simply wondering if what you're experiencing is normal, I want you to know that help is available.
I've been there. And now, I'd be honored to help guide you forward.
Move • Heal • Thrive from the ground up.