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Coming in at #1 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my conversation with Dr. Ashley Winter.

Today, I speak with Dr. Ashley Winter, Board certified urologist who specializes in sexual medicine and postpartum hormones. After realizing that many of the common concerns that patients were brining to her clinic were not being addressed by the information she was being taught, she decided to do a fellowship in sexual disfunction. After working in managed health for five years following her fellowship, she decided to branch out into the tech side of medicine to help improve sexual health care for everyone.

-foray into parenthood

-normal hormone levels

-failures in postpartum care

-impacts of estrogen 

-knowing when it’s something else

-topical estrogen and breastfeeding

-finding the right provider

-the benefits of Telehealth

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

7:33 parallels of hormones levels in pregnancy and postpartum

16:00 after the baby comes

22:30 genitourinary symptoms in lactation

25:24 barriers to obtaining vaginal estrogen

34:50 finding the right provider

45:02 listening to patients

50:33 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleygwinter/

Twitter at @ashleygwinter

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

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Coming in at #2 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my conversation with Munira Hudani.

Today I speak with Munira Hudani,  a Pre- and Post-Natal physiotherapist in Canada, and an emerging leader for the management of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis. After years of frustration in landing inconsistent results with her clients, and the dissatisfaction in having to say “we just don’t have enough research right now,” Munira began to challenge the conventional method to managing DRA. She realized that part of the inconsistent results came down to how DRA was being conceptualized. She started practicing with a different set of principles which improved outcomes. She has now compiled all of her knowledge and experience into a new framework that revolutionizes how we conceptualize, assess, and manage DRA. She is passionately committed to transferring this knowledge to both professionals and patients so they can finally make sense of the steps to take when navigating this condition. 

We talk about:

-learning about diastasis recti 

-separating DR from back pain and other dysfunctions 

-DR is not preventable 

-factors that lead to long-term issues 

-management of DR 

-problems with the research 

-Is the gap bad? 

-feeling at home in your body 

-targeting the transverse abdominis 

-experiencing pregnancy and motherhood 

-letting go of expectations

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction 

7:05 defining diastasis recti 

10:50 prevention of DR 

13:45 fear mongering in pelvic health 

17:30 predicting long-term issues 

22:00 what the research says 

27:00 explaining distortion 

31:20 Is the gap bad? 

40:05 creating personalized care 

41:00 being a new mom 

48:33 rapid fire questions 

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH MUNIRA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/munirahudanipt/ 

Website: https://www.munirahudanipt.com/ 

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

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🎙️ Coming in at #3 on our list of top podcasts for 2024!

If you’re navigating pelvic organ prolapse after baby, this episode is a must-listen. 💡  

I sit down with Margo Kwiatkowski, aka @postpartum_prolapse, an orthopedic & pelvic health PT, to dive into the physical AND mental challenges of POP. 

Diagnosed after her first baby in 2021, Margo turned her experience into a mission to educate, empower, & normalize postpartum changes. 🌟  

We cover it all:  
🔹 Preparing for pregnancy vs. the unexpected  
🔹 Learning about pelvic floor therapy  
🔹 Being heard (or not!) postpartum  
🔹 Shifting organs, mental health & calming the nervous system  
🔹 Reducing fears, symptoms & embracing recovery  

✨ BONUS: Since recording, Margo’s delivered baby #2 & continues to share her story! 🍼  

Whether you’re a new mom or a pelvic health advocate, this episode is packed with relatable stories, expert insights, & hope. ❤️  

👉 Hit play now and let’s #NormalizePostpartum together!  

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction 

2:56 learning about pelvic health 

5:40 pregnancy as a PT 

10:10 discovering she had prolapse 

15:00 validating patients’ feelings 

20:30 ah-ha moments from pelvic health 

28:19 pessaries 

34:25 “Are my organs going to go back?” 

40:49 dealing with perimenopause 

43:30 rapid fire questions 

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH MARGO

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_pop_pt/

Website: https://www.p4moms.com/

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌

Send us Fan Mail

Coming in at #4 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my solo episode discussing how soon you can get back to workouts after delivery.

🎙️ When Can I Work Out After Baby? 🤔 

Postpartum fitness is one of the hottest questions I get—DMs, emails, sidelines at kid activities, you name it. 

And guess what? There’s no magic “ready date” 🤯 (sorry, not sorry). But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in today’s solo podcast episode. 🏋️‍♀️✨ 

We’ll dive into: 
👉 General guidelines to ease back in 
👉 Walking: your underrated BFF 🚶‍♀️ 
👉 The REAL deal on returning to running (can I say coordination & strength?)
👉 Why energy deficiency postpartum is a THING 😴 
👉 Adjusting your readiness screen to REAL LIFE 
👉 Surviving the chaos of year one (because WOW). 

Listen now and get the scoop on how to start moving safely—without the guilt trip or overwhelm. 🎧💪

💡 **Pro Tip:** Always check in with a medical pro, but if they don’t “get it,” this episode is your new go-to. 

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

3:00 returning to run advice

4:34 soft tissue healing time

6:08 adapting to different phases

12:45 the roll of your transverse abdominals

20:40 after maternity leave

24:20 listener questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

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🎙️ Coming in hot at #5 on our list of top podcasts for 2024: My solo episode tackling one of the most DEBATED postpartum fitness questions: 

Do you REALLY have to wait 12 weeks to start running after baby? 🏃‍♀️  

After 25 years of experience as a pelvic floor PT working with postpartum moms (& as someone who’s been there postpartum), I've read the research, talked to the experts, & lived the reality. 

Here’s the scoop: the "12-week guideline” might be helpful for SOME, but it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all answer.  

In this episode, I break down:  
✔️ Where the 12-week guideline comes from (& if it applies to you)
✔️ Why pelvic floor education is changing postpartum recovery 
✔️ What we can learn from pro athletes vs. the rest of us mere mortals
✔️ Managing prolapse, leakage, & scaling exercises without losing your mind
✔️ The mental side of running postpartum: motivations, identity, & starting where you are

If you’re a mom trying to navigate the chaos of “when to run,” this episode has your back (& your pelvic floor). 🙌  

👉 Listen now —& let’s keep rewriting the postpartum running playbook together.  

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction 

3:04 recommendations pre-2019 

11:13 the current view 

16:51 remembering mental health 

19:30 where to find information 

24:25 who needs to wait 12 weeks? 

29:50 the symptoms 

37:20 doing the things to help your symptoms 

45:24 what to do when you return to run 

51:06 what to do next 

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌

Send us Fan Mail

🚨 She’s back! We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible *Dr. Kimberley Johnson, PhD*, aka @wildmatrescence, back to the show for our Season 3 Finale! 🎉✨  

Kimberley is a psychologist specializing in perinatal and reproductive health concerns, including:  
🌟 Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders  
🌟 Perinatal trauma & loss  
🌟 Pelvic floor conditions  
🌟 Infertility  
🌟 Reproductive transitions  

In Episode 14 (May 2022), she shared her journey navigating postpartum prolapse & a pelvic floor avulsion injury as a pro cyclist & PhD student. And now? SO much has changed! 💪  

This episode dives into:  
➡️ Kimberley’s growing family (hello, 2 kids! 👶👦)  
➡️ Juggling pregnancy, parenting, & professional growth  
➡️ Moving TWICE & staying active with a toddler & kindergartener 🚴‍♀️🎿  

We also get into her groundbreaking research on childbirth-related pelvic floor injuries, mental health, & improving patient-provider communication during pregnancy and postpartum.  

And, of course, Kimberley opens up about her adventures as a mom—mountain biking, hiking, camping, & (hopefully) Nordic skiing her way through New England with her family! 🏔️  

✨ Topics we cover:  
✅ Birth injuries & recovery  
✅ Deciding to have another child after prolapse
✅ Staying active with kids  
✅ Pessaries & prolapse treatment  
✅ Medical gaslighting & finding the right provider  
✅ Prolapse grading, education, & informed consent  

This episode is packed with valuable insights for moms, providers, & anyone passionate about perinatal health. 🎧 Take a listen now & join the conversation!  

💡 Tag a friend who needs this!  

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction

5:11 getting pregnant after prolapse

11:20 treating birth injuries

17:45 pain as physical, mental, and emotional 

24:17 where people are finding information

33:10 exploring what is “normal”

36:55 dealing with compulsions

43:50 anatomical versus symptomatic prolapse

47:10 was it there before birth?

54:45 how providers can support in mental health

65:05 how to find a mental health provider

67:05 developing pelvic health literacy

72:10 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildmatrescence/

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌

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💥 *New Episode Alert!* 💥 

Today I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Carey Rothschild, Clinical Associate Professor at @ucf.edu & lead author of the groundbreaking Clinical Commentary: "Maximizing Running Participation and Performance Through Menopause" (published in @jwphptofficial, April/June 2023). 🙌  

With 25+ years in orthopedics & sports medicine, Dr. Rothschild brings expertise in female athlete health, menopause, & running injuries—& she’s recently earned her @menopause_society certification! (Congrats, Carey! 🎉)  

As an avid runner, triathlete, Boston Marathon finisher, & mom of 3 sporty kids, Dr. Rothschild knows firsthand how to balance it all while staying active through every life stage. 💪  

We dive into:  
🔹 Perimenopause awareness for active women  
🔹 Physical therapy’s role in perimenopause & menopause care  
🔹 Frozen shoulder, low estrogen, & tendon health
🔹 Bone health, impact, lifting heavy & running in peri & menopause
🔹 Sleep changes & nutrition needs in perimenopause  
🔹 Low energy availability in peri/menopause & recovery strategies  

…and so much more! Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with tips for thriving through menopause & beyond!  

🎧 Tune in now and level up your menopause knowledge!  

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction

5:50 where providers should broaden their knowledge

8:48 cardiovascular impacts

12:40 changes to training

22:04 lifting weights versus jumping

25:00 what is “lifting heavy”?

33:18 nutrition and endocrine system

37:55 low estrogen states

42:41 top simple tips

51:30 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH CAREY

Website: https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/person/carey-rothschild/

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌

Send us Fan Mail

What if your postpartum wasn't the picture of straight-forward perfection?

Today, we welcome back Amy Leedham, aka @amy_the_punisher former pro trail runner, a sustainability consultant, who recently welcomed her 2nd child! 

Amy joined us in Season 1 to talk about “The Postpartum Experience No One Wants to Read About but Should,” a piece she wrote in 2021 after the birth of her 1st child, highlighting the physical complications she faced attempting to return to trail running & activity.

We chat about the real challenges of pregnancy & postpartum recovery.

For over 5 years, Amy’s journey with two pregnancies & her return to running has been filled with ups, downs, & unexpected lessons. 

Her story shows a very different side of postpartum recovery, far from the idealized images we often see.

We cover:
🔹Doing everything "right" yet still facing complications
🔹Recovering from post-birth injuries
🔹Building a supportive postpartum team
🔹Adding strength training to recovery
🔹Navigating shifts in identity as a mom
🔹Prioritizing rest & recovery
🔹Finding time for yourself
🔹Using vaginal estradiol while breastfeeding
🔹Balancing childcare and active time with kids

Amy’s story is a must-hear for anyone navigating their own postpartum journey & looking for encouragement & real, practical insights.

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction

3:36 journey to returning to run

10:11 navigating a second pregnancy

15:40 being open about her experience

22:39 second pregnancy differences

30:45 getting care postpartum

42:55 postpartum during covid times versus “normal” times

51:50 layers of a mom’s experience

57:57 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH AMY

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amy_the_punisher/

Website: www.amythepunisher.com

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

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Today, we're thrilled to welcome back @paulina.balboa to the show! 

A former MMA athlete, PhD student based in Cologne, Germany, owner of @pi.physio, & mom of 2, Paulina just welcomed her second child a few weeks ago! 

(Don't miss Paulina's first appearance on the podcast, Season 2, August 18, 2023.)

Paulina brings a wealth of knowledge on female athletes & cultural differences surrounding pregnant & postpartum athletes. 

Her quest for information on staying active during pregnancy sparked a journey into researching how different cultures approach athletic pregnancies. 

Recently, she published groundbreaking research on resistance training during menopause & the benefits of a high-protein diet.

Here’s what we dive into:
🔹 Her experience with a 2nd pregnancy
🔹 Focusing research on perimenopause
🔹 Her background in MMA 
🔹 The importance of protein for women
🔹 How resistance training supports health
🔹 Preventing age-related health issues
🔹 Breaking down myths: no ‘bad’ exercises
🔹 Getting started with resistance training

This episode is packed with insights for women navigating the demands of athleticism, motherhood, & wellness!

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction

4:30 struggling to get treated for perimenopause

8:06 importance of protein in diet

19:20 range of perimenopause in women

23:35 determining what “high protein” means

29:30 exercise to compliment resistance training

34:25 staying strong for grandchildren

38:55 her own postpartum journey

40:00 bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

47:20 first steps to take

51:12 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH PAULINA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulina.balboa/

Website: www.pi-physio.de

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌

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In today’s episode, I sit down with @drjocelynwallace, a physical therapist, Level 2 @CrossFit Trainer, & toddler mom, to discuss her personal & professional journey through fibroids, high-risk pregnancy, & hysterectomy.

Having undergone 2 open myomectomies, a C-section, & ultimately a total hysterectomy, Dr. Wallace shares invaluable insights on healing after major surgery, managing fibroids as a young mom, & navigating early perimenopause.

In this episode, we cover:

🔹Living with fibroids & the journey to motherhood
🔹The decision-making process behind a hysterectomy
🔹Hysterectomy recovery & onset of surgical perimenopause
🔹Key post-surgery care tips
🔹How to manage a missed diagnosis
🔹The challenges of a high-risk pregnancy
🔹Where to find reliable information on fibroids & navigating return to activity after pelvic surgery

Time Stamps

1:00 introduction

4:15 getting a fibroid diagnosis

9:10 choices for treatment early on

13:50 the missed diagnosis

16:40 having a background in strength training

18:17 high-risk pregnancy after fibroids

25:20 having a planned c-section after abdominal surgery

37:08 running with fibroids

42:40 choices surrounding hysterectomies

50:01 providers who play to people’s fears

53:20 differential diagnosis in perimenopause

57:00 recovery after hysterectomy

64:15 resistance training after hysterectomy

70:45 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH JOCELYN

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjocelynwallace/

Website: drjocelynwallace.com

Free Questionnaire: https://drjocelynwallace.myflodesk.com/free-questionnaire

The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.

Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).

Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.

Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌