What if you had a single resource that could change the way you treat women’s health—covering everything from pelvic care to pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond? In this episode, Lynn talks with authors Darla Cathcart and Rebecca Stephenson about their groundbreaking new textbook, The Physical Therapist’s Guide to Women’s Pelvic, Perinatal, and Reproductive Health, that blends evidence, compassion, and real-world tools to support clinicians at every level. They reveal the behind-the-scenes challenges, the surprising insights, and why this book is the guide you’ve been searching for. Don’t miss it—this conversation will leave you inspired to expand your practice in powerful ways.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• The story behind this groundbreaking book
• Practical tools: charts, scripts, and visuals for daily use
• Updated evidence on pelvic, perinatal, breast, and reproductive health
• Addressing disparities and empowering underserved populations
• Why this book matters for PTs, OTs, physicians, and midwives

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Speakers

Rebecca G. Stephenson is a clinical specialist in women’s and pelvic health physical therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital MGB at the Newton-Wellesley Ambulatory Care Center, medical writer and is a board-certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. From the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association she has a Certification of Achievement in Pelvic Health (CAPP-Pelvic), Certification in Childbirth Education. She is a past president and secretary of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Pelvic and Women’s Health. Dr. Stephenson has received many awards: the Lucy Blair Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Elizabeth Nobel Award from the Academy of Pelvic Health, and the Barbara Adams Fellow in the MGH Institute of Physical Therapy for leadership. Dr. Stephenson is on the faculty for the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. Rebecca founded, along with Tracy Spitznagle and Susan Clinton, the Global Women’s Health Initiative, a non-profit, GWHI.org.

Darla B. Cathcart is Assistant Clinical Professor and Assistant Director of Clinical Education at Graceland University (Independence, MO) and is a board-certified Women’s Health Certified Specialist (WCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She has also earned from APTA Academy of Pelvic Health the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP-Pelvic) and the Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy (CAPP-OB). Darla has served as the President (2024–2026), President-elect (2023–2024), Vice President (2015–2016), and Director of Education (2011–2014) for the Academy of Pelvic Health, American Physical Therapy Association.  Dr. Cathcart received several awards from the Academy of Pelvic Health: Instructor of the Year (2017); Course Site Hostess of the Year (2018); and Volunteer of the Year (2015). 

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

What does diving the Great Barrier Reef have to do with bodywork? In this episode, Lynn reveals powerful parallels between coral, fish, and the hidden patterns we uncover in the body—connections that can completely shift your results with clients. She shares how to move beyond surface-level anatomy and start sensing the deeper signals of trauma, injury, and release. Get ready to see your practice in a whole new light.

Episode Highlights:

• The surprising link between coral varieties and body tissues
• How to detect trauma and holding patterns beneath your hands
• Why local restrictions often connect to distant injuries
• The secret to balancing micro and macro perspectives in treatment
• A simple way to soften and release hardened bone

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

If you work with parents who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated, this is their reset: one simple framework you can share to help them quickly shift the dynamics at home.

Today’s episode is your go-to guide for helping parents understand the ‘whole family nervous system’—the hidden, powerful connection that influences how parents and kids react to stress.

Lynn is joined by Emma Johnston and Eleanor Mann, founders of The Reconnected, who have supported over 100,000 families in moving from tension and reactivity to connection and ease. Their approach blends breathwork, nervous system regulation, and play therapy, offering practical tools you can pass on to your clients for immediate and lasting change.

✨Episode Highlights:

• A child’s ability to self-regulate is directly tied to their caregivers’ nervous system state. 
• Breathwork can help release stored stress and expand capacity for calm, connected responses.
• Children’s primary healing tool is play — the caregiver’s role is to be present and attuned while they express themselves.
• Old reaction patterns come from past experiences; but self-regulation can break these patterns.
• A supportive community is a powerful catalyst for sustained family change.

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Speakers:

Emma Johnston and Eleanor Mann are the founders of The Reconnected, a global community of over one hundred thousand families. They are dedicated to supporting parents to consciously transform their lives. Since launching their signature course, Reconnected Parenting, in 2019, they have positively impacted thousands of families, guiding them towards more fulfilling and intentional parenting experiences.

As experts in Breathwork and Play Therapy, they advocate for a modern, authentic, and values-driven approach to parenting.

Emma is a Breathwork Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, and mother of five young children.

Eleanor is a Counsellor, Breathwork Practitioner, Play Therapist, and mother of five in their teens and young adult years.

Website: https://thereconnected.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Reconnected-Parenting-Healing-Nervous-Regulation/dp/1401996973

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

What if your client’s symptoms weren’t what they seemed? In this episode, Lynn unpacks a session working with a postpartum client whose orthopedic complaints—leg weakness, knee irritation, constipation, and squat pain—led to surprising discoveries deep in the pelvis. Each release revealed new layers: from sacral flexion and a tucked cervix to a bound utero-sacral ligament that instantly shifted motor control and pelvic floor function. Just when the picture seemed complete, the body exposed one last twist—an old ankle sprain still holding tension from high school. This episode is a powerful reminder that the body always tells the story— when we’re willing to listen to it.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• Identifying sacral flexion and ischial splaying patterns postpartum
• Releasing a tight utero-sacral ligament for better pelvic mobility
• Restoring pelvic floor balance and effortless activation
• Resolving orthopedic symptoms (knee tracking, squat pain) through pelvic alignment
• Discovering how old injuries and stored energy show up in postpartum recovery

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

If you have clients whose pessary keeps slipping out, today’s podcast is the essential guide to why it happens and how to fix it. In today’s episode, Lynn is joined by Gaynor Morgan who shares the shortcuts you’ve been waiting for — covering biomechanics, breathing, and the smart use of one or even two pessaries for maximum support. 

You’ll learn exactly when a second pessary can make all the difference, how to choose the right type of pessary for each prolapse, and the movement and breathing tweaks that help it stay put. 

The result? More comfort, more stability, and better outcomes for your clients — without endless trial and error. If you’ve ever thought, “Why won’t it just stay in?”, consider this episode to be your answer.

✨Episode Highlights:

• Identify the cause if a pessary is falling out
• Strengthen first if needed
• Choose the right type or combo of pessaries
• Address movement & breathing
• Stay informed on the latest research and clinical evidence

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit:InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Speaker:

Gaynor is a distinguished women's health specialist with a unique dual expertise in pessary innovation and biomechanical breathwork. With over 25 years in the pessary industry, she has dedicated her career to developing non-surgical solutions for pelvic floor dysfunction.Her pioneering work in pessary design and application has educated thousands of medical professionals and patients globally, earning her international recognition, including the Platinum Award at the International Awards for Women in Innovation and Invention. Understanding that a pessary is most effective when integrated with proper physiological function, Gaynor became a certified Oxygen Advantage Advanced Breathing Instructor,
trained directly by Professor Patrick McKeown. She uniquely combines this scientifically- grounded breathwork with biomechanical movement to help women optimize their pessary experience. This integrated approach supports better management of prolapse, incontinence, and hypertonicity by improving pelvic floor coordination and overall core stability.
Gaynor’s method ensures that the pessary works in harmony with the body, empowering women with greater comfort, confidence, and long-term success.

Website: https://www.pelvicangel.net/

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

Your clients are coming to you because their body is communicating that there is an issue.

Are you listening to what it has to say?

If you struggle getting the results you want with your clients or helping clients improve beyond a certain point – then don’t miss today’s episode as Lynn shares her tricks of the trade that will not only get you desirable results, but that will pull in the pieces that have been ‘missing’. You know the ones - the little thoughts or pings in your body that tell you – “you can do more” and “there is more to this work”.

Well, Lynn is here to tell you, “You can! And, there is!”

When working with clients, there is so much more to working with the body than just following the protocols you have been taught. Listen in as Lynn shares a recent case that involved working on a client’s cervix and the additional data you need to be watching for in all of your treatment sessions to attain more meaningful results.

Keep listening if you Are you ready to add in the missing pieces and improve client outcomes?

✨Episode Highlights:

• Tuning into what the tissue “wants”
• The evolving skill of sensing tissue response
• Importance of foundational techniques and flexibility
• Adjusting to individual presentations

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Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

When it comes to pregnancy and postpartum, it is hard to sift through what we should and should not be telling our clients; however, when it comes to Vitamin D, the research is clear – Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the health of our pregnant clients and their infants.

Today, Lynn Schulte, PT is joined by Jen Aliano, the Executive Director of GrassrootsHealth, as Jen dives into the incredible data on the critical, yet often overlooked, role of vitamin D in pregnancy, chronic disease prevention, immune function, and overall health.

Learn how vitamin D deficiency is contributing to poor health outcomes—which are often completely preventable. Join the conversation and connect with GrassrootsHealth to learn more about what can be done to raise awareness about the research behind the essential needs for Vitamin D.

✨Episode Highlights:

• Vitamin D & Pregnancy
• Why Deficiency Is So Common
• Breastfeeding & Infant Health
• Racial Disparities in Deficiency
• Immunity & Chronic Disease Prevention
• Testing & Individual Needs
• Policy Action – Capitol Hill, Sept 10

🧾 To Get Involved and Interview Links:

• Donate and learn more: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/a-major-opportunity-is-knock
• Link to Testing: https://daction.grassrootshealth.net/tests/
• Watch the Dr. Carol Wagner YouTube Video: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/vitamin-d-deficiency-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-the-indicator-of-suboptimal-health-in-pregnant-women/
• Watch the Dr. Hollis YouTube Video: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/behind-research-exclusive-interview-dr-bruce-hollis/
• Watch the Dr. Weiss YouTube Video: https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/lessons-learned-rct-prenatal-vitamin-d-asthma/

About Today’s Speaker

JEN ALIANO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GRASSROOTSHEALTH

Jen Aliano, MS, LAc, CCN, has been working in the field of nutrition since 2004, with over 10 years of experience in vitamin D research and education specifically. She is currently the Executive Director of GrassrootsHealth, a non-profit public health promotion and research organization supported by over 40 international senior vitamin D scientists and experts. GrassrootsHealth has been running the world’s largest public health intervention study – the D*action field trial – to solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic, while focusing on promoting optimal health worldwide through nutrient research, education, and advocacy, with a primary focus on the role of vitamin D.

Website: https://grassrootshealth.net

Email: [email protected]

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

If you want to save time and effort plus get incredible results in your postpartum body treatment sessions, then today’s episode with Lynn Schulte is a must listen.

In her 30+ years of practice, Lynn has been fine-tuning how to best work with the postpartum body. Today, she shares with you the essential steps and areas to treat to get the best and quickest results for your postpartum clients. Stop the heavy lifting and the forced releases by connecting what you find both from your external and internal assessments and treatments to help clients recover quicker and more fully after birth. 

✨Episode Highlights:

• External Before Internal
• Uterus-on-Bladder Technique
• Case Study Insight
• Link Between Internal Muscle Tension & Bone Position.
• IRF (Ischiorectal Fossa) Importance
• Collagen Type and Birth Response
• Reflexive Core Activation

Lynn encourages pelvic health therapists to deepen their skills and knowledge by going beyond standard training with courses that empower practitioners to use their expertise and intuition to create more impactful and effective results with lifelong benefits.

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Want to learn more? Check out Lynn’s pregnant and postpartum body courses to elevate your practice.

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

As a pelvic health therapist, you are in a position to help clear blocks that may be impacting your client’s fertility! Do you want to learn how? Listen in to today’s conversation as Dr. Yeni Abraham joins Lynn to share incredible wisdom and insight around what we can do to help clients navigate infertility and miscarriage. This conversation will expand your care on multiple levels.

Today’s episode will dive into:

• How cultural and emotional grief with infertility and miscarriage can create shame, community ostracism, isolation, and feelings of betrayal by one’s body.
• How grief can get held as trauma in the body and ultimately impact fertility.
• How to spot red flags, integrate trauma-informed care, and confidently treat the emotional layers stored in tissue.
• What we can do to help build emotional safety for our clients, so they can relax and engage more deeply in their healing.
• What you need to know in terms of clinical discernment, collaboration, and trauma-informed, whole-person care to better guide your clients.

Don’t miss this important episode and the opportunity to provide more expansive and necessary care to your clients.

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

ABOUT TODAY’S SPEAKER

Dr. Oluwayeni Abraham, PT, DPT, is a pelvic physical therapist and pelvic educator. She practices and teaches from a place of purpose to address the fertility concerns, pelvic pain and pregnancy related conditions women struggle with. 

As patients fondly call her, “Dr.Yeni” is also a mentor, teacher and practices using gynovisceral manipulation techniques to treat and manage female mechanical infertility. Her use of these skills in practice has addressed hormonal issues, ovulatory concerns and numerous reproductive diagnoses impacting fertility. 

Dr.Yeni is a fertility warrior who is now a mother after a battle with infertility. She is happily married with a wonderful son, passionate about mentoring young women and aiming to provide expert level care for all women. 

“I’ve always believed that the marriage between holistic and western medicine can do wonders in the field of pelvic and reproductive health. As a licensed pelvic floor physical therapist who specializes in fertility and pelvic pain, I use my understanding of the female lumbopelvic region and my passion for curating manual treatment techniques to address the pervasive obstacles that contribute to both mechanical and hormonal problems in women trying to conceive. Working in this population provides the opportunity to empower women who are in a vulnerable season in their lives. Though the healing work is physical, the results are life-changing.”

 - Dr. Yeni Abraham

Dr. Yeni’s Website: https://www.triggeredacademy.com/home

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE

I am so excited to share this fascinating case study today that brought up a surprising connection between my client’s abdominal tension during pregnancy and a past injury in her lower extremities. It caught me by surprise as my normal release techniques were not making effective changes, but I got curious – and the results were beautiful!

The body is incredible in its ability to tell us when something is not right. It is our job to listen and find the connection – in this case the connection was between a past left ankle fracture and persistent abdominal tension. The tension was keeping the body in restriction and may have led to a challenge in labor and delivery.

Listen to this case to learn:

• What you can do when pain or tension returns even after a release
• How to stay curious when tissues don’t respond as expected
• What to reassess after a release
• How past injuries can silently influence uterine mobility, ligament tension, and even fetal positioning

Treating the whole body—not just the area of dysfunction—is essential to your pelvic health practice. Whether you're a therapist, bodyworker, or clinician working with pregnant clients, this episode offers eye-opening insights into fascial relationships and introduces techniques taught in Lynn’s Holistic Treatment of the Pregnant Body course. A must-listen for anyone ready to elevate their hands-on skills and deepen their understanding of the body's subtle but powerful connections.

Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE