Kumbay'all: The Whole Woman's Resource

Episode 25

In this episode you will get valuable insights on preparing for childbirth from Dr. Amanda Shipley, who has the experience of two natural home births and more than 14 years as a pelvic physical therapist. 

Amanda will share her wisdom on:

• An important step to prepare for childbirth and prevent pelvic issues afterwards

• What pelvic floor issues can occur after childbirth

• What is special about the pelvic floor muscles and why considering this key fact is important (this will surprise you!)

• Why pelvic health is NOT just about Kegels

• What you should focus on in addition to physically preparing for labor

• How she prepared for childbirth differently during her two pregnancies and how her experiences varied as a result (it was a big difference!)

Listen to the end to hear Amanda’s top 4 things every person should do to prepare for childbirth. 

We hope you find this episode enlightening and interesting. We would love to hear your feedback and what you found most helpful or surprising.

About Amanda:

Amanda Shipley, PT, DPT, MTC is a pelvic physical therapist in Atlanta, GA with more than 15 years of experience helping patients prevent and heal pelvic floor issues. Her mission is to change the standard of care so that pelvic physical therapy is a part of a complete wellness strategy, like going to the dentist. Dr. Shipley believes in a holistic approach and focuses on treating the whole person and not just their symptoms. After having two unmedicated homebirths Dr. Shipley is especially passionate about helping birthing people have as smooth a childbirth as possible. She believes that everyone would benefit from seeing a pelvic physical therapist during pregnancy. Dr. Shipley sees patients at her practice, Renew Pelvic Health, and creates online courses in pelvic health through Progressive Pelvic Education. In addition, she is the creator and host of the podcast Kumbay'all: The Whole Woman's Resource.

If you enjoyed today’s episode please leave a review and subscribe to the podcast. We appreciate your support!

www.renewpelvichealth.com

@renewpelvichealth on Instagram or Facebook

www.progressivepregnancy.com

@progressivepregnancy on Instagram or Facebook

Trauma Sensitive Yoga - an interview between pelvic physical therapist Amanda Shipley, PT, DPT, MTC and authentic movement facilitator Bree Hibbs-Kenny, RYT, TCTSY-F.

Episode 23

Season 3 is here! Amanda shares another episode in her Myth Buster series, and this one relates to two common myths that women who have had children often say. Listen in to see if you have heard yourself or anyone else say these!

Renew Pelvic Health

Pelvic Guru

Pelvic Rehab

APTA

Episode 22

In this short but timely episode, Amanda gives her top tip for managing holiday stress. Learn where to find her first ever holiday gift guide and listen in for a bonus recommendation for easy ways to help you live a movement-rich lifestyle.

Renew Pelvic Health 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Nutritious Movement Instagram

Nutritious Movement website

Episode 21

Is it okay to go to the bathroom “just in case” (without first feeling the urge to urinate)? Amanda answers this question and explains why this topic is so important for our pelvic floor and bladder health!

Renew Pelvic Health

Pelvic Rehab

Pelvic Guru

APTA

Episode 20

In episode 20 Amanda speaks with Gigi Miller, who is the owner and professional organizer of Vision Organizing in Atlanta, GA. They talk about all the things Gigi helps her clients with - from organizing their home space to their work space, their systems, and their lives! She works with clients, young and old, to prioritize their goals and their time in order to increase productivity, decrease their stress, and improve their health. Gigi walks us through some great tips and recommendations she usually makes when considering how to organize and manage our children’s areas. She shows us that there IS hope for maintaining some order while allowing our kids the freedom to create and play in their space!

Gigi K. Miller is an Atlanta-based Professional Organizer and the owner of Vision Organizing, LLC. Gigi’s mission is to create organizing solutions for home, work, and life that are simple, practical, and easy to maintain. Vision Organizing is a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and the local Georgia chapter. To learn more about Gigi and Vision Organizing, please visit www.visionorganizing.com.

Vision Organizing

Vision Organizing Facebook page

Episode 19

In Episode 19 Amanda speaks with Dr. Erika Pluhar, who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Sex Therapist. She is also co-founder of Whole Heart Psychotherapy in Atlanta, GA. Erika’s practice of sex therapy reflects the mind-body-spirit experience that is human sexuality. They dive right into all of it! She debunks some of the myths around sexuality and tells us about some of the main issues she helps clients with when it comes to her sex therapy practice specifically. Erika shares with us the number one thing her clients who are moms complain about. More importantly, she shares with us what’s behind that issue, and what can be done about it! Dr. Pluhar gives her clients and all listening to this episode hope, inspiration, and support to reclaim our sexuality without shame.

Dr. Erika Pluhar is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. She is certified as a Sex Therapist and Supervisor by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. Dr. Pluhar also has completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). In addition to private practice in couple and sex therapy, she has researched and taught in the field of human sexuality for over 15 years. Dr. Pluhar brings genuine warmth and compassion to her work as a therapist and helps to create a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic environment in which clients can heal, grow, and flourish.

Dr. Pluhar is Clinical Co-Director for WholeHeart Psychotherapy, LLC (www.wholeheartpsychotherapy.net) a group practice in Atlanta, Georgia that provides mental health services for individuals, couples, and families and training, supervision, and development for therapists.

Erika Pluhar, PhD, EdS

Wholeheart Psychotherapy

Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski, PhD

Sexy Mamas - Cathy Winks and Anne Semans

Healing Painful Sex - Deborah Coady and Nancy Fish

I Love Female Orgasm - Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller

The Sexual Healing Journey - Wendy Maltz

Esther Perel

Where Should We Begin? - Esther Perel podcast

Scarleteen

Yes, No, Maybe So: A Sexual Inventory Stocklist

The Guide to Getting it On - Paul Joannides

It’s Not the Stork! - Robie Harris

It’s So Amazing! - Robie Harris

It’s Perfectly Normal - Robie Harris

Good Vibrations

Episode 18

In Episode 18 Amanda speaks with Heather Edwards, pelvic physical therapist, sex counselor and educator, and founder of Vino and Vulvas. Heather talks about their journey from physical therapist to pelvic physical therapist to becoming certified in sexuality education and counseling. They discuss sexuality, gender identity, binary vs. non-binary, and BDSM! Heather opens our eyes to the importance of feeling heard, seen, and understood not only in our personal relationships but also in our experiences with medical professionals. She strives to let her patients unfold their stories for her without assuming hetero-normative and stereotypical gender roles and inspires us to be open-minded and welcoming to the people we encounter in our lives, too.

Heather Edwards, PT, MPT has been a pelvic physical therapist for 15 years in western North Carolina. She is a University of Michigan trained Sexuality Counselor and Educator. She founded Vino & Vulvas in 2015 and it quickly became her favorite thing to do. She teaches community classes such as “Field Guide to Your Crotch” for transgender and nonbinary folx. Heather created the Transgender Pelvic Health Survey (currently in progress) and teamed up with Nova Southeastern University and the Pelvic Health Research Initiative for its implementation and data analysis. In 2016, she presented at the Southeastern Transgender Health Summit on the topic of pelvic PT considerations for the surgical trans patient. She presented at the 2018 AASECT conference on the topic of BDSM/Kink and Pelvic Health with the fabulous Aleece Fosnight, PA-C, CSC, CSE. She teaches Transgender Pelvic Health nationally with Pelvic Guru.

Despite all her clinical stuff, really Heather considers herself an artist… and if truth be told, she’d love to just draw fantastical crotch doodles all day. This unusual hobby has led to her creation of her first self-published book, Important Parts: A Coloring Book for the Crotch Enthusiast which is available at downtown bookstores in Asheville, at the V&V events, and online through Amazon.

For information about how to schedule an appointment with Heather or for connecting with Vino & Vulvas, email [email protected].

Vino and Vulvas

Important Parts: A Coloring Book for the Crotch Enthusiast - Heather Edwards, PT

Pelvic Guru

Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski, PhD

The Remedy: Queer and Trans Voices on Health and Healthcare - Zena Sharman

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Trans Community - Laura Erickson-Schroth

Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence - Esther Perel

Drawn to Sex: The Basics - Erika Moen, Matthew Nolan

Episode 17

In episode 17 Amanda speaks with Dr. Julie Granger, physical therapist and founder of PRISM Wellness Center in Atlanta, GA. Julie discusses how having a healthy mindset helps decrease stress, and improve hormone balance, autoimmunity, and fertility, among other things. She reminds us that WE are the most powerful member of our health and wellness team and describes how she has transitioned into her healthy mindset coaching practice full-time in order to empower women to create a healthy life they love that inspires them and reflects what they truly value.

Dr. Julie knows first-hand what the life of a busy, driven woman struggling with health issues is like. She is dedicated to guiding women to see that feeling healthy and fulfilled in their lives doesn’t have to be so hard, nor expensive, and that health, happiness and a successful career do not have to be mutually exclusive. Dr. Julie has an extensive medical background, deep expertise (with degrees from Emory and Duke), and 10 years of experience running a successful health practice. She combines these credentials along with her personal experience of achieving freedom from the physical and emotional grips of cancer and mental health challenges, to teach women clear, tangible ways to do more with less in their health. Dr. Julie believes that being healthy is not something you’ll simply find in a box, bottle, or book, but rather in the state of mind that we hold. She loves to help women find simple ways to gain confidence, know-how, and peace no matter where they are along their health journey.

Strategy call with Julie

Dr. Julie Granger website

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Anatomy of the Spirit - Caroline Myss

The Period Repair Manual - Lara Briden, ND

Episode 16

In episode 16 Amanda speaks with Carrie Contey about understanding and incorporating our knowledge of brain and human development into best practices for conscious, evolved parenting. Carrie explains why self-care is a necessity, not a luxury, and how the “new paradigm” differs from the old way of relating to our growing family members and ourselves. Carrie gives very practical examples and shares such important information for us all, whether we have children or not!

Carrie Contey, Ph.D., is an internationally-recognized coach, author, speaker and educator. Her work offers a new perspective on human development, parenting and family life. She guides, supports, and inspires her clients to live with wide-open and courageous hearts so they can approach family life with skill and spaciousness. Carrie received her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis on prenatal and perinatal psychology and is masterful at synthesizing and articulating the science, psychology, and spirituality of humanhood. She is the creator of Evolve, a year-long "personal growth through parenting" program which ran from 2011-2017. She is also the co-founder of the Slow Family Living movement and the co-author of CALMS: A Guide To Soothing Your Baby. Carrie has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, NPR, CBS radio and in many publications including Time, Parenting and The Boston Globe.

Carrie Contey