The Lady Birds

Worried you might have low milk supply? You’re definitely not alone. In this episode of The Ladybirds Podcast, Becky sits down with midwife and IBCLC Anne LeClerc to talk through one of the most common breastfeeding concerns: how do you actually know if you have low milk supply?

Anne breaks down what normal milk production can look like in the early postpartum days and weeks, what can impact supply, and what parents can do if they’re concerned about getting enough milk.

In This Episode: 

🍼 What “normal” milk supply actually looks like and how it can vary from person to person

🌿 Whether collecting—or not collecting—colostrum during pregnancy tells you anything about postpartum milk supply

⏰ Why the first days and weeks are so important for establishing milk production

👶 How latch, milk transfer, pumping, and breast stimulation can affect supply

🧠 How birth experiences, stress, hormones, nutrition, hydration, and medications may play a role

🥣 Lactation cookies, oatmeal, electrolytes, and other commonly recommended foods and drinks—and whether they’re actually the solution

🤝 When to seek help from an IBCLC and what an individualized assessment can look at

Where to Find Anne: 

🌐 Website:www.birthgardens.com,

📱 Instagram: @birthgardens

She has organized multiple events like a walking group in Austin 3rd Wednesday of the month, and online weekly prenatal and postnatal group to feel supported and educated throughout this important phase of your life!

Find the Ladybirds

📍 Lady Bird Physical Therapy: Austin, TX

📱 Instagram: @ladybirdpt

🌐 Website: www.ladybirdpt.com

🎙️ The Ladybirds Podcast: Find us wherever you listen to podcasts!

💌 Have a question or topic you want us to cover? Send us a DM—we’d love to hear from you!

Finding out your baby is breech late in pregnancy can feel overwhelming—but it's more common than you might think. In this episode, we break down what breech presentation actually means, when providers become concerned, and the evidence behind the most commonly recommended techniques to encourage baby to turn.

Becky also shares her personal experience navigating a breech pregnancy, the emotional rollercoaster of trying "all the things," and why it's so important to remember that your baby's position is not your fault.

Whether you're currently navigating a breech pregnancy or simply want to better understand your options, this episode offers an evidence-based, compassionate look at what you can do—and what to let go of.

In This Episode

🤍 What breech presentation means and when it becomes a concern

📊 How common breech babies are throughout pregnancy

🔄 The evidence behind chiropractic care, acupuncture, Spinning Babies, and inversions

🏥 What to expect from an External Cephalic Version (ECV)

💛 Why a breech baby is never your fault—and why a C-section can still be a beautiful birth

🐦 Bird Story of the Week: A toddler mystery about "seeing chickens" finally gets solved at the library.

Find The Lady Birds:

🌐 Website: www.ladybirdpt.com

📸 Instagram: @ladybirdpt

📧 Email: [email protected]

What happens when you decide to have your breast implants removed—and what does recovery actually look like afterward?

In this episode, Becky sits down with personal trainer and prenatal/postpartum fitness specialist Courtney Durando to talk about her own explant journey, from deciding to have her implants removed to navigating the physical and emotional recovery afterward.

Courtney shares what surprised her most about the procedure, what returning to movement looked like, and why she felt there was a major gap in guidance for women trying to safely get back to strength training and everyday life after explant surgery.

What We Talk About

💭 Courtney’s experience with breast implants, what led her to consider an explant, and how she navigated that decision

🩺 What the explant procedure and early recovery were like—including the unexpected amount of chest and muscle recovery involved

🧘‍♀️ The physical and emotional challenges of recovery, including body image, parenting, and temporarily being unable to lift her kids

🏋️‍♀️ How Courtney gradually returned to movement, strength training, and exercise after surgery

🫁 Why breathing, rib cage mobility, core strength, and upper-body mobility became important parts of her recovery

📋 The lack of clear, structured rehab guidance after explant surgery—and why Courtney decided to create her own program

💪 What her seven-week explant recovery program looks like and how it helps women gradually rebuild mobility, strength, confidence, and energy

Find the Ladybirds

📍 Lady Bird Physical Therapy: Austin, TX

📱 Instagram: @ladybirdpt

🌐 Website: ladybirdpt.com

🎙️ The Ladybirds Podcast: Find us wherever you listen to podcasts!

💌 Have a question or topic you want us to cover? Send us a DM—we’d love to hear from you!

Find Courtney

💻 Website: https://www.courtneydurandofitness.com

📱 Instagram: @courtneydurandofitness

🏋️‍♀️ Explant Recovery Program: Courtney’s seven-week program is designed to begin around six weeks post-op and provides progressive mobility, core, breathing, and strength work with modifications to meet you where you are in recovery.

Pregnancy comes with plenty of appointments—but what happens when you're considered high-risk? In this episode, Becky shares her personal experience navigating a high-risk pregnancy due to chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, and advanced maternal age.

Rather than focusing on the medical management of these conditions, we're talking about something that often gets overlooked: the logistics. From endless appointments and specialist visits to the emotional weight of constant monitoring, we're pulling back the curtain on what a high-risk pregnancy can actually look like day to day.

Whether you're currently navigating a high-risk pregnancy, supporting someone who is, or you're simply curious about what the experience can involve, we hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone.

In This Episode

🤍 What qualifies someone as having a high-risk pregnancy

📅 The reality of managing frequent OB and specialist appointments

⏰ The hidden time commitment and mental load of high-risk care

🩺 Becky shares her experience with chronic hypertension and gestational diabetes

📈 How constant monitoring can affect anxiety and decision-making

🧠 The difference between appropriate worry and overwhelming anxiety

💛 Coping strategies that helped during a second high-risk pregnancy

👥 What support was (and wasn't) helpful from friends and family

🐦 Bird Fact of the Week is all about why birds lay eggs!

Find The Lady Birds:

🌐 Website: www.ladybirdpt.com
📸 Instagram: @ladybirdpt
📧 Email: [email protected]

Baby Shane is here! In this personal update, Jessica shares what the first eight weeks with baby Shane have really looked like, from the joy (and chaos) of becoming a family of four to navigating birth expectations, breastfeeding challenges, sleep deprivation, and the unique experience of parenting in a two-mom family where each parent carried one child.

In This Episode:

👶 Jessica shares what life has really been like during the first eight weeks with baby Shane

❤️ The emotional reality of transitioning from one child to two

🏥 Greta's C-section experience and processing a birth that looked different than expected

🧠 How personal birth experiences can influence expectations—even as pelvic health professionals

🍼 A discussion about newborn weight loss, triple feeding recommendations, and advocating for your family

💤 Why postpartum decisions should consider parental recovery and mental health

🌈 The unique dynamics of raising children in a family where each mom experienced pregnancy and birth

🤢 Baby reflux, spit-up, newborn sleep, and the everyday realities no one prepares you for

👧 Toddler adjustment, sibling relationships, and watching your first child grow alongside your newborn

🐥 Bird Fact of the Week: Just how tiny is a chicken's brain?

Find The Lady Birds

🌐 Website: https://www.ladybirdpt.com

📸 Instagram: @ladybirdpt

📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we’re talking all about strength training after pregnancy and the exercises we find ourselves prescribing again and again for our postpartum patients.

Rather than sharing a generic list of “the best exercises” for a specific symptom, we’re breaking down the movements that we, as pelvic floor physical therapists specializing in perinatal health, use most often to help people rebuild strength, stability, and confidence after pregnancy and birth.

From side planks to lunges to bridges, we’re sharing why we love these exercises, how we modify them, and why finding the right version of an exercise for your current body is the key to progressing forward.

💪 Why these are our most prescribed postpartum strengthening exercises

🪶 Why side planks are one of our favorite full-body “bang for your buck” exercises

🤰 How pregnancy and birth impact strength, balance, and movement

🔥 Why modifying an exercise doesn’t make it less effective

🦵 Why lunges are essential for postpartum strength and returning to activity

✨ How we progress exercises from beginner to advanced variations

🍑 Why Bulgarian split squats are challenging but incredibly effective

🌉 Why bridges are a postpartum staple for rebuilding strength

🏋️‍♀️ Why planks belong in almost everyone’s movement routine

🐔 This week’s bird fact: chickens are smarter than we think!

We hope this episode gives you a new perspective on strength training postpartum and reminds you that there is always a version of an exercise that meets you where you are.

Whether you’re newly postpartum, returning to fitness, or working with postpartum patients yourself, we hope you find something useful in this conversation.

Find The Lady Birds:

🌐 Website: www.ladybirdpt.com
📸 Instagram: @ladybirdpt
📧 Email: [email protected]

In This Episode

Proctalgia fugax is one of those conditions that almost no one talks about, yet many people experience. If you've ever had a sudden, intense cramp deep in your rectum that seemed to come out of nowhere, you're not alone. In this episode, Jessica breaks down what proctalgia fugax is, why these painful pelvic floor muscle spasms happen, common triggers, and the evidence-based strategies that can help you find relief. Whether you've experienced this yourself or are simply curious about pelvic health, this episode will help you better understand what's happening and give you ideas for what you can do at home. 

In This Episode:

🔹 What proctalgia fugax is and why it's often described as a "charley horse in your butt."

💡 The current theories behind why these painful pelvic floor muscle spasms occur.

🧠 How stress, your nervous system, and pelvic floor tension all work together to contribute to symptoms.

📅 Common triggers, including constipation, prolonged sitting, menstrual cycles, and sexual activity.

⚖️ How proctalgia fugax differs from hemorrhoids, anal fissures, tailbone pain, and other causes of rectal pain.

🧘 What to do during an episode, including breathing techniques, stretches, and positions that may help the muscles relax.

🤝 How pelvic floor physical therapy can address the underlying muscle tension, nervous system regulation, bowel habits, and movement patterns to help prevent future episodes.

🌿 Why this condition is treatable—and why you don't have to simply live with recurring rectal spasms.

Find The Lady Birds

🌐 Website: www.ladybirdpt.com

📸 Instagram: @ladybirdpt

📧 Email: [email protected]

Acupuncture is one of those things that many people have heard of, plenty of people swear by, and yet most of us still aren't entirely sure how it works. In this episode, Becky sits down with Sadie, co-founder and Clinical Director of Sage Acupuncture in Austin, to explore how acupuncture can support people through pregnancy, labor preparation, and postpartum recovery.

They discuss what acupuncture actually is, why it remains misunderstood despite a growing body of research, and how it fits into an integrated healthcare approach alongside pelvic floor physical therapy, obstetric care, mental health support, and nutrition. Sadie shares how acupuncture can help with everything from first-trimester nausea and anxiety to breech positioning, labor preparation, postpartum healing, and nervous system regulation.

The conversation also dives into the realities of modern motherhood, the lack of postpartum support many families experience, and why sometimes the most powerful part of treatment is simply creating space to rest.

In this episode:

💛 What acupuncture is and how it works

🤰 Acupuncture support during the first, second, and third trimesters

🤢 Nausea, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and other common pregnancy symptoms

👶 Acupuncture and moxibustion for breech positioning

⏳ When to start labor preparation acupuncture

🏥 Supporting inductions and preparing the body for labor

🌿 Postpartum healing, milk supply concerns, and recovery after birth

🧠 Nervous system regulation and the importance of rest

🤝 Why integrated care often leads to the best outcomes

🐦 A mysterious giant bird marks the end of a school year

Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery don't require you to choose between traditional medicine and complementary care. The goal is finding the right combination of support that helps your body heal, adapt, and thrive.

Find the Birds;

📧[email protected]

📸 Follow us on Instagram: @ladybirdpt

🌿 Learn more about Lady Bird PT at ladybirdpt.com

⭐ Leave us a review if this episode helped you better understand acupuncture or feel more supported in your pregnancy and postpartum journey.

Appropriately and inappropriately, episode 69 starts with a very unexpected deep dive into the cultural phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry before shifting into an incredibly honest conversation about preparing for a second baby. Becky and Jessica talk about queer parenting, pregnancy from both the carrying and non-carrying partner perspective, the emotional whiplash of going from one kid to two, and the weird grief of realizing your first child won’t always have your undivided attention. It’s funny, vulnerable, a little chaotic, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating expanding a family while still trying to feel like a human being.

In this episode: 

📚 Enemies-to-lovers romance discourse gets surprisingly serious

🏒 Heated Rivalry fandom analysis from two pelvic floor PT moms

😴 The absolute dread of second-time postpartum sleep deprivation

👶 The emotional complexity of going from one kid to two

💔 Loving your first child so much it physically hurts to divide your attention

🤰 Pregnancy feels wildly different the second time around

🌈 Queer parenting and the experience of alternating who carries pregnancies

🩲 Postpartum recovery, cluster feeding, and losing all sense of modesty

Turns out parenting conversations can go from gay hockey romance novels to existential discussions about sibling dynamics quite fluidly if we do say so ourselves. 

Find the Birds: 

📧 [email protected]

📸 Follow us on Instagram at @ladybirdpt

🩺 Book a visit or learn more at ladybirdpt.com

⭐ Leave a review if this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel slightly less alone

If you’ve had a difficult prolapse recovery after a previous birth, getting pregnant again can feel emotionally and physically overwhelming. In this episode, Becky dives into what actually happens to prolapse symptoms during subsequent pregnancies, what tends to aggravate symptoms, and what you can do to feel stronger and more supported throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

This conversation is grounded in both clinical evidence and real patient experiences, including stories from women who once believed prolapse meant they could never have another pregnancy and are now confidently navigating third pregnancies with far fewer symptoms. Becky breaks down prolapse in approachable language while giving practical, realistic strategies for managing symptoms during pregnancy, lifting toddlers, exercising safely, handling constipation, and navigating the mental side of prolapse recovery.

Whether you’re currently pregnant, thinking about another pregnancy, or still healing from your first postpartum experience, this episode offers reassurance, actionable tools, and a reminder that symptoms today are not necessarily your forever.

In this episode: 

💛 Pregnancy after prolapse can feel scary

🏋️ Why strength training can actually help prolapse symptoms

💨 Managing intra-abdominal pressure during lifting and exercise

🚽 Constipation, straining, and why stool softeners matter

👶 The reality of being pregnant while carrying a toddler

🩲 Compression garments and pessaries for symptom relief

🧠 The mental side of prolapse recovery and symptom flare-ups

🐦 Cockatiel emotions explained through their little feather crests

Prolapse recovery is rarely linear—but needing modifications, support, or symptom management along the way does not mean your body is failing you.

Find the Birds:

📧 [email protected]

📸 Follow us on Instagram: @ladybirdpt

🌿 Book pelvic floor PT visits and learn more at www. ladybirdpt.com

⭐ Leave us a review if this episode helped you feel more informed or less alone