Lynn Schulte and Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp are back for part two of their deep dive on diastasis recti, and this episode gets into territory that most postpartum exercise programs completely ignore. They talk about how the breasts, rib cage, and thoracic posture all affect the abdominal wall, why some women are walking around in what Lynn calls "the pregnancy posture" long after birth, and what it actually takes to get those muscles firing again.

Lynn shares why the oblique muscles tend to bully the rest of the core after birth, why jumping straight into an exercise program often strengthens the wrong muscles, and why manual therapy is the missing piece for so many women. She and Mary Ellen also address the longer view: birth affects the body for life, and getting support sooner rather than later matters more than most people realize.

Lynn closes with a message that will resonate with every mom who has been told she's "fine" at her six-week checkup: you deserve care too.

Resources mentioned:
How to Close the Open Birthing Pattern in the Pelvis: https://youtu.be/JRUPAwTN1P4?si=GH1srYGpyNlhFuKD
Oblique Stretch and Release: https://youtu.be/6sjFPWPY2Ec?si=kt33A1fp6vuiAj3r
How to Massage Your C-Section Scar: https://youtu.be/p-VfUJ6JcWo?si=3mNA15e1oH917K1V
Institute For Birth Healing Directory of Providers: https://directory.instituteforbirthhealing.com
Center for Birth Healing (in-person and online sessions): https://centerforbirthhealing.com
Institute for Birth Healing Online Courses for Providers: https://Instituteforbirthhealing.com
Confidence in Your Core, Pelvic Floor and More for Moms: https://instituteforbirthhealing.com/confidence-core-pelvic-floor/

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In this episode, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp sits down with pelvic health physical therapist and educator Lynn Schulte to dig into one of the most misunderstood postpartum conditions: diastasis recti. They break down what actually happens to the abdominal wall during pregnancy, why the research has been measuring the wrong things, and what really matters for healing.

Lynn explains the role of collagen types in the linea alba, why the first eight weeks postpartum are a critical window for recovery, and why the common focus on "gap distance" misses the bigger picture of how the abdominal muscles actually function. She and Mary Ellen also discuss why genetics plays a bigger role than most women realize, and why the standard of "normal" used in most studies is deeply flawed.
If you've been told your diastasis is just something you have to live with, or if you've been chasing a number on an ultrasound, this conversation will change how you think about recovery.

Resources mentioned:
How to Close the Open Birthing Pattern in the Pelvis: https://youtu.be/JRUPAwTN1P4?si=GH1srYGpyNlhFuKD
Oblique Stretch and Release: https://youtu.be/6sjFPWPY2Ec?si=kt33A1fp6vuiAj3r
How to Massage Your C-Section Scar: https://youtu.be/p-VfUJ6JcWo?si=3mNA15e1oH917K1V
Institute For Birth Healing Directory of Providers: https://directory.instituteforbirthhealing.com
Center for Birth Healing (in-person and online sessions): https://centerforbirthhealing.com
Institute for Birth Healing Online Courses for Providers: https://Instituteforbirthhealing.com
Confidence in Your Core, Pelvic Floor and More for Moms: https://instituteforbirthhealing.com/confidence-core-pelvic-floor/

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In this episode of The Postpartum Years, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp and internationally board certified lactation consultant Catherine Halek explore the many paths of weaning. From choosing not to breastfeed at all, to gradual toddler weaning, to urgent medical situations that require stopping quickly, they unpack what weaning can realistically look like.

They discuss aggressive versus gradual weaning plans, how to safely reduce milk supply, and the emotional impact of forced or unexpected weaning.
Whether weaning is your choice, your baby’s choice, or a medical necessity, this episode offers practical guidance and reassurance that there is more than one right way to end a breastfeeding journey.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In the final part of the series, Mary Ellen and Vanessa examine the current research on diastasis recti and exercise. They break down studies evaluating abdominal training, pelvic floor strengthening, and postpartum programming — and what the data actually shows.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In part two, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp and Pilates educator Vanessa Pinkham shift the focus from diagnosis to rebuilding. They discuss why many postpartum women struggle with exercise, how progressive strength training supports connective tissue health, and why fear-based messaging around core work often does more harm than good.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In part one of this three-part series, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp is joined by Pilates educator Vanessa Pinkham to break down what diastasis recti actually is — and what it isn’t.

They discuss how abdominal separation is measured, why it’s so common postpartum, and how ultrasound imaging helps assess muscle function beyond what can be seen or felt externally. This episode lays the foundation for understanding abdominal separation, pelvic floor involvement, and why proper assessment matters before jumping into exercise programs.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In this episode of The Postpartum Years, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp and Cat Halek unpack one of the most misidentified causes of severe nipple pain during breastfeeding: Raynaud’s.

They discuss the hallmark color changes — white, purple, then red — that differentiate vascular spasms from nipple trauma or yeast, and why the return of blood flow can cause sharp, searing pain that many mothers describe as unbearable. They also address the importance of careful differential consideration — not every painful nipple is Raynaud’s — and why proper assessment matters.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In this episode of The Postpartum Years, Dr. Mary Ellen Kramp sits down with Leah to share an honest, deeply personal look at postpartum recovery across three very different births. From diastasis recti and chronic back pain to mastitis, oversupply, tongue ties, and abrupt weaning, Leah reflects on how each postpartum chapter brought new challenges, and new lessons.

Together, they explore the physical realities of abdominal separation after C-sections, when physical therapy is enough and when surgery becomes necessary, and how breastfeeding experiences can vary dramatically from child to child. Leah also opens up about fear, guilt, and grief — including the emotional impact of sudden weaning and the trauma that can linger long after birth. This conversation is a powerful reminder that postpartum recovery is not one-size-fits-all, that support can be life-changing, and that women deserve informed care long after the baby arrives.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In the final part of the series, the focus shifts to what happens after a tongue tie diagnosis — whether or not a release is performed. Mary Ellen and Cat explore bodywork, positioning, and alternative feeding strategies that can improve function and reduce stress for both baby and parent.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.

In part two, the conversation goes deeper into diagnosis and treatment. Mary Ellen and Cat discuss how tongue ties are assessed, why opinions vary so widely across providers, and what families should know before pursuing a release.

They unpack common misconceptions, talk through real clinical outcomes, and explain how timing, provider skill, and follow-up care can dramatically affect results.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to those saying them. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this podcast establishes a patient care relationship with you, the listener. The host(s) and guests of this show are NOT your healthcare provider and if you need medical attention, seek an appropriate and qualified professional.