In this raw and honest first episode of What Women Need, Dr. Sonali Santhanam—Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Lactation Consultant, and Founder of Birth Basix—shares the intimate story of how her professional journey collided with personal challenges during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

From her days as a researcher in back pain to becoming a confused new mom facing unexpected struggles with breastfeeding, Sonali walks us through the turning points that shaped her mission to support women at every stage. She opens up about burnout, broken systems in women's health, and how reconnecting with her body helped her create a safe, science-backed space for others.

Whether planning a pregnancy, navigating postpartum, or rethinking what your body needs now, this is your starting point.

🔍 In This Episode:

-The outdated advice we’re still giving women

-What no one told her about breastfeeding pain

-How postpartum care fails even the well-informed

-Why pelvic floor rehab is the missing link

-Burnout, boundaries, and becoming Birth Basix

This is not just a podcast. It’s the conversation we should’ve had years ago.