Episode 70: Acupuncture Through Pregnancy, Birth Prep & Postpartum Recovery with Sadie from Sage Acupuncture

Episode 70: Acupuncture Through Pregnancy, Birth Prep & Postpartum Recovery with Sadie from Sage Acupuncture

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; 📧podcast@gmail.com [theladybirdspodcast@gmail.com] 📸 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.

Episode 69: Heated Rivalry, Second Babies, and the Existential Crisis of Loving Two Kids at Once

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:  📧 podcast@ladybirdpt.com [podcast@ladybirdpt.com] 📸 Follow us on Instagram at @ladybirdpt 🩺 Book a visit or learn more at ladybirdpt.com [http://ladybirdpt.com/] ⭐ Leave a review if this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel slightly less alone

Episode 68: Pregnancy After Prolapse: Navigating Subsequent Pregnancies Without Fear

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: 📧 podcast@ladybirdpt.com 📸 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

Episode 67: Running with Prolapse: What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)

Returning to running after a prolapse diagnosis can feel overwhelming — especially when so many people are told they’ll never run, lift, or move the same way again. In this episode, Becky and Jessica break down the real factors that influence returning to running postpartum (or anytime after prolapse), including symptoms, strength, fitness history, healing timelines, and why the grade of your prolapse actually tells us way less than most people think. They talk through what pelvic floor PTs are actually looking at clinically, how to know if your body is ready for impact, why “just wait 6 weeks” is terrible blanket advice, and how things like pessaries can completely change someone’s experience with exercise. The conversation keeps in mind what real postpartum recovery looks like — sleep deprivation, limited time, fear of worsening symptoms, frustration when your cardio outpaces your pelvic floor, and the mental load of trying to trust your body again. In this episode: 🏃‍♀️ Why prolapse does not automatically mean “no more running” ⚖️ Why symptom severity matters more than the stage of prolapse 💪 What strength, balance, and impact tolerance have to do with return to running ⏳ How pregnancy fitness levels can affect postpartum recovery timelines 🧠 Fear, uncertainty, and rebuilding trust in your body after birth ⭕ How pessaries can help support running and exercise 👟 Why postpartum rehab is about way more than just your pelvic floor Your prolapse diagnosis is one piece of information — not a sentence about what your body will or won’t be capable of long term. Find the Birds:  📧 podcast@ladybirdpt.com [podcast@ladybirdpt.com] 📱 Instagram: @ladybirdpt 🌐 Book with us:www.ladybirdpt.com [http://www.ladybirdpt.com/] ⭐ Leave a review and share the episode with someone navigating postpartum recovery

Episode 66: Anorgasmia, Arousal Cycles, and the Stuff We Don’t Learn in Sex Ed

This episode takes a clinical but very real-world look at anorgasmia, what it is, why it happens, and why it’s almost never just a pelvic floor problem. Jessica and Becky unpack the research, the limitations of traditional sexual response models, and how factors like medication, stress, relationships, and pelvic floor function all intersect. They also walk through how pelvic floor PT fits into the bigger picture — when it helps, when it doesn’t, and why collaboration with mental health and medical providers is often essential. It’s an honest conversation about a complex issue, grounded in both evidence and clinical experience. In this episode: 🧠 The biopsychosocial reality of orgasm (it’s never just muscles) 💊 Medications and their major impact on sexual function 🔄 Old vs. modern sexual arousal cycle models 🧍‍♀️ Body image, stress, and distraction as real barriers 💪 Pelvic floor tension vs. weakness — and why it matters 🗣️ The role of communication, education, and relationships 🧘‍♀️ Nervous system regulation and downtraining ⚡ Why “just do Kegels” is not the answer Find the Lady Birds: 📧 podcast@ladybirdpt.com 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @ladybirdpt 🌐 Learn more or book with us: ladybirdpt.com ⭐ Leave a review to help more people find pelvic health support