139. Motherhood Mondays with Abby Bales, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 5 May 2019
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"There are a lot of people who put a lot of pressure on themselves — maybe you, maybe me — to do it all. So if you do have problems postpartum, we can treat that at seven months, we can treat that at three years, we can treat it when you're ready. I want to treat my moms when they're ready — not when they're feeling overwhelmed."
Dr. Abigail Bales is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City, where she specializes in pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation, primarily focused on pelvic floor health. In this episode, Abby, who is a board-certified licensed physical therapist, breaks down everything you need to know about the pelvic floor in an easy to understand way. She talks about exercise modifications during and after pregnancy, and explains why peeing yourself after giving birth is "common, not normal." Abby, who is a mom of two (Henry, 5, and Caitlyn, almost 2), also talks about mothering with a chronic illness (ulcerative colitis), her experience with postpartum depression, what her marriage was like after having children, body image, breastfeeding, going back to work after baby, and learning to ask for help.
Thank you to Sweaty Betty for sponsoring Motherhood Mondays on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to sweatybetty.com and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your purchase.
What you'll get on this episode:
- What exactly does a pelvic floor physical therapist do? (4:00)
- Signs you may have a weak pelvic floor, and when people should see a pelvic floor physical therapist (7:00)
- What to know about exercise modifications during pregnancy (8:30)
- Why, no, peeing yourself after pregnancy isn't normal according to Dr. Abby (14:30)
- Why I didn't see Abby after giving birth — and her response to my confession (19:20)
- How having a chronic illness has affected Abby during her pregnancies and in motherhood (25:45)
- Abby's experience with postpartum depression after her second baby (30:00)
- Abby reflects on new motherhood, marriage, and body stuff (35:00)
- On going back to work after having babies (41:00)
What we mention on this episode:
Abby on Episode 49 of the Ali on the Run Show
Global Pelvic Health Alliance directory
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Motherhood Mondays on the Alley on the Run Show are brought to you by Sweaty Betty. |
| 0:08.5 | Welcome to the second episode of the new Motherhood Mondays series on the Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:14.0 | The feedback to this series has already been amazing, and I'm so glad you're here. |
| 0:19.1 | I started this series because I felt really overwhelmed and scared by new Motherhood. |
| 0:23.6 | Every new parent has his or her own journey in this area, but mine was filled with self-doubt, |
| 0:28.4 | failed attempts at breastfeeding in a whole lot of tears. |
| 0:32.1 | There were plenty of smiles along the way, don't get me wrong. |
| 0:34.6 | My baby Annie is now six and a half months old, and to be honest, it still blows my mind |
| 0:40.1 | that we all survived those days deep in the trenches at the beginning. |
| 0:44.3 | On this series, we talk about the realities of new Motherhood, the struggles, the challenges, the intensity, |
| 0:49.7 | and how women have gotten through it all, and in many cases, come out smiling. |
| 0:55.1 | It's an honest, judgment-free space where there's no such thing as TMI, and there are no mean girls allowed. |
| 1:01.9 | So now, with the help of some friends and some experts, this is Motherhood Mondays. |
| 1:06.8 | And today's guest is both a friend and an expert. |
| 1:10.3 | Dr. Abigail Bales is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City. |
| 1:14.9 | Sound familiar? Yeah, she was on the Alley on the Run Show way back in 2017. |
| 1:20.0 | Go listen to episode 49 for a refresher. |
| 1:23.0 | On this episode, Dr. Abby talks about her specialty, pelvic floor health. |
| 1:27.8 | She breaks it all down in a really easy to understand way, and then we talk about her own adventures in Motherhood. |
| 1:33.7 | She's a mom of two living with all sort of colitis, and her stories hit home so hard I cried twice. |
| 1:40.4 | I'll save those tears for later. For now, please welcome Dr. Abby Bales to Motherhood Mondays. |
| 1:46.4 | Dr. Abby Bales, welcome back to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm so excited to get to chat with you again. |
... |
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