Kath from Fitnest Mama 

In an ideal world, we’d all learn about pelvic floor health in Highschool and be fully equipped to care for our pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case, so in today’s episode we delve into pelvic floor health, answering questions I believe all women should know.

What are the pelvic floor muscles? 

Why do I need to know about them?

What do pelvic floor problems look like? 

When should I get help with my pelvic floor muscles?

How do I best look after my pelvic floor muscles?

This is generalized information and can’t replace personalized professional care, but I do hope it empowers you to take control of your pelvic floor health. In addition, I will run through a few exercises you can perform to begin strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.

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Free Online Class:                       ...

Jen Butler from The Early Parenting

There is a wealth of information available to prepare mums-to-be for their pregnancy and birthing experience. Unfortunately, many mums find themselves unprepared and uncertain in the time that follows.

My Special Guest today is the lovely Jen Butler host of The Early Parenting Podcast. She is a midwife, maternal child health nurse, sleep consultant, lactation consultant, and soon to be mum of three. I ask Jen to share her top tips for life with a newborn. Jen talks about preparing for new motherhood, setting up support structures with your tribe, and knowing when to ask for help. We talk about the uncertainty of this time and the mindsets that might lead you astray.

Sit back, unwind, and slow down as you listen to this episode.

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Links:

Jen’s Instagram: @jenbutlerearlyparenting

Jen’s Podcast: @theearlyparentingpodcast

Jen’s Website: www.jenniferbutler.com.au 

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Ilana from The Energy Shift

I have a super interesting discussion for you today as I talk about all things energy with Ilana Kosakiewicz, one of Australia's leading kinesiologists, energy coaches and yoga and meditation teachers. I’ll be bold enough to say that it’s an episode that every woman should listen to.

We barely scratch the surface in this episode as Ilana shares about what kinesiology is and how, through muscle testing, it shifts energy in the body, restoring it back to balance. Ilana talks about the connection between the moon and a woman’s cycle and how we need to listen to our biological clocks instead of trying to keep up with the 24 hour clock we’re accustomed to. Ilana shares some great practical tips for how to get the best out of your day, depending on where you’re at in your cycle. 

I must confess I was a bit hesitant going into this conversation because I know nothing about kinesiology and thought...

Kath from Fitnest Mama

As a physio working in women’s health, I’m certainly an advocate for staying fit and healthy before, during and after pregnancy. Throughout pregnancy and during those first few months after birth, it’s sometimes difficult to know how to approach exercise and can be overwhelming to face in the midst of morning sickness, fatigue and sleep deprivation.

In this episode, I talk about some important things to consider when thinking about exercise and 4 common areas that can impede your after birth recovery. I discuss why some women stop exercising altogether and the impact this has on their physical and mental health. I talk about making sure your body is ready before you get back into running, understanding how to look after your pelvic floor muscles and seeking help where you need to.

Becoming a mamma is an amazing experience and also one that can take its toll on your physical and mental health. I hope this episode...

Kath from Fitnest Mama 

I’ve got a really practical episode for you today about a subject which some women may never have heard about. Today I’m diving into the big topic of perineal preparation for childbirth, what it is and why you need to know about it.

In this episode, I start out with a brief anatomy lesson to help you discover the important part of your body that connects your pelvic floor. I talk you through a massage technique that you can do at home to help with the physical and mental preparation for birth. This will get your body ready for the sensation of stretch during crowning, often referred to as the ‘ring of fire’.

I discuss mindset and how doing this exercise will help you relax into the sensation of stretch instead of tensing up with fear. Perineal massage has been statistically proven to prevent tares and reduce the risk of episiotomies so it’s certainly something I think is worth doing to prepare...

Spilling the Milk with Jodie

Our lovely guest on the podcast today is one of the founding FitNest Mama members who now has a gorgeous 17 week old baby boy by her side. Jodie joins me to share her journey toward motherhood, her experience during pregnancy and labour and how she managed the ups and downs throughout it all.

During a 34 week scan, Jodie’s baby was diagnosed with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) meaning that he had a hole in his diaphragm, affecting numerous other organs in his body. Jodie shares about her shock in hearing the diagnosis and how she dealt with the unknowns and the other complications that followed.

Encouraged to continue with a natural birth, Jodie talks about her induction, the birth and her experience pumping milk for her baby who was administered into hospital for further care.

Throughout the complications and difficulties, Jodie maintained an attitude of being adaptable and flexible and her story is one which...

Rachelle Glendon from How To Live Slow 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, have a to do list as long as your arm or just craving a life of doing less, this episode is a must listen. Whether you’re pregnant, a new mama or finished having babies and in the thick of school run, play-dates and extracurricular activities, this episode is all about slowing down and tuning in to what you really want life to be about.

My special guest today is Rachelle Glendon, certified Life Coach from How to Live Slow. She joins me to talk about slow living, what it is and how we can implement the philosophy into our busy modern lives to live an intentional, fulfilled life.

Rachelle talks about ditching the hustle of modern life, learning how to say no and understanding what your priorities are so you can start shaping your life into something that’s enjoyable instead of stressful.  We talk about the importance of rest and why it’s important for our...

Kath from Fitnest Mama

Having a baby takes a huge toll on the body and part of my role as a physio for women is to teach women what they can do to help their bodies recover in the best way possible.

The first 6 weeks after delivery are all about rest, recovery and restoring your body’s strength and in this episode, I share my top 6 tips to help boost your after birth recovery. Whether you have a vaginal or cesarean delivery, it’s so important to take the time to recover properly so that you can get back to doing the things you love with bubba by your side.

I talk about the rule of thumb with regards to lifting and the importance of rest, even if it’s just a 5-minute nap on the couch. I discuss pelvic floor exercises, monitoring how you’re feeling and developing a rehab plan to continue on after those first 6 weeks.

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Postnatal Return to Running program: ...

Kath from Fitnest Mama 

As a physio for women, one of the questions I get asked the most from my clients is when they can return to running after childbirth. There are so many benefits to running as it’s not only great exercise but also a wonderful way to get some solo time and feel normal again.

A lot of women are keen to put their running shoes back on but there are some really important things to consider before hitting the pavements again. In this episode, I share the 4 key elements which I believe every woman needs to tick off in the process of returning to running after having a baby.

I discuss the timing for returning to running, the importance of proper rehab and what I feel is really important for the first 12 weeks after childbirth with regards to natural recovery of the pelvic floor and core muscles. I also talk about how to go about starting a strength and rehab program for all the major muscle groups so that you can avoid...

Kath from Fitnest Mama

At FitNest Mama, we are all about equipping new mammas with exercises and resources they need to get their bodies and minds strong again, enabling women to do the things they love with a bubba by their side. For some, it might mean running around with the kids at the park and for others, it could mean running a marathon.

In this episode, I discuss some of the things to consider before hitting the pavements again once you’ve had a baby.  I talk about breastfeeding, dealing with aches and pains, shoe sizes, the impact of your weight and fitness, and how this might have changed throughout pregnancy. I also talk about mood, sleep concerns and so much more.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this episode where I’ll get more into the nitty-gritty and discuss the rehab required to get you back to running again.

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Links:

Postnatal Return to Running program: https://www.fitnestmama.com/running

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