#58: Peripartum Care: From Fertility Through Postpartum Pelvic and Lymphatic Health Considerations

Welcome to the NorthStar Physical Therapy Podcast — your go-to resource for understanding lymphedema, lipedema, pelvic health dysfunctions, and empowering you to take control of your health and advocate for yourself. 

In this episode, Dr. Shirlea North, pelvic floor and lymphatic health specialist, shares her expertise on the vital role pelvic floor and lymphatic therapy plays throughout the peripartum journey — from fertility to postpartum recovery. 

Whether you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or navigating postpartum life, this episode explores how a whole-body approach to therapy can help manage symptoms, support healing, and empower you to take control of your health in ways not typically covered by standard care.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of pelvic floor therapy before conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum.
• How lymphatic care supports healing and circulation during pregnancy.
• What to check for before trying to conceive, including scar tissue, soft tissue flexibility, and movement.
• Strategies to optimize labor and reduce injury through movement, mechanics, and breath.
• How early intervention can address pelvic congestion and venous insufficiency.
• Why postpartum recovery takes time, and how pelvic PT can guide functional movement and tissue healing.
• The benefits of virtual postpartum visits for early support, even before the six-week check-up.
• Why the postpartum journey is about more than pelvic floor exercises, including breastfeeding and lymphatic drainage.

Tune in to learn how pelvic floor and lymphatic care should be part of your peripartum health strategy and how to take charge of your wellness from fertility to beyond birth.