Rethinking Postpartum Care | Sara Reardon | TEDxLSU

How often do people talk about vaginas? Pelvic floor physical therapist Sara Reardon argues that it should be more often, and not simply for shock value. She is on a mission is to change the way we care for women and their vaginas. In this insightful and at times funny talk, Sarah shares stories by women struggling through treatable postpartum health issues, highlights the broader impacts lack of postpartum care can have on society, and reminds us that having open conversations about health promote stronger and happier women - itself a worthy end goal. Sara Reardon wants to revolutionize the way we approach women’s health, with a radical honesty and open discussion of often-taboo topics. The board-certified women's health physical therapist and doctor of physical therapy started her career in pelvic health in Austin and Dallas before returning to her hometown of New Orleans in 2017. Today she is the owner of NOLA Pelvic Health, a private practice providing pelvic health physical therapy. Sara specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, including pelvic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She is also the founder of an online resource for pelvic health education that provides telehealth sessions to support, empower and educate women worldwide. Her open and occasionally blunt discussions of rarely discussed women’s health issues have gained her a substantial international following while serving to shine a light on important, and issues of wellness. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@mellepirri-lee5832]

Thank you Sara, as another pelvic floor PT I have a mission to "normalize" talking about pelvic floor issues and make evaluation and treatment of the pelvic floor before, during and after pregnancy.

[@stephanieprendergast2643]

Well done Sara! Postpartum care needs to improve, you covered every reason why and more importantly, what new moms can do about it: pelvic floor physical therapy. Share your stories, share your challenges, share how you healed. Remove the stigma. Thank-you for this talk!

[@millenialhymns]

5 years after my 6th child, which happened to be a C-section, I finally understood that I needed postpartum care. I had NO IDEA until receiving pelvic floor care recently that everything that had been ailing my body had to do with my middle area because of pregnancy and surgery trauma. Now I am wishing somehow I could help other women around me understand recovery is real. Nerves can be regrown after numbness and muscles can be strengthened to make you feel normal again. It is an amazing discovery for me. I hope this information spreads quickly throughout the nation. We all need to know we can recover well.

[@cottagecook]

Thank you - excellent talk!! I particularly like your comment: "when we don’t function well, we can’t perform well"

[@VoluptuousB]

Yeah the American standard of caring for mothers postpartum, needs to change!

[@facct8685]

God. This made me cry so much. I had urinary issues & just addressing it now. Mainly because of the cost.

[@mamalivinghealthy5250]

So glad I found this video. Its amazing how this subject is swept under the rug on such a broad spectrum. A phenomenal message to spark change in the hearts of mothers everywhere.

[@lizzdoe2821]

When I clicked on this video I had NO IDEA how important this topic is!!! I am about to start training to become a doula. This is definitely something I want to address with future mother I help ❤️

[@ljmckiss1]

YES Sara! Loved every single word of this. I feel so passionate about this subject and I thank you for making your voice and opinions heard and sharing the stories of others.

[@Dsweetflyone76]

Waaaaay overdue discussion!!!!!! I am so happy and thankful for this and I look forward to more insight from your platform as well as the day the medical community becomes receptive to and acts in the best interest of Mothers!!! You're doing an amazing job!!! Thank you!

[@laurenw1168]

I am on my third pregnancy (first was twins) and this pregnancy is the first time I've ever heard of doing postpartum physical therapy as a regular part of care. I think I heard about it on instagram, and I'm definitely going to pursue it this time. It eouldve been so helpful with my twins, but fortunately, with several years and lots of exercise I was able to finally heal my abdomonal muscles

[@lavieestbelle6068]

This talk is needed.

[@neqwise2641]

This is apart of my passion. Thank you!!!

[@beetlejamie8065]

Stigma begins with silence. Silence hurts us all. Stigma ends with understanding. Understanding leads to healing. ❤️

[@leckster1]

Great job Sarah! Proud to call you my grad school classmate!

[@veronicculajay479]

Love it! Thank you.

[@ashleythimot]

So good! Such a great talk!

[@katherinep708]

watching this while 24 weeks pregnant with my first child😭😭

[@_ysdeh]

Me too!

[@PEMF.Hydrogen.LLLT.Experts]

You really do a great job!

[@carennawillmont3706]

I agree.

[@Aman-fn1mc]

I m Indian that’s pretty right

[@doctorcure4030]

but how is this helpful the data and awareness she didnt say anythign about practical knowldge to take care

[@trecyngu5946]

The end result of it all is to refer mothers to physical therapy to get tailored treatment. Doctors do the referring. But I helps for mothers to speak up.

[@Jessyssej]

I was disappointed in this talk not going to lie...... I was hoping to learn more from her talk on actual treatment and care, not just addressing problems, but specific solutions! In the start.. I was hopeful she’d speak from experience and the regimen that she did for postpartum, the problems surrounding said regimen, and then what she did to improve her health from there. However it was not the case, more an informative video of the problems than actually one to learn from how to move forward from those problems. If anyone has any recommendations of links for videos or practices let me know!

[@traifai13hughes7]

Its not usual to recommend how to do care in public forums because each situation is very unique. Thats the perspective Ive seen and subscribe to. We have to be careful how we put information out there because if done improperly can be harmful.

[@ChijiokeOtikpaGrowthAcademy]

Why will you be looking for treatment regimen in a 13 mins Ted talk? Hilarious ain't it? Please KZbin is not a reliable place to get any form of treatment, always review anything you see online with your in person medical providers. Cheers

[@celestialbeing6119]

I had my first baby at 24 7 months ago. And i will say i was not prepared for post partum care. I dont blame others however no one prepared me at all. I have birth trauma because of this.

[@melissas973]

Amazing!! You summed it all up so perfectly! Thank you for talking so boldly about this topic and helping so many women.

[@seychellevp]

Great job Sara! You presented beautifully and I'm so thankful you are on a mission to help women embrace their bodies and health.

[@ruthalvarado33]

I am researching about post partrum depression to help out woman and this is the first time I hear about pelvic floor pt. It’s so interesting and not talked about at all. I am certainly going to dig more into this. Thanks

[@cmk0515]

As a Urogyn PA I appreciate this so much!! Love our pelvic floor physical therapists! 😊

[@iCeleste7]

Watching this 1 day postpartum. It feels good to be validated.

[@traifai13hughes7]

Thank you for this talk! I am a massage therapist of 25yrs. I specialize in pre and post-natal care.. It naturally became pelvic floor care almost immediately. So nice to hear others really get out there with this important conversation!

[@aboubacarfall1516]

As a man , this was very eye opening

[@lifewithlizzV]

Honestly I never went to a doctor for my postpartum all they want is to put you on medication is all about money. Seek God and pray 🙏 surround yourself with loved ones stay busy and read your Bible spend all the time you can with Yahuah(God) it will get better

[@jasminegiachetti5150]

In my area, I am glad the hospitals do send out a nurse to check on mom and baby 2 weeks after at home. But after the 6 week check up for mom, nothing else.

[@cynthiahall1922]

What has helped me every time I had a child I did Yoga… trust me the government doesn’t care so we have to care and make time to take care of ourselves!!! Start with 10 mins a day and move up your time limit as you progress!!!

[@newseasonsphysicaltherapy]

Well said Sara. I can't believe it took me so long to see this but now that I have, I will share widely. Thank you.

[@saralynward7565]

Love this so much! Great job, I'm honored to have worked with you. Can't wait to see where we go from here.

[@sibelkody]

Im one of those women who are suffering in silence.. it sucks.. thank you so much

[@roxannlopezroxy4072]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️

[@miriammoshkovski4506]

An amazing talk!! Thank you for speaking out for us moms!

[@gbemi_akintolaUDOJI]

Seeing this in 2024, 6 weeks postpartum and I must say, this is very valid. Glad to have bumped on this video.

[@Sunlove_honeybee]

We need to share the unfiltered part of motherhood yesss

[@MCPriscyvibes]

Thank you Sara for sharing

[@danaminnick7353]

😅

[@evaburka564]

I resonated with every word of this. Well done!!!!!

[@KaCaro38]

Thanks for saying all this. You are ON POINT. I wish I listened to this TedTalk during my pregnancy. Women shouldn’t be ashamed talking about these issues… at the end is our health and collective wisdom should be shared for our motherhood wellbeing 💪🤍⚡️.