The Pelvic Floor: What Every Woman Should Know
The muscle group no one talks about—until it’s not working.
The pelvic floor is something we really weren’t taught enough about.
And I’m not just talking to moms here. This isn’t a postpartum-only conversation. It’s a lifelong one.
So First: What Is the Pelvic Floor?
Your pelvic floor is a sling of muscles that supports your bladder, uterus, and rectum. It’s involved in everything from posture to sexual function to your ability to laugh without peeing your pants.
And like any other muscle, it changes over time.
Hormones, aging, stress, posture, chronic sitting, high-impact workouts, or yes—pregnancy and birth—can all affect how your pelvic floor behaves. Weakness, over-tightness, or poor coordination can all lead to issues like leaking, prolapse, pelvic pain, or digestive struggles.
My Story: Prolapse, Advocacy, and What I Wish I’d Known
After giving birth and the emergency surgery due to placenta accreta, I thought the hard part was over. But what followed was unexpected: I developed pelvic organ prolapse—and no one talked to me about it.
I had to advocate for myself to even get referred to pelvic floor physical therapy. I felt dismissed and left to figure it out alone—while navigating a newborn, ptsd and a healing body.
But once I found the right support, I learned to retrain my pelvic floor, rebuild my breath, reconnect with my core, and restore trust in my body. That experience is one of the many reasons I coach other women now—because you shouldn’t have to reach rock bottom to get answers.
Let’s Talk Beyond Kegels
Kegels are not the cure-all. In fact, if your pelvic floor is overactive or tight (which many women’s are), Kegels can make things worse.
At Vango Wellness, I take a full-body, mind-body connection approach instead:
Breathwork – Diaphragmatic breathing helps relax and retrain pelvic floor coordination.
Alignment work – Your posture and walking patterns absolutely impact your pelvic floor.
Glutes + Core Integration – Strengthening hips, glutes, and deep abdominals gives your pelvic floor a team to work with.
Pelvic Floor Stretching + Massage – Gentle stretches, mobility work, and internal/external release techniques can help restore elasticity and reduce tension (yes—pelvic floor tightness is a real issue too)
Pelvis-aware movement – Think Pilates, yoga, and strength training done with intention, not pressure.
You don’t need to wait for symptoms to start.
Whether you’ve had kids or not, are in perimenopause, post-menopause, or just want to feel strong and supported—pelvic floor awareness is for everyone with a pelvis.
🌍 What Other Countries Get Right
In France and parts of Scandinavia, every postpartum woman is automatically referred to pelvic floor therapy—whether or not she has symptoms. It's built into the healthcare system, prescribed regardless of delivery method or symptoms, aim to prevent issues like incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, and to restore sexual function.
This proactive approach underscores a cultural recognition of the importance of pelvic health in a woman's overall well-being.
In contrast, countries like the United States often lack such structured postpartum support. New mothers may receive minimal follow-up, and pelvic floor therapy is typically only suggested when symptoms become severe. This reactive model places the burden on women to seek out care, often leading to delayed treatment and prolonged discomfort.
Recognizing the benefits of early intervention, some healthcare providers and advocates are pushing for changes to postpartum care standards, emphasizing the need for routine pelvic floor assessments and therapy.
Imagine if we all had that kind of support.
Until then, we advocate. We educate. We build awareness.
💛 The Vango Wellness Way
If you're dealing with symptoms—leaking, discomfort, prolapse, or just feeling disconnected from your core—you’re not broken. And you’re not alone. With the right guidance, you can rebuild strength, regain confidence, and move forward with ease.
Want more support? Book a free consultation —because this isn’t a niche concern. It’s core to your quality of life.
📩 If this post made you think of a friend, forward it to her. Let’s keep normalizing this conversation—one muscle group at a time.
Want a follow-up post on how to build a pelvic floor-friendly strength routine? Let me know in the comments below.
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So informative!