The Barbell Mamas Podcast | Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pelvic Health
The Barbell Mamas podcast serves as a helpful resource for women who are trying to conceive, are pregnant, or are postpartum and want to keep moving their bodies. It delivers current health and fitness information, with a special focus on exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as pelvic health. Through both solo episodes and conversations with special guests, the podcast aims to support women in their motherhood or pelvic health journey.
Episodes
Fertility And Female Athletes
Fertility decisions hit different when your job is performance and your calendar is built around trials, contracts, and qualifying windows. We’re digging into the growing conversation around fertility in female athletics, sparked by athletes sharing egg freezing journeys, new research on delayed family planning, and leagues starting to protect athlete status during fertility treatment. The big rea
The Hidden Overlap from postpartum to perimenopause & my mom's story of postpartum psychosis
Postpartum can feel like a single chapter, but for many of us it is the start of a longer hormonal story. I’m Christina Prevett, and I’m digging into the postpartum to perimenopause transition, especially as more families are having babies in their late 30s and early 40s. When estrogen drops after pregnancy, it can mimic menopause, which helps explain symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and g
How To Start Exercising During Pregnancy Safely
The advice most pregnant people hear about exercise is weirdly contradictory: “movement is good for you,” followed immediately by “don’t change anything.” So what happens when you find out you’re pregnant and you haven’t been active, you stepped away from training, or you’ve only ever been told to stick to walking? We tackle that gap head-on and lay out a practical, evidence-informed way to start
The Coning Debate And What The Research Really Says
Coning in pregnancy can feel like a flashing red warning light. You see that ridge down the midline during a sit-up, a lift, or even just getting off the couch and suddenly the internet tells you you’re “making your abs split” and setting yourself up for diastasis recti forever. We slow that panic down and replace it with context, research, and a much more workable way to think about your core. We
Pregnancy Complications: Red Lights to Yellow Lights
“No exercise” can land like a punch to the gut when movement is how you manage stress, feel strong in your body, and stay connected to yourself. I’m Christina Prevett, pelvic floor PT and pregnancy and exercise researcher, and I’m digging into what to do when a pregnancy complication changes the conversation fast and your provider recommends activity restriction, pelvic rest, or even bed rest.We s
BONUS: Barbell Mamas Is Back
A lot of pregnancy and postpartum fitness advice sounds confident until it hits real life. One mom feels ready to load a barbell at six weeks postpartum, another is rebuilding from pain, sleep deprivation, or a tough delivery, and both get handed the same plan anyway. I’m Christina Prevett, a pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher in exercise and pregnancy, and this short bonus episode is
Training After Pregnancy In The Military
The military asks your body to perform on demand, and pregnancy does not pause that reality. Today we sit down with Dr. Chris Edwards, a researcher focused on the female military experience, to get honest about what happens when standards, equipment, and “evidence-based” training were never built with women in mind. If you have ever felt like your body is the problem, this conversation flips the s
Birth Prep For Active Moms
You can train hard, lift heavy, and still feel blindsided by labor. A lot of the internet messaging aimed at “fit pregnancies” skips the messy middle: contractions still hurt, pushing is still hard, and sometimes the biggest challenge is navigating the gap between what you hoped for and what actually happens.I walk through a comprehensive birth prep plan for the active mom-to-be from my perspectiv
Stop Pushing Down Into Your Belt
Leaking on a heavy squat can feel isolating, but the numbers tell a different story: pelvic floor symptoms show up in a huge share of resistance-trained athletes. We walk through what bracing actually is, how the “core canister” works, and why your pelvic floor is supposed to join the brace automatically rather than being forced on with constant kegel cues. We also explain what tends to change onc
Why Pelvic Floor Advice Goes Off The Rails Online
A scary headline can change how you move for months, even if the caption “adds nuance.” We’re talking about that uncomfortable truth and why it matters so much in pregnancy and postpartum fitness, where pelvic floor anxiety, diastasis recti worries, and return-to-exercise pressure are already high.We break down the rise of emotional hooks in social media marketing and how phrases like “ruining you
Your Pelvic Floor Reality Check
Most of us were never taught what “normal” actually looks like downstairs, so the first postpartum mirror check can feel like a jump scare. I’m Christina, a pelvic floor physical therapist and strength athlete, and I’m going straight into the anatomy most people avoid talking about: what your vagina looks like, why vaginal walls touch, and how movement is built into the design, not a sign you’re b
Three Popular Pregnancy Workout Rules Put To The Test
Catchy pregnancy fitness mantras can sound like wisdom, but they often collapse nuance into fear. I’m Christina Prevett, a pelvic floor physical therapist, researcher, and strength athlete, and I’m breaking down three phrases you’ve probably heard from coaches, social media, or even well-meaning medical providers. We look at what these lines are trying to protect you from, and where they quietly i
A Pelvic Floor PT On The Anti-Kegel Trend
“Never do Kegels” might be the most shareable pelvic floor advice online and it can also be one of the most misleading. We’re digging into the anti-Kegel trend and why it frustrates us as clinicians who care about evidence-based pelvic floor physical therapy, especially for pregnant athletes, postpartum moms, and anyone dealing with stress urinary incontinence.We walk through how pelvic floor reha
When Exercise Feels Hard
Your workout routine doesn’t fall apart because you’re weak, it falls apart because your life changed. I’m Christina Prevett, a strength coach, pelvic floor physical therapist, and mom, and I’m sharing a more personal look at what training has felt like through an 18 month stretch of grief, pregnancy, miscarriages, parenting demands, and big professional growth. When your stress is high and your c
The New Rules Of Pregnancy Training
Pregnancy advice for active women is changing, and not a moment too soon. I’m Christina Prevett, a pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher in exercise and pregnancy, and I’m sharing three timely topics that keep showing up in the women’s health and birth space, along with the lived reality of training while pregnant after previous losses.First, I break down the proposed PCOS name change to
A Third Pregnancy After Two Miscarriages
I’m finally saying it out loud: I’m 15 and a half weeks pregnant with baby three. After two miscarriages, I didn’t expect to ever record this kind of announcement, and I definitely didn’t expect how complicated it would feel to share it. Pregnancy after loss changes you. It can take away the innocence, replace excitement with vigilance, and make every symptom and every quiet moment feel loaded. I
Practical Strength Training Principles For Pregnancy
A viral video of a near term athlete lifting sparked a surprisingly supportive comment section and it signals a real shift: more people now accept that strength training during pregnancy can be normal, safe, and empowering when it is approached thoughtfully. We lean into that momentum and share the principles we use to help active moms train with confidence instead of fear, whether you are a recre
Informed Consent After Birth
You can do everything “right” and still feel blindsided after birth. That’s the heart of today’s conversation: why so many moms reach the postpartum months and think, I wish I would have known, and how that gap in education can quietly break trust in the healthcare system.We talk about informed consent in pregnancy and postpartum through a pelvic health lens, including what changes are expected af
Early Postpartum Training Framework
Waiting for a single “all clear” date after birth leaves a lot of active moms stuck between fear and frustration. We walk through the early postpartum exercise framework I use with clients, starting from the first couple of weeks and extending into the messy middle months when progress feels slow. If you’re trying to return to strength training, CrossFit-style workouts, cardio, or just basic movem
Nuance Over Hot Takes
The internet keeps forcing women’s health into two extremes: science says one thing, your body feels another, and somehow you’re supposed to pick a side. We don’t buy that. We walk through why scientific communication breaks down online and how “helpful” wellness content can quietly become predatory when it turns nuance into binary rules, fear-based lists, and one-size-fits-all programs. We dig in
Running Through Pregnancy
Blanket rules about running during pregnancy sound comforting, until they leave you stuck between fear and frustration. We want something more useful: a clear way to decide what’s safe, what’s sustainable, and what actually fits your body right now.We dig into what the research is saying about prenatal running safety, including longer distances, and why “safe” does not mean “identical for everyone
Postpartum Surgery Decisions
You’re cleared for pelvic surgery and then someone hands you a rule that says you can’t lift more than 10 pounds. Meanwhile, your toddler weighs three times that and your life doesn’t come with a pause button. We’re talking about the gap between real postpartum life and the way recovery advice is often delivered, and what the research actually says about returning to activity.We walk through commo
Rethinking Bed Rest In Pregnancy
Your pregnancy gets labeled “high risk,” and suddenly the default advice can feel like a single blunt command: stop moving. That can be crushing if exercise is how you regulate stress, manage pain, and feel at home in your body. We go straight at the uncomfortable question many active moms are asking quietly: is activity restriction actually helping, or are we sometimes making outcomes worse by pr
Pregnancy Exercise Modifications
If you’ve ever been told to “just walk” the moment you get pregnant, you already know how discouraging that can feel when training is part of your identity. We’re digging into a smarter, more flexible approach to exercise during pregnancy that respects both safety and the very real desire to keep moving in ways that feel like you. The goal isn’t to chase perfect rules, it’s to understand how to ad
Brace Better Lift Heavier
Half of women report leaking when they lift heavy, and we have somehow decided that’s normal. I’m not interested in telling you to accept it or to stop lifting. I want to help you understand what’s happening when you brace, why it shows up most on squats, deadlifts, and cleans, and how small coaching cues can protect your pelvic floor without sacrificing strength.We get into the difference between
From Pregnancy Myths To Postpartum Power: What Sarah J. Maas Sparked
What if the most radical thing a mother can say is also the most honest: I adore my kid, and I hated being pregnant. We open that door and walk through it, using Sarah J. Maas’s candid interview as a springboard to unpack the real forces shaping pregnancy, birth, and life after—especially for women who train.We talk about cultural scripts that demand constant gratitude while ignoring grief, body c
Should You Squeeze Before You Lift? A Clear Guide For Active Moms
Ever been told to “Kegel before you lift” and wondered if it actually helps? We take a clear-eyed look at leaking under heavy loads, how bracing strategies can make or break pelvic pressure, and why a breath-first approach often outperforms constant clenching. As pelvic health and barbell training collide, we break down what’s happening inside the core canister—pelvic floor, abdominal wall, chest
Olympic Mothers Are Rewriting The Rules Of Pregnancy And Postpartum Fitness
Gold medals and car seats can share the same backseat. We reflect on a Winter Games filled with mothers who didn’t just compete—they redefined what pregnancy and postpartum training can look like at the highest level. From Alana Myers-Taylor and Kaillie Humphries medaling in their 40s to athletes navigating IVF and still delivering peak performances, we explore how these stories shift public perce
From FIFA’s Return-To-Play To GLP-1s: What Active Moms Need To Know
Ready to trade rigid rules for a smarter return-to-sport plan? We walk through a groundbreaking consensus published in BJSM that maps a postpartum pathway for soccer players—and any active mom—built on real-world variables: medical red flags, mental health, pelvic symptoms, sleep, stress, and the demands of life with a newborn. Instead of a one-size-fits-all protocol, this framework offers seven c
High-Load Training, Miscarriage Myths, And Pelvic Floor Truths For Active Moms
Heavy lifting in early pregnancy carries a long shadow of fear—but the data tell a different story. We unpack a newly published study on first-trimester high-load resistance training, revealing that pelvic floor symptoms actually decreased compared to preconception, even as many athletes maintained intensities near 80% of one-rep max. We also dig into miscarriage rates in this cohort and how they
How Social Media Shapes Women’s Health Choices
Ever feel like every scroll brings a new rule for your body? We sit down with Dr. Emily Pfender, a health communication scientist whose research tracks how women’s health messages spread across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube—and why the loudest claims aren’t always the most useful. Together, we break down a simple lens you can use anywhere online: threat versus efficacy. Are you being scared into
How Training, Fueling, And Stress Shape Fertility
Trying to conceive while training hard can feel like you’re being asked to choose between your identity and your goals. We go straight at the myth that vigorous exercise is the enemy of fertility and show where the real culprit often hides: low energy availability that disrupts hormones and stalls ovulation. Through clear explanations and practical examples, we map the J-shaped curve between activ
Pelvic Floor Truths For Athletes, Soldiers, And New Moms
Leaks under a heavy deadlift, pressure during a ruck, or a sudden urge mid-sprint can derail training—and confidence. We go straight at the myths and mechanics behind pelvic floor symptoms in athletes and service members, unpacking how high load, high speed, and high fatigue interact with hormones, recovery, and technique. Christina Prebbitt, pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher, shares
Mom 75: Real Fitness For Chaotic Seasons
The New Year avalanche of challenges and “perfect morning routines” can feel brutal when you’re sleep-deprived, healing, and parenting on a hair trigger. We take a kinder path for pregnant and postpartum athletes and active moms: small, repeatable wins that respect your season while still building real momentum.I share the mindset shifts that changed everything for me and for the moms I treat: why
Why I’m Choosing Intentions Over Resolutions in 2026
New years can feel loud and demanding, especially when you’re juggling motherhood, training, and a nervous system running hot. We’re choosing a different path: intentions over resolutions, performance over punishment, presence over perfection. In this candid reflection, we map out eight intentions for 2026 that help active moms and pregnant or postpartum athletes build progress that lasts. You’ll
Year-End Reflections On Strength And Motherhood
What if the advice you’ve been handed about training through pregnancy and after birth is more fear than fact? We close out a bruising year with honesty about grief, miscarriage, and the quiet ways movement held us together—then channel that hard-won clarity into a smarter 2026 playbook for active moms and moms-to-be.We unpack culture shifts that finally stuck: pregnant lifters drawing fewer troll
Busting Myths about LIFTING during Pregnancy
The loudest voices on the internet say “don’t lift heavy when you’re pregnant.” We say: let’s look at what the body does, what the research shows, and how to train with confidence. Christina Previtt, pelvic floor physical therapist, researcher, and mom of two, unpacks three persistent myths—weight caps, benching on your back, and never holding your breath—and replaces them with clear, symptom-led
Moving Before The Six Weeks
What if the six-week postpartum rule is more tradition than science? We take you inside a smarter, kinder approach to early recovery—one that blends evidence with real life so you can move your body sooner, safely, and with confidence. Christina shares the research on moderate activity at two to three weeks postpartum, explains why vigorous intensity may be too much for healing tissues, and lays o
Rethinking Pregnancy Fitness Rules
Most advice about training through pregnancy and postpartum gets boiled down to catchy lines that spark more fear than clarity. We take those mantras head-on and replace them with something better: a body readiness approach that respects training age, context, and real signals your body sends while it adapts.We start by unpacking “just because you can doesn’t mean you should,” a phrase that often
Rethinking Pregnancy Fitness And Pelvic Health
Stop earning your workout. We make the case that exercise is the tool for healing during pregnancy and postpartum, not a prize you unlock after perfect recovery. From lifting to running, we unpack how smart, scaled training can reduce pelvic symptoms, rebuild capacity, and restore confidence without waiting on arbitrary timelines.We dig into the cultural and clinical biases that shape advice for m
Early Gains After C-Section
What if the “wait six weeks” rule after a C-section is holding you back more than it’s keeping you safe? We unpack a smarter, kinder approach to recovery that treats movement like medicine—careful, progressive, and tailored to your body and your birth story.We start by confronting a hard truth: post-cesarean recovery is wildly variable. Some moms coast, others struggle, and most get blanket restri
How Active Moms Can Return To Running, Lifting, And Sport Without Fear
The first sprint after birth can feel like your body forgot the map. We get honest about that moment, then build a smarter route back to running, lifting, and sport with real tools you can use today.We start with the emotional shock of early returns: missing your old speed, feeling awkward under a bar, and wondering where your core strength went. From there, we lay down clear buoys—simple checkpoi
From Diastasis To Deadlifts: Evidence, Not Myths
Think you “caused” your diastasis by breathing wrong or lifting heavy? Let’s retire the blame. We dig into what the research actually says about diastasis recti, core tension, and the real impact of progressive strength training after birth. No magic fixes, no fear-mongering—just practical steps to feel stronger, lift smarter, and trust your body again.We also unpack the hormonal rollercoaster of
Why Early Hormone Headlines Mislead And How Pregnant Athletes Can Train Smarter
A wave of excitement hit social media over a perimenopause hormone therapy “study” that hadn’t even cleared peer review. We pull back the curtain on how posters at medical conferences actually work, why methods and nuance matter, and how hype from massive accounts can eclipse the careful voices of the researchers themselves. It’s a candid look at women’s health misinformation, how it spreads, and
From Conflicting Advice To Confident Training In Pregnancy
Conflicting rules about pregnancy exercise can make even seasoned athletes second-guess their training. We cut through the noise with a practical framework that honors your history, your symptoms, and your goals—so you can keep moving with confidence. Christina Previtt, pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher, digs into why guidance still conflicts, what the latest research actually support
BONUS Episode: CESP conference day 1 take aways
Imagine your daily choices in pregnancy quietly shaping your child’s metabolism, stress responses, and emotional regulation for years. That’s the compelling throughline from our time at the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology pre-conference, where leading researchers shared how movement and food quality during pregnancy build health that lasts well beyond birth.We break down what the latest s
You can lift with prolapse—and here's how
Fear thrives where facts are fuzzy—especially around pelvic organ prolapse. We open the blinds with clear explanations, zero scare tactics, and a practical path back to the barbell. You’ll hear why the vagina isn’t a hollow tube, what normal movement of vaginal tissues looks like when you bear down, and how providers actually assess prolapse across the anterior, posterior, and apical walls. More i
Inside a Missed Miscarriage: Choices, Pain, and Partner Perspectives
The room got quieter when the number landed: HCG at 5,000—far too low for nearly thirteen weeks. From that moment, everything we’d been planning—the crib shuffle in our three-bedroom house, the baby names our kids were arguing over, the assumption we’d crossed into a “safe zone”—shifted into the harsh clarity of a missed miscarriage. We’re sharing the story we needed to hear: what the ER limbo fee
Rethinking Kegels in Pregnancy: Evidence, Nuance, and What Your Body Actually Needs
The internet turned pelvic floor training into a turf war—“always Kegels” on one side, “never Kegels” on the other. We cut through the noise with a clear, evidence-backed framework that shows how to build strength, practice relaxation, and keep moving with confidence through pregnancy.We start by grounding the conversation in what the research actually supports: pelvic floor muscle training can re
Cesarean Delivery: What Every Mother Should Know
Cesarean delivery affects one in three births in America, yet many expectant mothers remain unprepared for this possibility. As a pelvic floor physical therapist and athlete who has competed while pregnant, I'm pulling back the curtain on C-sections with compassion and expertise.The journey begins with addressing the emotional landscape. If you experienced an unplanned cesarean, hear this: yo
Pregnancy Exercise: Do We Really Need Modifications?
Exercise during pregnancy has long been shrouded in caution and confusion. What if many of the modifications we've been taught are unnecessary? Drawing from both cutting-edge research and personal experience through multiple pregnancies, this episode challenges conventional wisdom about prenatal exercise.The fitness landscape for pregnant women has dramatically evolved over the past decade. W
The Evolution of Prenatal Exercise: Breaking Down Barriers
Pregnancy fitness has undergone a revolution. What was once a landscape of caution and restriction has transformed into one of empowerment and evidence-based freedom. In this candid exploration, pelvic floor physical therapist Christina Previtt shares both personal experience and cutting-edge research showing just how dramatically prenatal exercise recommendations have evolved.Remember when liftin
Navigating Exercise in Early Pregnancy
That positive pregnancy test changes everything—suddenly you're questioning your exercise routine, wondering if you need to modify, and trying to navigate the world of first trimester symptoms while maintaining your identity as an active person. For athletic women, this period can be especially challenging as you balance your love for movement with new physical limitations.The nausea, fatigue
Prepping for Baby #2: What Changes?
Motherhood transforms our bodies, our fitness routines, and our expectations – especially when we're thinking about adding another baby to the mix. That second pregnancy truly "hits different," and preparing for it requires special consideration if you're an active woman who loves to exercise.Drawing from my experience as both a pelvic floor physical therapist and an athlete wh
Building Athletes Through Motherhood
Ever wonder if all those interrupted workouts and chaotic fitness sessions while raising little ones will ever pay off? In this deeply personal episode, I share a breakthrough moment that brought tears to my eyes and validated years of persevering through the challenges of maintaining fitness as a mother.My six-year-old daughter recently joined me for a 5.7-kilometer run (her biking alongside me)
The Truth About Breastfeeding and Injury Risk
Every active mother has heard the warnings: "Be careful with exercise while breastfeeding." But what does science actually tell us about nursing and injury risk? A groundbreaking new study from our research team has finally addressed this question—and the results might surprise you.Breastfeeding itself does not increase injury risk during postpartum exercise. This finding demolishes one
Food as Fuel: Navigating Nutrition for Active Moms
Are you fueling properly for your active lifestyle through pregnancy and postpartum? The answer might surprise you. In this eye-opening conversation with registered dietitian and sports nutritionist Mel Sulaver, we dive deep into the critical yet often misunderstood world of nutrition for athletic women navigating motherhood.Recent research has revealed a disturbing connection: women with historie
Rethinking Diastasis Recti
Challenging long-held beliefs about diastasis recti, this episode dives deep into groundbreaking research that's transforming how we understand abdominal separation during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.As a pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher, I've watched the online conversation around diastasis recti create unnecessary fear and restriction for active mothers. The truth?
Breaking Down "Floored": A Critical Analysis of Pelvic Floor Advice
Dive into a thoughtful critique of "Floored," the bestselling pelvic floor health book by Dr. Sarah Reardon (The Vagina Whisperer). This episode unpacks both the groundbreaking achievements and potential shortcomings of this influential text that's reshaping how we talk about pelvic health.As a pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher, I offer a balanced assessment of how this
When Experience Replaces Expertise: The Influencer Problem in Pregnancy & Fitness
Have you ever wondered why certain pregnancy myths refuse to die despite lacking scientific evidence? The answer lies in how our digital ecosystem perpetuates misinformation through well-meaning but often unqualified influencers.The motherhood space on platforms like TikTok has become a breeding ground for myths around labor induction and postpartum recovery. When desperate moms-to-be try curb wal
Reframing Pelvic Floor Research
Groundbreaking research is reshaping what we know about pelvic health for active women. This episode dives into three significant developments that challenge conventional wisdom about incontinence, pregnancy exercise, and pelvic organ prolapse.The first revelation? Athletes who experience leaking during exercise actually have stronger pelvic floors, not weaker ones as previously thought. Recent st
Battling the Silence: Postpartum Depression and Exercise
Fear nearly kept me from motherhood. Growing up watching my mother battle severe mental health challenges that began in her postpartum period with twins left me terrified that history might repeat itself. That deeply personal story opens our candid exploration of postpartum depression and anxiety—conditions that affect countless women who suffer in silence.What exactly distinguishes normal "b
Lessons from the Female Athlete Conference
The boundaries of female athleticism are expanding in thrilling ways, yet the research supporting women's unique physiological journeys lags significantly behind. From my recent experience at the Female Athlete Conference in Boston, I've returned brimming with insights about how we're finally beginning to address this disparity.What makes this biennial gathering extraordinary is the
Debunking Myths About Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain
Pregnancy doesn't have to mean suffering through pain until delivery day. In this myth-busting episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Christina Prevett tackles one of pregnancy's most common yet misunderstood challenges: pelvic girdle pain.Between 50-75% of pregnant individuals experience muscle aches and pain, particularly around the pelvis. But the common advice to "just wait un
The Core Connection: Why You Might Be Peeing During Workouts
For active women who've experienced that embarrassing leak during a heavy lift, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about pelvic floor function. Diving deep into the science of bracing mechanics, Christina Previtt unravels the fascinating relationship between breath, core tension, and pelvic health that revolutionizes how we approach strength training.Forget the simplistic
Behind the Highlight Reel: The Truth About Pregnancy and Postpartum Journeys
The comparison trap is real, and it's especially potent in the pregnancy and postpartum space. As someone who's been both celebrated and criticized for weightlifting through pregnancy and competing just months after giving birth, I've witnessed firsthand how social media creates unrealistic expectations.When that ultramarathon runner went viral for nursing her baby throughout a 100-
Your Body After Baby: What Nobody Tells You About Early Postpartum
Have you been told to wait six weeks before returning to exercise after having your baby? This long-established guideline is being challenged by new research and expert consensus. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, CrossFit athlete, and mom of two, I'm pulling back the curtain on what early postpartum recovery really looks like and why that six-week rule deserves a serious update.The postp
The Truth About Coning Won't Destroy Your Core
The journey toward understanding diastasis recti has been filled with misconceptions, fear, and outdated advice. As a pelvic floor physical therapist who's witnessed this evolution firsthand, I'm sharing why our approach to core health in pregnancy needs a complete reframe.What exactly is diastasis recti? It's not a tear or split, but rather a normal lengthening of the tissue betwee
Bracing and Belting for Performance and The Pelvic Floor
Having a strong brace is important for lifting heavy weights. It is a critical part of CrossFit, powerlifting and weightlifting. Not to mention just life. We use bracing when we move couches, pick up our kiddos etc. Weightlifting belts are a performance aid that really helps us to create stiffness through our midline to lift more as well. We did an entire video on it on our YouTube channel.
Olympic Lifting Modifications for Pregnancy and Postpartum Athletes
When you're passionate about Olympic weightlifting, pregnancy doesn't mean you have to abandon the barbell—it means learning to adapt with intelligence and awareness. Christina Prevett breaks down the crucial modifications that keep both mom and baby safe while preserving hard-earned technique.The conversation explores four key considerations every pregnant weightlifter needs to understa
Everything you need to know about Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain
Over half to as manyas 75% of pregnant individuals will experience some amount of muscular pain. The most common of which is pelvic girdle pain. So many mamas can go to their providers and be told that there is nothing that they can do and that theyjust need to "wait until the baby comes out" That is simply not true! In this episode, Christina breaks down the myths then talks about
Beyond the Uniform: Why Pelvic Floor Function Matters for Service Women
Christina Prevett shares powerful insights about pelvic floor issues in the military and advocates for better awareness and support for female service members. She connects her personal experience using exercise as a coping mechanism during difficult times to the importance of movement for pregnant and postpartum women's mental health.• One in three female service members experience pelvic fl
Beyond the 6-Week Checkup: Reimagining Postpartum Fitness
Revolutionary new research is transforming how we approach postpartum exercise, and it's about time we talk about it. The 2025 Canadian guidelines for physical activity throughout the first year postpartum have finally been published, and they're challenging outdated restrictions that have limited new mothers for generations.As a pelvic floor physical therapist and researcher witnessing
The Cesarean Recovery Roadmap: Movement, Healing, and Beyond
Cesarean birth requires thoughtful rehabilitation, but the old advice of extended bed rest is outdated. As a pelvic floor physical therapist who's competed in CrossFit and weightlifting through pregnancy and postpartum, I'm sharing evidence-based guidance for early C-section recovery and return to movement.Surprisingly, research shows that appropriate movement soon after surgery actually
New Research Challenges Old Rules
Traditional postpartum exercise guidelines are being dramatically rewritten thanks to groundbreaking new research. As someone who contributed to this international Delphi study, I'm buzzing with excitement about what these findings mean for new mothers everywhere.The study's most revolutionary conclusion? For typical postpartum recovery, there are no absolute contraindications to returni
Stop Fearing Your Body's Feedback Loop
The shame and fear surrounding postpartum symptoms have gone unchecked for far too long. As a pelvic floor physical therapist and athletic mom, I'm here to dismantle the myth that leaking, coning, or feeling heaviness means you've done something wrong or caused permanent damage.When we rehabilitate any other body part, we deliberately provoke symptoms within reasonable limits to build st
The Truth About Exercise and Pregnancy
Get ready to dive into a rich conversation on the Barbell Mamas podcast where we explore the intersection of pregnancy and fitness! Christina Prevett, a dedicated pelvic floor physical therapist and mother, unpacks her own experiences, shedding light on how motherhood impacts our relationship with exercise. This episode touches on crucial themes such as the influence of social media on pregnant wo
Navigating Medical Realities for Active Moms
Step into a heartfelt conversation about the challenges and victories faced by mothers who strive to maintain their physical health amidst the overwhelming journey of pregnancy and postpartum experiences. In this episode, Christina Prevett, a pelvic floor physical therapist and devoted mom, opens up about her personal experiences with vulnerability in healthcare. We dive deep into the emotional st
Reclaiming Gymnastics Confidence Postpartum
Rediscover your gymnastics prowess postpartum with insights from Christina Prevett, a seasoned pelvic floor physical therapist and exercise researcher. Imagine confidently tackling handstands and kipping pull-ups after childbirth, without hesitation or fear. Christina combines her personal journey as a mother of two with her professional expertise to offer practical advice on maintaining and rebui
Understanding Pelvic Floor Changes During Pregnancy
Ever wondered how pregnancy fatigue and vomiting can challenge the pelvic floor? Tune in to the latest episode of the Barbell Mamas podcast, where we unravel the physical complexities of pregnancy. Christina Prevett, a pelvic floor physical therapist, joins co-host Sheena Berman to explore how the tiredness of pregnancy and frequent vomiting can strain the pelvic floor, leading to symptoms like in
