Leaking when you laugh, rushing to the bathroom “just in case,” constipation, or painful sex after birth… common, yes. Normal, no.

In this episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Sara Reardon (aka The Vagina Whisperer), joins me to break the silence on peeing, pooping, pregnancy, postpartum, and sex. We talk about what your pelvic floor actually is, why it matters during fertility treatment, pregnancy, birth and menopause, and how small changes can make a huge difference in daily life.

Dr. Sara shares practical guidance from her app and new book Floored, including how to breathe, move, poop, and have sex in ways that support your pelvic floor instead of fighting it. We also cover C‑section recovery, scar tissue, back pain, and why “adult diapers are not your destiny.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What the pelvic floor does and how it affects peeing, pooping, sex, and core strength Why pregnancy, birth, and C‑sections change your pelvic floor (and what to do about it) How stress and tension show up in your pelvic floor during fertility treatments Simple relaxation, breathing, and bowel movement techniques you can start today The truth about Kegels and when they help vs. when they make things worse How to navigate dryness, pain with sex, and shame around “down there” When to see a pelvic floor PT and how apps and books like Floored can help Whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, in perimenopause, or just tired of wondering what’s “normal,” this conversation will give you clear, compassionate education and next steps.

Learn more about Dr. Sara Reardon: https://thevagwhisperer.com/ Follow Dr. Sara Reardon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/

When you’re building your family with donor conception, one huge decision often gets skipped: Are we setting this person up as “Dad” (or “Mom”)… or as a “Donor”?

This episode is not about what your child might eventually choose to call them. It’s about the role you intentionally create at the beginning and how that choice shapes expectations, time, money, relationships, and logistics for everyone involved. It can be beautiful, or it can become very complicated, depending on how it’s set up.

In this solo episode, I walk you through six key topics to think about before you decide: • Legal realities and responsibilities • Emotional expectations for you, your co-parent / donor, and your child • Family and societal expectations • Occupational and lifestyle implications • Time and financial commitments • How your own story and history shape the relationship

I also share three practical ways to process your responses, so you’re not just spinning in worry, but actually moving toward a more grounded, thoughtful decision for you and your future child.

This episode is not legal advice and cannot replace personalized medical, legal, or mental health support. It’s meant to offer ideas, language, and frameworks as you navigate donor conception and modern family building.

👉 Want more support as you make donor-related decisions? Attend our free donor considerations workshops for people using reproductive medicine to build their families. Get your ticket here: https://familybuilding.net/events-page/

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What if you’re told you’re in premature menopause at 34 – and your only path to pregnancy is IVF with donor eggs?

In this episode, I’m joined by fitness coach Kyla Burke, who shares her personal journey with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), IVF, and ultimately pregnancy using donor eggs from a friend.

Kyla talks honestly about: – Mistaking her early POI symptoms for lingering COVID effects – Learning what AMH actually means and how it changed her plans – Moving from her own eggs to donor eggs – emotionally and practically – The loss of control that comes with IVF and donor conception – How she prepared her body and mind for pregnancy after treatment – Staying active during pregnancy to support her mental health – The realities of postpartum recovery (and how pelvic floor therapy helped) – The pressure of “bouncing back” and unrealistic social media expectations – Aging, fitness, and maintaining health while building a family

Throughout the conversation, Kyla comes back to one core message:

You’re not failing if treatment is hard, if transfers fail, or if you need donor eggs. Your body is not broken – and you deserve support for your mental health and recovery just as much as for your lab results.

This episode is for anyone facing POI, IVF, donor eggs, or simply trying to hold onto their physical and emotional wellbeing through fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum.

⚠️ Important: This episode is for education and reflection only. It is not medical, genetic, or legal advice. Always discuss your specific situation with your own care team or therapist.

🌱 Ongoing support for donor conception & surrogacy families

If you want more than one‑off episodes and would like ongoing workshops, courses, and community around donor conception, surrogacy, and talking to your child, you can learn about the Building Your Family community here: 👉 https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/

To receive free resources and updates about future workshops and episodes, you can also join my newsletter here: 👉 https://familybuilding.net/newsletter/