Pelvic Floor Strength and Stress Incontinence with Lina Alvino, PT | Ep. 17

May 27, 2024
2 min read

Smiling woman holds a pelvic model. Text: "Pelvic Floor Strength and Stress Incontinence with Lina Alvino, PT." Podcast title "The Superhuman Blueprint."

Pelvic Floor Problems Are More Common Than Women Think

Many women assume leaking, pelvic pressure, or discomfort after pregnancy is just part of motherhood.

Lina Alvino says it does not have to stay that way.

In this episode of The Superhuman Blueprint Podcast, the physical therapist specializing in pelvic health breaks down how the pelvic floor changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, plus what women can actually do to rebuild strength and confidence afterward.

Why Pregnancy Changes the Pelvic Floor

During pregnancy, the pelvic floor muscles support increasing pressure from the growing baby.

Over time, those muscles stretch and lengthen, which can make symptoms like stress incontinence, pelvic heaviness, and weakness more common.

Lina explains that coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping, or running can increase pressure inside the body. If the pelvic floor cannot manage that pressure well, leaking can happen.

The episode also explores how pelvic floor dysfunction can affect women years after pregnancy, even decades later.

Pelvic Floor Therapy Is More Than Just Kegels

One of the biggest misconceptions around pelvic floor therapy is that recovery only means doing endless Kegel exercises.

Lina explains that true recovery often includes breathing mechanics, core coordination, hip strength, posture, and pressure management.

She also shares that movements like planks, squats, deadlifts, push-ups, and single-leg exercises may help recruit pelvic floor muscles naturally.

The conversation covers:

postpartum recovery
pelvic floor exercises
core strength after pregnancy
C-section recovery
prolapse symptoms
pregnancy fitness
and rebuilding confidence after childbirth.

Leaking After Pregnancy Is Common, But Not “Normal”

One of the strongest takeaways from the episode is this:

Just because something is common does not mean women have to live with it forever.

Lina explains that many women silently deal with urinary incontinence, pelvic pressure, or pain for years because they assume nothing can be done.

But pelvic floor rehab can still help, even long after childbirth.

The episode also highlights how important movement, strength training, and education can be for long-term women’s health and postpartum fitness.

If you want a practical conversation on pelvic health, postpartum healing, and pelvic floor strengthening, this episode delivers a helpful and reassuring breakdown.