Spilling the Milk: Breastfeeding Chats

Jenn - TIghten Your Tinkler, Uplevel Your Breastfeeding Posture, and Be Kind to Your Postpartum Body

Emily Stone, Empowered Bumps & Boobs Season 2 Episode 7

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My guest today is Jenn Lormand, a Orleans mama of three boys living and thriving with Stage 2 prolapse, an Exercise Physiologist and an author. Known together as the “Tinkler ladies”, Jenn and her business partner, Christina Walsh, have a combined 36 years of experience supporting women through prolapse, diastasis recti, and more. The Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy featured their holistic protocol that helps women relieve pelvic floor issues (think no more pee leaks, back pain, or painful sex) WITHOUT kegels or internal vaginal devices. Today, Jenn is on a mission to show more mamas what’s possible for their health while honoring their dignity, time, and season of life.

In addition to sharing her personal experience with birth injury and breastfeeding, Jenn drops some super valuable knowledge bombs on Breastfeeding Ergonomics.

  • She shares the number one positioning mistake Jenn sees nursing moms make that causes more pee leaks, urgency, and other pelvic floor problems.
  • She discusses how lack of shoulder stability from improper technique can lead to the dreaded “neck hump” and/or rotator cuff injuries.
  • She shares three easy-to-implement techniques moms can start using today to correct their feeding posture (plus how moms should hold their phone to prevent a rounding of their back).

Jenn did not come to the podcast empty-handed, in fact, she has SO MUCH for you, dear listener.

Use Coupon code SPILLTHEMILK for $50 off your purchase of either Healing from Home or their Signature Program, learn more at their website.. And you CAN pay with your HSA or FSA card if that’s helpful!

Download these awesome free resources today:


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Do you have questions about breastfeeding? Could you use on-demand, accurate information, videos, a place to ask questions, and the opportunity to connect with other moms?? Yay! We have that for you! Check out the BREAST online classes and community for nursing mamas, Empowered Breastfeeding Bootcamp, and sign up today! With a 30-day money back guarantee you have nothing to lose and peace of mind around breastfeeding to gain.

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Podcast artwork for Seasons 1 & 2 by Staci Oswald aka my favorite designer EVER + mom of 2 bundles of boy energy

Transcript 

00:00:00 

Hello and welcome to spilling the milk, the podcast that moms love to listen to. 

00:00:05 

To hear other moms share about their breastfeeding journey. 

00:00:08 

Today's episode I am so excited to share with you. 

00:00:12 

My guest is Jen Lormand and she is a mom of three boys living in New Orleans. 

00:00:20 

And she is living and thriving with stage two prolapse, so she knows first hand what it feels like to have a pelvic floor injury to have a. 

00:00:30 

Birth injury Jen is an exercise physiologist and an author known together as the Tinkler Ladies. Jen and her business partner Christina Walsh have a combined 36 years of experience supporting women through prolapse, diastasis, recti, and more. The Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy featured their holistic protocol. 

00:00:52 

That helps women relieve pelvic floor issues. 

00:00:55 

Think no more, pee leaks, back pain or painful sex without key goals or internal vaginal devices. 

00:01:02 

Today, Jen is on a mission to show more Mamas what's possible for their health while honoring their dignity, time and season of life. 

00:01:10 

I could have. 

00:01:11 

Talked to Jen for hours and hours and hours. 

00:01:13 

We connected on so many levels and I learned a. 

00:01:17 

She was kind enough to focus on breast feeding ergonomics, since that is the topic of our podcast and I had no idea the impact of your posture when you're breastfeeding, how that actually can directly impact. 

00:01:30 

The strength of your pelvic floor and either exacerbate or support those muscles. 

00:01:36 

As you listen, you will hear Jen talk about different offerings that she has for women and great news. She's providing our listeners a special discount code on those programs, and she's included some freebies. So in the show notes, you will see a link for the 9090 decompression. 

00:01:56 

Your back and hip. 

00:01:57 

And it's also diaphragmatic breath work as a nervous system reset, I'm going to. 

00:02:02 

Go download this. 

00:02:03 

Resource for myself as soon as I start recording the podcast. 

00:02:06 

And then another freebie is the six week follow up appointment checklist for new Moms. 

00:02:12 

And in the episode you'll hear Jen describe the value of that checklist. 

00:02:15 

She will also describe. 

00:02:19 

And they're healing from home program and for our listeners, she's offering $50 off either of those programs. If you use the coupon code, spill the milk. 

00:02:29 

And if you're really interested, you just want to go right now their website is tighten your tinkler.com and that coupon code is spilled the milk or you can hang tight and listen to our episode. 

00:02:39 

And learn even more and then head over there afterwards. 

00:02:42 

Please enjoy my conversation with Jen. 

00:02:45 

My name is Jen Lormand and I am a clinical exercise physiologist and my business partner, Christina Walsh and I started tighten your tinkler. 

00:02:57 

And so we started tighten your tinkler about four years ago now really based. 

00:03:04 

Off of we. 

00:03:04 

Did a clinical research study that was published in the Journal of Women's. 

00:03:07 

Health physical therapy. 

00:03:09 

And that was really just to prove that the protocol that we had been using with women in private practice. 

00:03:17 

Actually worked because the feedback that we kept getting from women was I feel better and. 

00:03:22 

And maybe it was like, what is better? 

00:03:24 

Like I need more information. 

00:03:26 

I need more data. 

00:03:27 

So we did a not so little thing of a 2 1/2 year research study that was published in a couple of journal. 

00:03:33 

And what happened is when when that research study finished, we continued to have women coming to us saying can you put something online? 

00:03:40 

My mom lives in Houston, you know, cause everything. 

00:03:43 

It was in our private practice at the time in New Orleans. 

00:03:47 

So basically, when so many women kept coming to us and approaching. 

00:03:53 

It's asking us to put some PDFs or some videos online. 

00:03:56 

We started considering, OK, maybe this we have to take this seriously and and lo and behold, that's been tighten. 

00:04:02 

Your tinkler was born, but if you back up 20 years ago, my journey really started with the birth of my first son. 

00:04:10 

I have three boys. 

00:04:12 

And I had a normal, healthy pregnancy. 

00:04:15 

And then unfortunately my son was stuck in the birth canal for two hours and the hospital was under staffed, which really created some birth injuries for me. 

00:04:29 

Essentially, they were finally able to get them out of the birth canal. 

00:04:32 

With four steps in a vacuum, but he was delivered. 

00:04:35 

Apgar Zero and it was a very just traumatic whole thing. 

00:04:37 

My goodness. 

00:04:43 

Luckily, they were able to resuscitate him. 

00:04:47 

And they took him off to the nursery. 

00:04:49 

I actually never got to see my child until probably 7 hours after. 

00:04:55 

He was born. 

00:04:58 

So all of that was extremely traumatic, but I didn't know any different because it was my first delivery and so I didn't realize that. 

00:05:09 

They were given my baby sugar water in the nursery instead of my baby immediately getting being able to, you know, have skin to skin and be put to. 

00:05:19 

Breast and. 

00:05:22 

You know, I think all of of that trauma also, he wasn't latching properly in. 

00:05:30 

All of these things. 

00:05:30 

So as you know, the couple days that I was in the hospital post delivery, he he was nursing getting colostrum, but he wasn't latching. 

00:05:42 

Properly and so by the time I left the hospital, like my ******* were raw and bleeding. 

00:05:49 

And I was just like, I don't know what's happening. 

00:05:51 

My milk hadn't come in yet, so I'm dealing with a fourth degree tear on my bottom, which was a whole another plethora of issues. 

00:06:03 

And and then I'm dealing with all of these breastfeeding issues. 

00:06:07 

I got like a quick consult with the lactation. 

00:06:10 

Specialist before I left. 

00:06:11 

Which was kind of a joke. 

00:06:13 

She was like, yeah, you know. 

00:06:14 

Looks like you know he's watching. 

00:06:16 

You're good, you know, check. 

00:06:18 

And meanwhile, things were just not going well at all. 

00:06:25 

So that was my introduction to breastfeeding. 

00:06:28 

Luckily, I have a very tenacious personality. 

00:06:32 

And when I set my mind to. 

00:06:33 

Do something like this is what I'm doing so you know at that time in 2004 was trying to. 

00:06:41 

Get as much information as I could to figure out how to make this experience better and purchase the pump and begin to pump to try to give my ******* a break. 

00:06:56 

Thank goodness he he was such a good baby. 

00:06:59 

He was able to take a bottle and still was able to come to breast and not have that ****** confusion that I know a lot of women deal with given a bottle early. 

00:07:10 

And so we worked it out together. 

00:07:12 

And I nursed him for six months until I found out that I was pregnant with my second. 

00:07:18 

Wow, that's one way to. 

00:07:21 

Do it. 

00:07:22 

Yes, and my husband. 

00:07:23 

Always feels the need to tell, like at at. 

00:07:26 

When we were younger, you know? 

00:07:27 

Tell all this buddies look. 

00:07:29 

You know, even if. 

00:07:30 

She can get her period and she's nursing. 

00:07:32 

She can get pregnant. 

00:07:36 

I don't understand. 

00:07:37 

How did you get pregnant? 

00:07:39 

She didn't have a period yet. 

00:07:43 

That's a good PSA right there. 

00:07:44 

That he felt. 

00:07:45 

You don't like? 

00:07:45 

It was his duty to tell. 

00:07:47 

All of his friends this because he. 

00:07:48 

Was I had no idea. 

00:07:50 

Watch out, guys. 

00:07:51 

Oh my goodness. 

00:07:52 

Wow. So your kids. 

00:07:53 

Are really close. 

00:07:54 

In age. 

00:07:55 

My first two are 16 months apart. 

00:07:59 

And then waited nine years, and then God blessed us with number three. 

00:08:05 

I would. 

00:08:05 

Say God planned all my children. 

00:08:08 

What was that like? 

00:08:11 

Well, I guess what was baby two like having it just so close? 

00:08:15 

And then the third one having like some perspective on the whole process? 

00:08:21 

Yeah, unfortunately my second column had colic. 

00:08:26 

So he just poor darling, he had acid reflux, which we didn't find out until, you know, several months down the Pike that he just fussed and fussed and really at the breast was the only time that he was calm and at ease. 

00:08:41 

We nursed a. 

00:08:42 

Lot, yeah. 

00:08:44 

We nursed a lot. 

00:08:45 

Good information. 

00:08:47 

I think that's just helpful for people to hear. 

00:08:49 

And I also, you know, in your case it's like the breastfeeding was not just for nutrition. 

00:08:56 

For him, it was for comfort, and that's one of the. 

00:08:59 

Things is that. 

00:09:01 

It's not the same. 

00:09:03 

It's not just calories that's being with Mom. 

00:09:04 

It's the. 

00:09:06 

It's whatever that is. 

00:09:07 

That they get all the benefits. 

00:09:09 

So that's a really good example of how it helped with com college. 

00:09:12 

Well, and I think. 

00:09:13 

It's I think it's it's the energy exchange because. 

00:09:18 

I knew that it was going to calm him, so therefore I was calmer, right? 

00:09:23 

And I I do believe that they, they absorb that energy, you know. 

00:09:30 

And yeah, I mean, God bless all the Mamas dealing with colic, because that is that is. 

00:09:37 

Very stressful. 

00:09:41 

Very stressful. 

00:09:41 

My third was quite honestly, my easiest to nurse my kids all have. 

00:09:49 

A genetic condition. 

00:09:52 

And so unfortunately, my third had to have surgery craniectomy at four months old. 

00:09:59 

And so we. 

00:10:02 

We nursed a lot as well for comfort during during that time, but he was much more my other two. 

00:10:05 

Yeah, yeah. 

00:10:11 

It had to be like quiet, you know, we had to be alone. 

00:10:16 

You know, I think the third one, they come out knowing like they got a role with the. 

00:10:20 

Program here it's like. 

00:10:22 

Naps are being taken in car seats and on the go and you being. 

00:10:25 

Drunk everywhere. Like, I'm sorry. 

00:10:27 

Boo Boo, this is the way it is so. 

00:10:29 

He was, you know, much easier to just. 

00:10:31 

You know nurse with. 

00:10:33 

Out in public with with a, you know, blanket over my shoulder and was quite content with that. 

00:10:40 

So that was really nice to you because I don't know what I would have done if he wasn't so adaptable. 

00:10:48 

And so you're pointing out another benefit of breastfeeding like when? 

00:10:53 

Your baby is sick or has to. 

00:10:54 

Have surgery or blood drawn or anything. 

00:10:56 

Like that it. 

00:10:57 

Actually is a natural pain reliever, and then again that comfort. 

00:11:02 

So I that's like I was always so thankful after they got their shots, all of my pediatricians were like, stay in the room as long as you need. 

00:11:11 

Nurse them and it seems like after you know, a couple of minutes of. 

00:11:14 

Nursing, they forgot all. 

00:11:15 

About the shots and we're good to go. 

00:11:17 

And I was just so grateful to have that tool like in my. 

00:11:21 

School bag, especially when it's the subsequent kit. 

00:11:24 

You've got a toddler there. 

00:11:25 

Watch the baby cry and like. 

00:11:28 

You you need all the tools you can get. 

00:11:29 

So yeah, you're helping illustrate the many. 

00:11:32 

Benefits of of breastfeeding. 

00:11:34 

Well, I think for. 

00:11:35 

The baby you know, like as a clinician, I think about the importance of for Mom. 

00:11:39 

Like a nervous system reset. 

00:11:41 

And I think that's oftentimes what baby gets from that special connection to the breast, it's. 

00:11:48 

It's a neurological reset for them of comfort and stability, which we all know are like the basic, you know, when you look at Maslow's hierarchy. 

00:11:57 

Of needs it's. 

00:11:58 

It's the foundation of that. 

00:12:00 

So I think I do think that you know when you. 

00:12:02 

When you you. 

00:12:03 

Think of it from a clinical perspective. 

00:12:05 

For sure, that's what it's doing for. 

00:12:07 

Baby two. 

00:12:08 

And for mom. 

00:12:09 

I mean, I know for. 

00:12:10 

Me too, like. 

00:12:11 

It's something that I can do for baby that. 

00:12:13 

I have control over. 

00:12:15 

And it's I think it's I. 

00:12:17 

Think it goes both ways. 

00:12:18 

Just like you know the latest medical research shows like mom benefits from baby. 

00:12:23 

Sometimes when she's sick, you know, in in utero, it's very fascinating. 

00:12:29 

The latest medical research that still continues. 

00:12:31 

To come out. 

00:12:33 

Between mother and baby during pregnancy and beyond, yeah. 

00:12:38 

I'm glad you brought that. 

00:12:39 

Up about the nervous system reset because I'm so fascinated even in like the parenting realm, where more and more it's coming out that when the parents parent is able to regulate their own nervous system, the impact on the children being able to regulate their own nervous system. 

00:12:56 

Got it. 

00:12:59 

And just the. 

00:13:01 

Effects that can have on the environment in your house and their behavior and how they know how to regulate their emotions as they grow up and you know the parents are. 

00:13:09 

There anymore. 

00:13:10 

I'm so fascinated by that. 

00:13:12 

So for you to connect it back to breastfeeding like, oh, yeah. 

00:13:15 

Like, things are crazy. 

00:13:16 

Things are crazy. 

00:13:17 

You put baby to breast and. 

00:13:18 

You both just like exhale and. 

00:13:22 

And and there's, like, oxytocin. 

00:13:24 

And, you know, all the drinks. 

00:13:25 

Yes, yes. 

00:13:26 

So I'm going to think more about that. 

00:13:28 

That's a really. 

00:13:28 

Good point that you. 

00:13:29 

Well, I think the brain. 

00:13:30 

Chemicals are what is facilitating the process. 

00:13:33 

You know. 

00:13:34 

Yeah, it's really, really cool. 

00:13:36 

When, when? 

00:13:37 

When we're talking about nervous system reset, I feel the need to just tell women right up front. 

00:13:43 

We do offer something. We offer a couple of different freebies for women. One is something called our 9090 back in hip relief technique, which when we start getting into talking about ergonomics. 

00:13:56 

This could be appropriate if you're. 

00:13:58 

Having a lot of back. 

00:14:01 

Whether you're nursing or standing or whatever postpartum. 

00:14:05 

But we also teach the diaphragmatic breath work with that, and that really being in the position with your. 

00:14:14 

Legs elevated above heart and the diaphragmatic breath work really serves as like an autonomic reset or pulling you out of fight or flight and back into that rest and digest state physiologically as well as obviously you know. 

00:14:38 

So that's something that we offer that folks can go and find. 

00:14:42 

I can send it to you for your show notes. 

00:14:44 

If you'd like. 

00:14:46 

So you mentioned well what you're talking about now is useful basically for everyone, but each time, let's go into what are the ergonomics of breastfeeding. 

00:14:57 

What are some common things that I'm sure I did wrong and led to poor posture and pain and all those things? 

00:15:03 

You know what should breastfeeding moms know about their posture and ergonomics? 

00:15:07 

So the first thing that I'll say is it's really difficult when you come home from hospital and you're trying to learn how to breastfeed and you're really focused on latching and all of those things. 

00:15:18 

So I don't want any of this information to overwhelm or make you feel like you're not doing something right, but the you know. 

00:15:27 

As as you bond with. 

00:15:28 

Baby and begin to really harmonize in the process. 

00:15:33 

And and baby is to breast for longer periods of time. 

00:15:37 

You might notice that you're feeling tension. 

00:15:39 

In different parts of your body. 

00:15:41 

So part of that is because the core is weak postpartum, right? 

00:15:45 

Yeah, yeah. 

00:15:46 

I mean the the core is extremely weak and pelvic floor is weak and so the. 

00:15:51 

Best thing that I can? 

00:15:53 

You know, say. 

00:15:54 

And I I came prepared with props, so hopefully hopefully so this is just a bed pillow that I've got tall ways. 

00:15:57 

Oh, I love. 

00:16:02 

I would always recommend. 

00:16:05 

Find a nursing home in your house. 

00:16:08 

So whether that's a rocking chair or recliner in your room or in the nursery, find a place that's really comfortable for you that you can leave some of these props there so that you can optimize your position. 

00:16:21 

So the first thing is give yourself some back support. 

00:16:24 

Because your postural muscles are weak, so just sitting up straight. 

00:16:29 

Is going to. 

00:16:30 

Be more challenging. 

00:16:31 

Along with holding baby and doing all the. 

00:16:34 

Other tasks for. 

00:16:36 

The next thing that I would suggest is if you're sitting in a rocker, this is we still have. 

00:16:43 

Kid stools in. 

00:16:43 

My house. 

00:16:45 

So take a Kitty stool and place that on the floor and elevate your feet on top of that. 

00:16:53 

That is going to provide relief to the low. 

00:16:55 

Back and the pelvis. 

00:16:57 

So those are the. 

00:16:58 

First two things. 

00:16:59 

This second thing that I would say is first of all my bappi like I I use my boppy all the time. 

00:17:07 

Yeah, it's great. Even when you, if you have had a C-section to wear your boppy, especially if maybe you have older children to protect your incision in the first couple of weeks, but. 

00:17:19 

What I just recommend is like bring on the pillows and I like. 

00:17:24 

I like throw pillows because they seem to be a little firmer. 

00:17:28 

So what I would do is. 

00:17:29 

Stack a couple of throat pillows, OK and. 

00:17:33 

Then put your boffi on top so that. 

00:17:36 

Literally you have baby coming up to breath. 

00:17:41 

Yeah, you are not rounding forward at all because this forward head posture can contribute to pellix and urgency as well as discomfort in your neck. 

00:17:52 

And I'll, I'll get to the mechanics as to why, but. 

00:17:57 

Once you've got your pillows and your boppy here, the last place that you need to elevate and prop is your elbow, because what we tend to do is once we've got baby latched and we're in this wonky position, then we're rounding our shoulders forward and we get ourselves in these crazy positions. 

00:18:16 

But if it's if it's been a challenge to get baby latch. 

00:18:19 

I know about you, but. 

00:18:20 

I'm not. 

00:18:20 

Moving Nope, I'm there forever. 

00:18:23 

So 15 minutes. 

00:18:25 

Later you might be having some burning pain, some discomfort, which can lead to further things down the line. 

00:18:32 

Right, because we're now spending much more time in this position where most women. 

00:18:40 

Are rounded. 

00:18:42 

Forward, right and bringing themselves to baby, even though they. 

00:18:47 

Might be using a boppy pillow. 

00:18:49 

So those are the best tips you're going to have to. 

00:18:52 

Play with it just like. 

00:18:53 

You would play with anything. 

00:18:54 

Else, but I really want to speak to this forward head position because. 

00:18:59 

What we know is. 

00:19:01 

The connective tissue that holds your bladder up the fascia. 

00:19:05 

It actually slings all the way around your. 

00:19:10 

No way. 

00:19:10 

So that. 

00:19:10 

I have to pause you. 

00:19:12 

No way. 

00:19:13 

I would never have known that. 

00:19:13 

That's why. 

00:19:15 

OK, please continue that way. 

00:19:17 

So most of the women that I work with, who have prolapse of the bladder or maybe you don't know. 

00:19:25 

You have that maybe you felt. 

00:19:27 

Heaviness in your lower abdominals or you? 

00:19:30 

Have pee leaks when you cough. 

00:19:33 

Right? 

00:19:33 

We remember all this during the late stages of pregnancy or you're running to the restroom and peeing more than 10 times a day. 

00:19:41 

OK, all of that stuff isn't normal. 

00:19:44 

Well, a lot of those women have the neck hump. 

00:19:48 

They have that forward head posture because. 

00:19:51 

The bladder has fallen down and. 

00:19:54 

It's pulling the head forward, so if you're perpetuating that. 

00:19:59 

It it's only gonna make. 

00:20:00 

It's gonna exacerbate what you already have going on. 

00:20:04 

So the best thing is to make sure that you've got your head sitting on top of the shoulders, right? 

00:20:13 

And not in. 

00:20:13 

That forward position and it's going to be easier once you've. 

00:20:17 

Got that back. 

00:20:18 

Support and the support of those pillows. 

00:20:20 

To be able to do that now, here is another big culprit of why so many women have that forward head posture, right? 

00:20:28 

Because a lot of times we're not. 

00:20:30 

Sing and we're scrolling. 

00:20:32 

8000%. 

00:20:34 

So I'm going to encourage you support the elbow, have a pop socket or a loopy right to where you can. 

00:20:43 

You're not breaking at the the wrist because carpal tunnel is another big affliction. 

00:20:50 

That a lot of new moms suffer with and. 

00:20:52 

That can be. 

00:20:53 

Due to the relaxing, that's the hormone that. 

00:20:55 

Allowed the pelvis to. 

00:20:56 

Spread the baby to come out. 

00:20:58 

But when you are nursing, it takes long. 

00:21:00 

Anger for your body to get rid of completely. 

00:21:04 

All of that relaxed. 

00:21:05 

And so your your joints are a little bit more loosey Goosey, but making sure that you've got something you know to hold on like a loopy or a pop socket and you're bringing phone to face. 

00:21:09 

OK. 

00:21:21 

Not here. 

00:21:23 

Not like this. 

00:21:25 

So this would be the most common. 

00:21:28 

Cause of the forward head posture is is. 

00:21:31 

The bone scrolling. 

00:21:32 

For sure. 

00:21:32 

And I would encourage. 

00:21:34 

Like I know, sometimes some of us want to just zone out or feel productive or like this is a great time to answer text. 

00:21:41 

So this is a great time to. 

00:21:42 

Do this and. 

00:21:44 

You know what, like, put up some soft. 

00:21:46 

Music and maybe make it your time to just. 

00:21:49 

Do your breath work. 

00:21:51 

Like or your prayer time or your meditation. 

00:21:54 

Time like because. 

00:21:56 

Your baby's gonna get way more from that, energetically. 

00:22:00 

Then then trying to. 

00:22:02 

Squeeze in those last couple things like folks know you just had a baby. 

00:22:06 

Like if if folks are pressing you to, like respond to. 

00:22:08 

Stuff you know. 

00:22:10 

Make need to think about making your circle a little smaller, right? 

00:22:13 

You you need to give yourself grace and and other folks will give you grace during this time the folks. 

00:22:19 

That care about you? 

00:22:21 

Yes. Yeah, the phone's a big one, I. 

00:22:23 

Mean part of it is. 

00:22:24 

Like you feel like you've lost your old self. 

00:22:28 

And so just to like scroll some. 

00:22:29 

Clothes on Amazon, you. 

00:22:31 

Know like feels good, but there's. 

00:22:33 

Definitely, definitely benefits to making it a quiet time if if you're trying to develop some sort of prayer practice or meditation practice. 

00:22:41 

It can be a trigger like OK, every time my nurse, you know, is when I also meditate or or whatever you want to do that. 

00:22:47 

Could be really powerful. 

00:22:48 

But also sometimes as girl on. 

00:22:50 

Amazon because. 

00:22:51 

Yeah, I get it. 

00:22:53 

I do get. 

00:22:53 

It well cause I mean. 

00:22:55 

I I mean I stopped counting with Colin. 

00:22:59 

How many times a day? 

00:23:00 

Cause like one day. 

00:23:01 

You know my husband was working full time. 

00:23:03 

And I mean, sometimes he would just come home and I would just be like, I'm so done like I just need to take this baby. 

00:23:08 

I just need to shower like and you're like, I understand. 

00:23:11 

Like, what did? 

00:23:12 

You do? 

00:23:12 

I'm like I nursed. 

00:23:13 

Like I, I nursed all day. 

00:23:15 

He said, well, what do you mean? 

00:23:16 

Like, how many times I'm like? 

00:23:18 

I don't know. 

00:23:19 

Maybe like 15. 

00:23:20 

He's like, ohh. 

00:23:21 

OK. 

00:23:21 

Like I'm like, yeah, you. 

00:23:22 

Don't understand. 

00:23:23 

Like, yeah. 

00:23:25 

I think it might even be more than that. 

00:23:27 

Like I'm just so done, you know, touched. 

00:23:29 

I knew. 

00:23:30 

Out touched out. 

00:23:31 

So I I bring that up in in my resources because that's something for the partner to know too. 

00:23:37 

Like it's not even you. 

00:23:39 

I just can't have anybody touching me for a minute right now. 

00:23:42 

I'm so touched out. 

00:23:43 

And then. 

00:23:43 

It's funny when you read like Ohh baby should be nursing approximately 8 times a day every. 

00:23:48 

Two to three. 

00:23:48 

You're like 8. 

00:23:49 

How about 18? 

00:23:52 

So just for to. 

00:23:53 

Prepare people like it might be all the time for for some time and like you. 

00:23:57 

Right when they're going through growth spurts, in particular, I mean, I had three boys instead of you. 

00:23:57 

Were saying for colic. 

00:24:01 

So like, I mean, I always knew when they were growing cause it was like we were nursing like every hour, right? 

00:24:08 

And then all of a sudden they'd be like, boom, OK, we're not in three month. 

00:24:10 

Clothes anymore. 

00:24:11 

You know, we're in sick. 

00:24:13 

You're right. 

00:24:14 

You're inspiring me to think about the role of the partner. 

00:24:17 

So when you were showing like. 

00:24:19 

How to get that ideal pass? 

00:24:22 

Because especially I think. 

00:24:23 

With a male partner like they like to. 

00:24:25 

Be able to. 

00:24:25 

Solve a problem or they like to have a plan or they can understand the visuals and like the mechanics of what you were saying and when you are the one nurse and you don't even realize. 

00:24:35 

You're hunched over. 

00:24:36 

So with the right tone and the right intention, if a partner is able to come over and say Hun, I notice that your little hunch. 

00:24:42 

Can I help you? 

00:24:43 

Can I put a pillow under your elbow so you get that posture that we saw in that video that we watched together before the baby was born. 

00:24:49 

That would be such a beautiful role. 

00:24:52 

For the partner to. 

00:24:52 

Play in preventing, you know, long lasting injury essentially is what you're saying. 

00:24:57 

Yes, because you know, as an exercise physiologist, some of the injuries that I have commonly seen over the past 20-7 years are rotator cuff injuries. 

00:25:08 

And So what happens is we're in this posture, in this posture and it creates a lack of stability in the shoulders and then we're driving and the baby. 

00:25:18 

You know is in the. 

00:25:20 

Still right between the two seats and the pacifier falls, and the baby starts to cry, and we're driving. 

00:25:26 

And so we're doing this number right where we're reach and reach and trying to get that. 

00:25:31 

And that's when it happens. 

00:25:33 

I can't. 

00:25:33 

I've had at least 5. 

00:25:34 

Oh my gosh. 

00:25:35 

Moms that I've trained who have torn their rotator cuff. 

00:25:39 

Doing the exact. 

00:25:41 

I can. 

00:25:42 

We've all done that. 

00:25:42 

I can. 

00:25:43 

Picture that or for me. 

00:25:44 

It was like a pinched neck, yeah. 

00:25:47 

Yes, so it's it's due to a lack of. 

00:25:52 

Stability and strength in those joints and so you know. 

00:25:58 

It's it's a much it's a way to be kind to yourself as well to as baby it to baby and the rest of your family. 

00:26:05 

Because then when. 

00:26:06 

You get injured. 

00:26:07 

It makes everything so much harder. 

00:26:09 

I mean, it doesn't make it impossible, but, you know, try holding a baby with a torn. 

00:26:17 

So these are all like. 

00:26:19 

When we're more holistic minded, we're always seeking proactive care and this is definitely something that you can do proactively. 

00:26:32 

To help you. 

00:26:32 

Avoid injuries in the future that come from and the baby wearing. 

00:26:37 

You know, I mean, even baby wearing in the beginning. 

00:26:41 

Typically, you know we're we're bending over, changing diapers and padding bottoms in the crib, and so there's just a lot of this. 

00:26:50 

And so one of the things that we recommend is. 

00:26:52 

Something called a. 

00:26:53 

Book opener stretch. 

00:26:55 

Now this is something. 

00:26:56 

You can do in. 

00:26:57 

Bed right then have to be getting. 

00:27:00 

On the floor. 

00:27:00 

Because with the weak core. 

00:27:03 

That can be a challenge in itself, but dropping the knees to one side and opening the chest. 

00:27:10 

OK, so knees are bent, you pull them in towards your chest, you drop your knees to one side, you extend your arms, and then you rotate. 

00:27:18 

Bring your hands together and then open and look away. 

00:27:22 

My knees picture my knees facing this way and I'm opening in the opposite direction, trying to just open everything up, including the low back. 

00:27:31 

Taking some deep. 

00:27:32 

And then you can repeat that on the other side, and if you just do that a couple times each morning, that can have a tremendous difference on on your posture and how. 

00:27:42 

You're feeling in your body. 

00:27:44 

Well, I'm going to do it tomorrow and I think I mean, it reminds me of yoga class. 

00:27:47 

I think that's one of the stretches we do towards the end. 

00:27:49 

Usually, but that's that's great practical advice. 

00:27:54 

And oh, I did want to give you a chance to talk about your services. 

00:27:59 

So tighten your tinkler. 

00:28:01 

Obviously it's the best name ever. 

00:28:03 

Anyone I've told or I'm like I'm interviewing someone from. 

00:28:06 

Tighten your tinkler and like. 

00:28:09 

So excellent choice there, but yeah. 

00:28:11 

Give us a call to action for women, you know. 

00:28:14 

Most maybe what they're experiencing and then what you provide and how can? 

00:28:17 

Help them? 

00:28:19 

So we work with a lot of different women, but typically the women that come to us are more holistic minded. 

00:28:27 

They're looking for care. 

00:28:29 

That they can. 

00:28:32 

Due from the comfort of their own home and that, you know, looking for solutions to pea leaks and back pain, heaviness in the lower abdominals, Dr. 

00:28:48 

which is that diastasis recti the separation of the abdominal muscles that is supposed to happen. 

00:28:54 

During pregnancy, but oftentimes that does not come back together and clothes and. 

00:28:59 

It creates a lot of. 

00:29:00 

Weakness in both the core and the pelvic floor. 

00:29:04 

Many women you know, there's a different series of diagnosis that women are given, sometimes that their follow up appointment. 

00:29:11 

Sometimes they're told they have hernias of their vagina, or that they might have a little prolapse, but it's not specifically said, is it their bladder? 

00:29:20 

Is it their uterus? 

00:29:21 

Is it their? 

00:29:22 

Them some women are told they have a cystocele, which is essentially A hernia of the bladder, which. 

00:29:30 

Oftentimes is accompanied with prolapse. 

00:29:33 

Cystocele just means there's a tear in the connective tissue, and the bladder is falling down. 

00:29:38 

MM. 

00:29:39 

Well, it most women with prolapse have a cystocele. 

00:29:44 

OK, so there's just all kinds of things that can happen. 

00:29:48 

Some women, you know, for myself dealing with that 4th degree tear after my first baby. 

00:29:55 

If I circle back to that story, So what ended up happening was I got an infection in my stitches and. 

00:30:04 

Needed to be seen before my six week appointment to get rid of that. 

00:30:09 

So I I always just encourage women, you know, we know our bodies better than anyone else. 

00:30:15 

Just like you know, your baby better than anyone else. 

00:30:17 

And if something feels off or not normal, don't be afraid to look down there. 

00:30:22 

The presence of swelling. 

00:30:24 

The past is never normal and you know you want to seek help if you are seeing that regardless of how far along postpartum you are. 

00:30:36 

Is, you know that can lead to all sorts of other issues, including UTI's, recurrent UTI's, and. 

00:30:44 

Just a whole host. 

00:30:45 

Of issues including, you know, mastitis and other infections that you can get postpartum, so. 

00:30:54 

And want to. 

00:30:54 

Just encourage women to advocate for themselves and not be afraid to look at your own body as you are healing so that you're able to say. 

00:31:03 

Yes, this is looking better or no. 

00:31:05 

This is looking worse. 

00:31:07 

So we we have a couple of different offerings for women who are dealing with all of these issues. 

00:31:13 

The first one is something called healing from home and it is specific to the postpartum new mom. 

00:31:21 

It is a workbook that has a video library and it's really kind of a pick and choose type of situation. 

00:31:27 

As to not over. 

00:31:28 

Realm women with too much at once, but the video library has a video of Christina and I walking you through the breastfeeding ergonomics, along with how to check yourself for a DVR, checking your scar tissue, making sure that things are healing properly as well as a six week checklist. 

00:31:48 

To to say hey here. 

00:31:50 

Are things that most doctors aren't checking for? 

00:31:53 

Here are some suggested questions to ask your healthcare provider at that appointment. 

00:32:00 

So that you can advocate for yourself. 

00:32:03 

And then our signature program is really to address a lot of the pee issues, the back and hip issues really getting to the root of those problems, which is simply, you know, activating all the dormant muscles because it's common for your glutes to kick off and. 

00:32:20 

End stage pregnancy, as that center of gravity moves further away. 

00:32:24 

Flat **** syndrome kicks in when those glutes kick off. 

00:32:28 

That you know those deep abdominals and pelvic floor get weak. 

00:32:32 

And so we really help you activate that in the 10 minute a day sequence done from the comfort of your own. 

00:32:40 

And then lastly, we offer something we walk women up through getting back into their exercise routine. 

00:32:47 

So signature program members. 

00:32:49 

After their first 30 to 60 days have the opportunity to upgrade into something we call. 

00:32:55 

Vault, which goes into how to regain stability in your neck and shoulders in a full body mobility. 

00:33:03 

Because Momming is an extreme sport. 

00:33:06 

And it is legit that you get. 

00:33:09 

Injuries from it, I see. 

00:33:10 

I've seen it a lot and experienced it myself, so regaining that stability. 

00:33:15 

That strength and then we have some fun cardio and strength workouts in there and. 

00:33:19 

And again, no longer than 30 minutes all done from the comfort of your own home, because that's what we're about is just empowering moms like yourself to make good choices for themselves. 

00:33:30 

And so those are the offerings that we have and like I said, we have a bunch of freebies that women can have access to. 

00:33:39 

Or 9090. 

00:33:40 

Decompression we offer if it's a brand. 

00:33:42 

Spanking new mom. 

00:33:43 

Watching this or listening to this, we have our six week checklist. 

00:33:47 

That's a part of that feeling from home guide that we offer and I'll send. 

00:33:50 

You the links to all of these. 

00:33:52 

That's so helpful. 

00:33:54 

And we have. 

00:33:55 

A special gift for your listeners, we're offering a $50 off coupon for your listeners to either of of the healing from home or our signature program. 

00:34:06 

They just have to enter the code, spilling the milk and they'll. 

00:34:10 

Get $50 off. 

00:34:11 

Perfect. Oh, I love that. 

00:34:14 

This this is really empowering because it is something. 

00:34:17 

That it first. 

00:34:18 

It feels embarrassing or you don't know that it's not normal or you don't want to say it out loud to find out if it's normal. 

00:34:24 

So if it's something that really can sort, you can DIY it with these resources that you're providing. 

00:34:32 

That I think that's really going to help a lot. 

00:34:34 

Of people. I'm really excited. 

00:34:36 

Well thanks. 

00:34:37 

And I am excited to have a resource for our new moms with your breastfeeding boot camp. 

00:34:42 

Like, yes, yeah, this is fantastic. 

00:34:46 

Well, and to be honest, so I'm in the final stages of finalizing the content. 

00:34:50 

You know, I'm going to call out some of what we talked about today because this is so relevant. 

00:34:55 

And then and then I can send people your. 

00:34:57 

Way for all those free resources. 

00:34:59 

That sounds amazing. 

00:35:01 

Well, thank you so much, Jen. 

00:35:02 

Is there anything we didn't get to talk about today that you were hoping? 

00:35:05 

To share. 

00:35:06 

Oh my goodness. 

00:35:07 

Well, there's, there's always, actually, I have a breastfeeding tip. 

00:35:11 

A really. 

00:35:12 

Good friend of mine. 

00:35:13 

Who had a blocked? 

00:35:14 

Up and like she knows I'm like the essential oil queen. 

00:35:18 

And so she. 

00:35:19 

Boxed me and was like I don't know what to do about this. 

00:35:22 

And so. 

00:35:23 

Like this cleared her block. Duck up in like 24 hours and it's super simple and I'm sure like everybody knows, OK, put heat on it. 

00:35:32 

Right. 

00:35:33 

So you wanna try to keep nursing and pumping to try to and massaging the breast? 

00:35:38 

Right. Yeah, your quick. 

00:35:39 

Heat, but then cover your breast after you've nursed. 

00:35:43 

Cover your breast in a mixture of about 1/4 size of Castro. 

00:35:48 

Oil and put about 10 drops of peppermint oil, which is a vasodilator, so Castor oil is a natural decongestant, and peppermint oil really is a vasodilator, and so you combine those two things. 

00:36:03 

You put that on the spot and look, I've gotten blocked ducts like here. 

00:36:08 

I know exactly what I know exactly. 

00:36:08 

Every time I know so like I'm. 

00:36:10 

Pointing to my spot. 

00:36:11 

Here, but you put that on there after you put the heat on for a couple minutes and you do that at least two or three times a day. 

00:36:19 

And that puppy, as long as you're not, you know, haven't progressed into mastitis yet, which is an infection that needs to be treated. 

00:36:28 

It should clear that puppy right up. 

00:36:31 

So you're saying like very locally, just put the oil mixture because I this is anecdotal, but I had a friend who was at a like, a girls night where someone was diffusing peppermint oil. 

00:36:44 

And then she went to pump the next day and her supply was reduced noticeably. 

00:36:49 

But that means she was being exposed to that peppermint for a while. 

00:36:54 

And so you're saying just very locally, you know, topically rubbing it on and I think we should call that out and I still need to research if that's you know if other people had the same experience. 

00:37:04 

That it speaks to the power of the peppermint because in your case you're saying, yeah, it really did sort of like dry up that. 

00:37:11 

All that extra milk that was in that. 

00:37:13 

One spot. 

00:37:14 

Well, and you have. 

00:37:16 

To use it with the Castor oil. 

00:37:17 

Got it. 

00:37:18 

Like I can't save enough of. 

00:37:19 

It needs to be with the carrier oil specifically Castor oil, because it's a decongestant. 

00:37:26 

It's going to break, break up. 

00:37:28 

What is in there, and the Castor oil is really. 

00:37:31 

Trying to open that duct, so as long as you're continuing with your regular regular nursing yes cycle so that you're not, you know, the other thing that can happen is. 

00:37:35 

OK. 

00:37:44 

You don't want a nurse as much. 

00:37:45 

It's hurting or whatnot, and that can decrease your milk supply for sure, but obviously every woman is always unique and you know some some things. 

00:37:50 

Yeah. Oh, that is. 

00:37:56 

And if and I know for me there were certain things that would reduce my milk supply and others that speed it up. 

00:38:02 

So everyone's got to listen to her. 

00:38:04 

Noting what it's telling. 

00:38:05 

Her for sure. 

00:38:05 

Yeah, but the more tools we can have in the toolbox, I'm like wishing I could go back to myself at this point, like eight years. 

00:38:11 

Oh my goodness, me too. 

00:38:12 

Ago and just hand. 

00:38:14 

Hand that I'm only like a bottle and I had Castor oil. 

00:38:17 

I should have handed her some. 

00:38:19 

Put the two together and that would have helped. 

00:38:21 

So thank you for that tip, that's. 

00:38:22 

Really helpful. 

00:38:23 

For sure. 

00:38:24 

I think that's I think that's the last thing. 

00:38:25 

All right. 

00:38:25 

Thank you. 

00:38:25 

So much. 

00:38:28 

I always like. 

00:38:28 

To check though, because sometimes you know something comes to you before I go, we gotta share this. 

00:38:34 

So very good. 

00:38:35 

Well, it was so lovely meeting you. 

00:38:37 

I think we could talk forever. 

00:38:38 

We've both got the three boys we've got, you know, a lot of alignment and what we're trying to bring to the world and. 

00:38:44 

Hopefully this is just the beginning of a partnership in serving women who are pregnant and new moms and. 

00:38:51 

Just looking for a better way than maybe with the mainstream. 

00:38:54 

I call it the mainstream assembly line of birth and breastfeeding, you know, can offer. 

00:38:59 

There's actually a lot more, and there's so many women that would love to help you and connect with you and. 

00:39:04 

I think that's what we're all trying to do. 

00:39:04 

Yes, yes and yes. 

00:39:07 

Couldn't agree more. 

00:39:07 

It was awesome meeting you, Emily. 

00:39:09 

And thank you so much for what you are doing for women, because it takes a village. 

00:39:15 

It really does. 

00:39:22 

Wow, my mind is blown. 

00:39:25 

I learned so much and I loved our conversation so much and I'm so excited to be partnering with Jen and Christina and helping my listeners find their program. 

00:39:37 

We obviously share a lot in common. 

00:39:40 

We are both dealing with. 

00:39:42 

Subjects that. 

00:39:43 

Don't often come up in polite conversation except when you're in it when you're having a breastfeeding challenge or when you pee every time you laugh it. 

00:39:52 

Is your real life. 

00:39:53 

Is impacting your every day and so I think. 

00:39:57 

All of us. 

00:39:57 

Are on a mission to really help women find the resources they need when they need them and make that accessible. 

00:40:04 

So again, head to our show notes and you can find the links for the 9090 decompression for back and hip relief that she talked about, as well as a six week follow up. 

00:40:15 

Appointment checklist. That's. 

00:40:16 

Specifically for new moms. And then you can head to tightenyourtinkler.com and learn lots more about the programs you described. 

00:40:24 

Healing from home and their signature program, and remember to use the coupon code spill the milk. 

00:40:30 

For $50. 

00:40:31 

Off and if you have any follow up questions, they're on Instagram. 

00:40:35 

Tighten your tinkler. 

00:40:36 

There's, you know, contact information on their website. 

00:40:39 

Jen was just so personable and approachable as you can tell from our conversation. 

00:40:43 

I know her and Christina are just so happy to help you. 

00:40:47 

If this is what you need in your life right now. 

00:40:50 

Thank you for listening and for your support. 

00:40:53 

If you enjoy what we're doing here, please subscribe so you don't miss an episode. 

00:40:57 

Please share with a friend and if you'd enjoy being a guest on our podcast yourself, you can reach out to me at Emily at empowered. 

00:41:06 

Bumps and *****. 

00:41:07 

Dot com. 

00:41:08 

Thank you and be well. 

 

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