Episode 31: Tailbone Pain After Childbirth — A Personal Story with Our Podcast Editor, Kathy Seim

Jun 9

(Prefer to watch our conversation? We’re now on YouTube!)

At least one in ten people experiences tailbone pain after childbirth, and many don't know that pelvic floor PT is an incredibly effective treatment for it - we hope this episode changes that.

Our guest today is Kathy Seim, BPPT Practice Manager and Under the Hood podcast editor. She joins Dr. Alex DiGrado and Dr. Rebecca Eudy to talk about her own experience of injuring her tailbone during the birth of her second son, what she wished she'd known to ask for at first, and how she eventually got the right treatment after a few wrong turns (and several loving nudges from Dr. Alex). Kathy’s experience reminds us that, even when you have a great care team, you still have to be your own biggest advocate.

What you’ll learn:

Why postpartum tailbone injuries are often missed or under-treated (and what to keep in mind if you're sent for imaging)
What to look for when choosing a pelvic floor PT, including asking if they work “in the front and the back.”
What a trauma-informed approach looks like in a clinical setting, and why it's relevant for any pelvic treatment, regardless of your history
Your options for managing tailbone pain if you're in a rural area or don't have easy access to specialized pelvic floor PT

Tune in if you've thought:

“I know some amount of discomfort is normal postpartum, but I can’t even sit for a short time without my tailbone feeling like it’s on fire.”

"My X-rays came back clear — so does that mean there's nothing more that can be done?"
"I didn't realize pelvic floor PT could help with tailbone pain — I don't even know what that treatment would look like."
"I live in a rural area and don't have easy access to specialized care. What can I do on my own in the meantime?"

Helpful resources:

Seat cushions for tailbone pain that Dr. Alex recommends to her patients (can be purchased with HSA/FSA funds)
- Purple (what Kathy used)
- Kabooti
- Tush Cush
Yoga therapy balls
Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com orPelvic Global Directory (NOTE: internal work in PFPT is always completely optional, requires your explicit informed consent, and can be stopped or declined at any time)
Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy