Episode 47: Two Heads on the Ultrasound - A Pelvic Floor PT's Twin Pregnancy
When Dr. Katie Radermacher, pelvic floor physical therapist at Boston Pelvic PT, became pregnant for the second time, she was so sure she knew what to expect that she told her husband (a fellow PT) he could just skip the 12-week ultrasound. He moved his patients around and came anyway. Good thing…because then two heads appeared on the screen ("You guys didn't know that?" the US tech asked).
In this episode, Dr. Katie sits down with Dr. Alex to talk about what pregnancy is like when you're a pelvic floor PT who still gets surprised by your own body. She also shares how this pregnancy motivated her to seek out the community she knew she'd need: other twin parents, a care team that supported her goals, and mom friends who offer middle-of-the-night support. Other twin parents’ stories helped Dr. Katie feel less alone as she navigated her own pregnancy, so now she’s sharing her story in hopes of doing the same for someone else.
What you'll learn:
Why it's absolutely okay to switch providers mid-pregnancy if something doesn’t feel right (Dr. Katie and Dr. Alex have both done it).
Why pregnancy pain shouldn't be brushed off, including Dr. Alex's story of being sent home from the hospital three days in a row with 10/10 pain that turned out to be a placental abruption.
What a pelvic floor PT does when she's the one who's pregnant, from managing nausea to SI joint pain.
What makes mono-di twin pregnancies different, plus the best advice from other twin parents (no, you don't need two of everything).
Tune in if you've ever thought:
"These doctors have delivered hundreds of babies, so they probably know what they're doing... but something just feels off."
"They just sent me back home again. Is my pain even real, or am I overreacting?”
"I couldn't figure out what kind of exercise was safe, so I just stopped doing anything."
"Between all the ultrasounds and the specialist visits, my pregnancy appointments have basically become a second job."
"I'm a planner. So how do I plan for something that's pretty much out of my control?"
Helpful resources:
Real Food for Pregnancy: The science and wisdom of optimal prenatal nutrition by Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE (Dr. Katie found that taking extra B vitamins and eating two Brazil nuts first thing in the morning was very helpful for managing her nausea - consult your PCP first).
Serola SI belt for lower back, pelvic, and hip pain
Love Steady supportive bloomers [10% off your first order]
Kinesiology tape for sensitive skin [HSA/FSA approved]
Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
Connect with us:
Dr. Katie Radermacher
Instagram: @drkathrynradermacher
Dr. Alexandra DiGrado
Website: bostonpelvicpt.com
Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt
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Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Website: rebeccaeudy.com
Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy
Newsletter: Parents in Love Substack
Under the Hood Podcast
Instagram: @underthehooddocs
Website: underthehoodpod.com
YouTube: @underthehooddocs
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