In this Real-Life Rehab episode of The Tummy Team Journey Podcast, Leigh shares her story with remarkable honesty and vulnerability. She opens up about the physical and emotional impact of chronic pain, the grief of pregnancy loss, the fear that followed each pregnancy, and the challenges of feeling dismissed by medical providers while searching for solutions.

After recently being diagnosed with a rectocele and being advised to pursue surgery, Leigh found herself once again questioning her options. Through reconnecting with The Tummy Team and revisiting principles that had previously helped her heal a significant diastasis recti, she began exploring a different path—one focused on restoring connection, improving function, and supporting her body's natural ability to heal.

Kelly and Leigh discuss how trauma, perfectionism, nervous system dysregulation, and protective posturing can contribute to pelvic floor symptoms and chronic tension. You'll also hear Kelly explain why healing often starts with seemingly simple practices like breathing, abdominal connection, mobility, journaling, and learning to approach your body with compassion instead of criticism.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How chronic pain and trauma can affect core and pelvic floor function
• Why unresolved stress and grief can impact physical healing
• The connection between perfectionism and recovery
• How nervous system regulation supports rehabilitation
• Why prolapse symptoms often involve the entire body, not just the pelvic floor
• The role of breathing, posture, and mobility in restoring function
• How self-compassion can become a powerful healing tool
• Why healing is a journey, not a quick fix

Leigh's story is a powerful reminder that even after years of pain, loss, surgeries, and setbacks, there is still hope. Healing doesn't require perfection—it begins with reconnecting to your body, understanding what it needs, and taking the next small step forward.