A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast - Christian Motherhood, Postpartum Planning, Birth Prep, Mental Health & Routines

When you hear “pelvic floor therapy,” you might immediately think of Kegels. But pelvic floor physical therapy is about so much more than strengthening one group of muscles.
In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Dr. Abby Andres, a physical therapist who specializes in obstetric and pelvic floor care, about what moms really need to know about pelvic health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Dr. Abby brings a trauma-informed approach to her work, recognizing that pelvic health can be deeply personal and that past experiences, birth trauma, pain, and even shame can affect how a woman experiences treatment. We talk about how to know when a symptom is something worth getting help for, what pelvic floor therapy can actually address, and what postpartum recovery should look like in those early weeks.
We also talk about the often-overlooked gap in postpartum care, why rest is productive, how to return to movement safely, and how virtual pelvic floor physical therapy can give busy moms practical tools to care for their bodies independently.
In this episode, we talk about:
What trauma-informed pelvic floor therapy actually looks like and why feeling safe, heard, and in control matters during such an intimate form of care.
The difference between “common” and something you simply have to live with, including pelvic pain, incontinence, constipation, bowel and bladder concerns, and other symptoms.
Red flags during pregnancy that may indicate it's time to seek additional support rather than simply accepting discomfort as part of pregnancy.
What postpartum recovery really needs, including why rest is productive and why those first few weeks don't need to look like intense workouts or “bouncing back.”
Breaking the shame surrounding pelvic floor symptoms, including pain with intercourse, leaking, and other concerns moms may be embarrassed to talk about.
How pelvic floor PT can work virtually, giving moms individualized tools and education so they can become more independent in caring for their bodies.
One thing I want every mom to remember:
Just because something is common after pregnancy or birth doesn't mean you have to simply accept it.
As Dr. Abby explains, the more important question is: How much is this symptom bothering you, and how much is it disrupting your daily life?
If pain, leaking, bowel or bladder issues, or another symptom is affecting your sleep, activities, relationships, or ability to enjoy your life, it's worth talking to a qualified provider.
And if you've been avoiding care because of shame or embarrassment, this is your reminder that you are not alone—and there are people who can help. Dr. Abby's approach centers on educating, validating, and inviting women into support rather than making them feel ashamed of what they're experiencing.

About Dr. Abby Andres
Dr. Abby Andres is a physical therapist specializing in obstetric and pelvic floor care. With a trauma-informed approach, she helps women navigate pelvic pain, pregnancy-related symptoms, postpartum recovery, core weakness, incontinence, bowel and bladder concerns, and more.
Her practice is entirely virtual and focuses on giving women the tools and education they need to become more independent in caring for their bodies. She offers a free 15-minute introduction call for women interested in learning whether virtual pelvic floor PT is a good fit.

Connect with Dr. Abby
Website:  www.drabigailandres.com
Instagram: @dr.abigailandres
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.abigailandres

A question for you...
Is there a postpartum or pelvic health symptom you've been told is “normal” that you've been wondering if you actually need to get help for?
If this episode was helpful, share it with another mom who needs to know that she doesn't have to simply live with pelvic pain, leaking, or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Preparing for birth can bring a whole mix of emotions. You may feel excited to meet your baby, but also nervous about labor, pain, the unknown, or whether your birth will go according to plan.
In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Christian birth doula and childbirth educator Jaimie Johnson about how we can prepare for birth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—without allowing fear to take over.
Jaimie shares how her own birth experiences led her into birth work and eventually inspired her to create a faith-based approach to childbirth education. We talk about preparing not only for birth, but also for the transition into motherhood, because pregnancy and birth can be opportunities for God to grow and prepare us for the women and mothers He is calling us to become.
We also dive into the importance of recognizing our fears instead of ignoring them, replacing fear and lies with God's truth, using Scripture and prayer during pregnancy and birth, and learning to advocate for ourselves while still trusting God with the outcome.
In this episode, we talk about:
Preparing for birth holistically—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Working through fear and anxiety by recognizing our fears and replacing lies with God's truth.
Using prayer and Scripture to prepare for birth and create a faith-filled birth team.
Advocating for yourself in the birth room while still trusting God and seeking His wisdom in your decisions.
Preparing for an unmedicated birth and why mental preparation and commitment can be just as important as physical preparation.
Surrendering your birth plans to God and finding peace when your birth doesn't go the way you expected.
A Scripture to Remember

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

When the world, social media, family, friends, and even our own fears are filling our minds with noise about what birth should look like, we can continually return to God's truth and ask Him for wisdom about the decisions in front of us.
About Jaimie Johnson
Jaimie Johnson is a Christian birth doula and childbirth educator who helps women prepare for birth physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through her business, Grace to Growth Wellness, she combines childbirth education, prenatal yoga, mindful preparation, and faith to help women approach birth with confidence, preparation, and trust in God.
Her online birth course, Created for Birth, helps women prepare for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of childbirth.
Connect with Jaimie
Learn more about Jaimie's work and her Created for Birth course through Grace to Growth Wellness.
Website: Grace to Growth Wellness
Instagram: @G2GJaimieJohnson
A question for you...

What is one fear or worry about birth that you need to surrender to God as you prepare for your baby?
If this episode encouraged you, share it with another mom who is preparing for birth and could use a little more confidence, truth, and faith going into her birth experience. 
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Postpartum moms need more than a meal train and a quick “How’s the baby?”
They need to be seen, supported, and cared for, too.
In this episode of the A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, Danielle talks about some of the ways the church can unintentionally make postpartum motherhood harder—including expecting moms to return to “normal” too quickly, asking them to serve before asking what they need, and sometimes offering spiritual answers to problems that also require practical support.
Because postpartum moms may need prayer and sleep.
They may need Scripture and a meal.
They may need to trust God and ask for help.
These things are not opposites.
Supporting a postpartum mom is spiritual ministry—and the church has an opportunity to become a place where mothers don't have to pretend they're okay or carry the weight of motherhood alone.
And while we don't want to place unrealistic pressure on moms to maintain a perfect spiritual routine, we also don't want mothers to believe that their relationship with God has to disappear during this season.
So what does it actually look like to spend time with God when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and barely have time to shower?
In This Episode:
Why postpartum moms shouldn't be expected to return to “normal” immediately
The difference between spiritual encouragement and spiritual pressure
Why practical support is spiritual support
What moms may need beyond “just pray about it”
Why the church should ask what postpartum moms need—not just what they can do
How supporting mothers can be a powerful form of ministry
An invitation to join the upcoming workshop Staying Close With God Postpartum: Spending Time with Him When You Barely Have Time to Shower
Join the FREE LIVE Workshop: Staying Close to God Postpartum: Spending Time with Him When You Barely Have Time to Shower
📅 Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 6 PM Eastern
If motherhood has made it difficult to maintain the spiritual rhythms you had before kids, you are not alone—and you don't have to figure out what comes next by yourself.
👉 www.abridgetomotherhood.com/workshop 
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Have you ever felt like everything in motherhood depends on you?
The feeding.
The sleep.
The schedules.
Your marriage.
Your mental health.
Your identity.
It's easy to believe that if we just learn enough, research enough, or try harder, we'll finally feel like we're doing this motherhood thing "right."
But that's not what God asks of us.
In today's solo episode, Danielle shares a personal reminder the Lord placed on her heart during worship: Stop striving. Stop trying to do motherhood in your own strength.
Together, we'll explore what Scripture says about relying on God's strength instead of our own, how to renew our minds when we're overwhelmed, and why surrender is actually the beginning of wisdom—not giving up.
Whether you're pregnant, newly postpartum, or navigating the early years of motherhood, this episode will encourage you to lay your burdens at Jesus' feet and trust that His grace is enough.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Why so many moms fall into the trap of striving
What 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches about God's strength in our weakness
How to seek God's wisdom before turning to everyone else's opinions
Practical ways to renew your mind with Scripture during postpartum
Why surrender isn't weakness—it's the pathway to peace
Scriptures Mentioned:
2 Corinthians 12:9
Isaiah 41:10
Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 84:5
1 Chronicles 16:11
James 1:5
Join the Postpartum on Purpose Community
Motherhood was never meant to be lived alone.
If you're looking for a Christ-centered community where you can bring both your practical questions and your spiritual struggles, I'd love to invite you to join the Postpartum on Purpose Community.
Each week we gather to study Scripture, pray together, worship, encourage one another, and renew our minds with God's truth. It's a place where you can be honest about the challenges of motherhood while continually being pointed back to Jesus with biblical encouragement, practical wisdom, and supportive community.
Learn more and join us at:
https://abridgetomotherhood.com/community
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Pregnancy and postpartum can shift so much in a marriage—including intimacy. And yet… this is a conversation that often goes unspoken.
In this episode, I’m joined by Angela Griffith, also known as The Christian Sexpert, to have an honest, faith-centered conversation about sex, intimacy, and connection in marriage during pregnancy and postpartum.
We talk about the real challenges couples face—like mismatched sex drives, feeling touched out, exhaustion, and the struggle to even talk about intimacy without awkwardness or shame. Angela shares practical, Christ-centered guidance to help couples build deeper connection, communicate more openly, and approach intimacy in a way that honors both partners.
This episode is not just about sex—it’s about cultivating true intimacy in a season where it can feel hard to stay connected.
💛 In this episode, we cover:
How pregnancy and postpartum impact intimacy in marriage
Navigating differences in sex drive with grace and understanding
Practical ways to communicate about intimacy without shame
Christ-centered ways to bring fun, connection, and intentionality back into your relationship
If you’ve been feeling distant from your partner or unsure how to navigate this area of your relationship, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, encouraged, and equipped with next steps.

Connect with Angela:
Visit her website: www.thechristiansexpert.com
Schedule a Consult with Angela
Follow her on TikTok: @thechristians_xpert
Follow her on Instagram: @thechristiansexpert
Follow her on Facebook @TheChristianSexpert 
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!