Pelvic Floor Health
Every week on the Brave New Girls podcast, I ask my guest to share their defining question. This week, Dr. Nicole Fleischmann asked:
"Why is the pelvic floor so important for our health as women?"
Dr. Nicole, a pioneering urologist and pelvic floor surgeon, revealed that the pelvic floor- a group of muscles we sit on, plays a central role in bladder control, organ support, and even our emotional health. Yet, for most women, this essential area remains overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed for decades.
Nicole’s journey into this field started with frustration. After performing thousands of surgeries for women suffering from prolapse, incontinence, and chronic pelvic pain, she began to see a deeper issue. These conditions weren’t always structural. Many were functional. And the common advice given “just do Kegels” wasn’t just ineffective, it was harmful.
“Kegels are like clenching your jaw. If your pelvic floor is the second mouth, clenching it all day long only causes dysfunction.”
What inspired her to rewrite the playbook? It wasn’t just science. It was the stories of the women she treated. The silence they carried. The shame they were taught. The resilience they showed despite years of suffering. She knew there had to be a better way.
That way, as she explains in her book The Second Mouth, begins with reconnecting to your body through the breath.
“When you sniff- truly sniff, your diaphragm releases, and your pelvic floor responds. It moves like a flower opening. That’s your second mouth saying: I’m here. I’m listening.”
In a society that teaches us to “suck it in,” “stay tight,” and “hold it together,” Nicole is a breath of fresh air. Her approach isn’t just about physical repair, it’s about emotional freedom. It’s about embodiment.
So what can we learn from this? We can be inspired by the truth that our bodies are not broken—they’re brilliant. And with the right tools, we can return to them.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Pause and breathe – Start with a conscious sniff to activate your diaphragm.
Sit tall – Posture affects awareness. Stack your spine and lean gently forward.
Let your belly go – Stop sucking in. Let the breath drop low.
Listen to your bladder – Go when it tells you, not when it’s too late.
Stop pushing to pee – Begin your flow with breath, not force.
Drop the Kegels – Release the clench. You don’t need to “tighten to fix.”
Feel the floor – Literally. Sit down and notice what’s beneath you.
Read The Second Mouth – It’s a revolution in book form.
Teach your daughters – This isn’t just about healing. It’s about prevention.
Be curious, not ashamed – Your body is not a problem to fix. It’s a story to understand.
Dr. Nicole inspires us to see our pelvic floor not as a weakness—but as a vital, responsive, beautiful part of who we are.
PS. Listen HERE to NICOLE'S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
