Practically Perfect Starter Packs
Practically Perfect Starter Packs
Books, Podcasts, and Research We Love
At Practically Perfect Physical Therapy, you may overhear someone gasp and ask the sky:
“Why did no one tell me this sooner?!”
Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, navigating pelvic pain, entering menopause, growing then raising a tiny human, or simply trying to understand your body better we understand and we agree. You deserve comprehensive education about your own body waaaaaay earlier than in adulthood. But better late than never, right?
So we built this living library of books, podcasts, and evidence-based resources we recommend to our patients. Think of this as your starter pack, curated with compassion, science, and just enough humor to make heavy topics feel approachable.
Everyone’s starter pack should include Dr. Mora’s book, Practically Perfect Pelvic Health 101: A Visual Tour of the Pelvic Floor. This beautifully illustrated guide to your pelvic floor is available for purchase in our office or on Amazon.
Dr. Mora’s book, Practically Perfect Pelvic Health 101: A Visual Tour of the Pelvic Floor
You can find the following titles in your local library, favorite independent bookseller, or Amazon. Podcasts are available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Join us on social media to let us know what you’re loving at the moment. We can’t wait to add to our ever-growing collection!
📦 STARTER PACK: If You’re Expecting (or Planning to Be)
📘 Why Did No One Tell Me This?
Ash Spivak & Natalia Hailes (2023)
Written by experienced doulas, this book fills in the gaps that traditional prenatal care often leaves behind, including emotional preparation, realistic expectations, partner support, and postpartum recovery. It helps normalize fear, uncertainty, and bodily changes while emphasizing informed consent and autonomy during pregnancy and birth.
🔗 https://amzn.to/4a3V5bx
📘 Bumpin'
Leslie Schrock (2020)
This modern pregnancy guide blends medical evidence with lived experience, addressing everything from fertility and body changes to mental health and advocacy. It’s especially helpful for people who want clear information without fear-based messaging or outdated rules.
🔗 https://amzn.to/3NFPSOp
📦 STARTER PACK: If You (or Your Partner) are Postpartum or In Early Parenthood
📄 ACOG – Postpartum Care
This resource reframes postpartum care as an ongoing process rather than a single six-week visit. It highlights physical recovery, pelvic floor health, mental health, sleep, and long-term wellness as equally important.
🔗 https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-care
📘 Meaningful Movement
Jennifer Gaewsky, PT, DPT (2022)
This book teaches parents how movement and play support development without pushing milestones or forcing positions. It empowers caregivers to observe, respond, and trust their child’s motor timeline.
🔗https://amzn.to/4pTxP4T
📦 STARTER PACK: If You Have Pelvic Pain, Endometriosis, or Keep Screaming “Is This Normal?!” To Your Higher Power (Spoiler: Pain Isn’t Normal)
📘 Power to the Pelvis
Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, DPT (2022)
This book, by TikTok-famous Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, explains pelvic floor anatomy and dysfunction in accessible language for patients and practitioners alike. She emphasizes improving coordination and relaxation techniques—not just kegels. It’s especially helpful for people with pain, bladder or bowel symptoms, or sexual discomfort.
🔗 https://amzn.to/3ZrkOo4
🎧 The Pelvic Freak Show Podcast
Hannah Meyer, PT, DPT & Amanda Neri, PT, DPT (ongoing)
Hosted by pelvic health physical therapists, this podcast breaks down complex pelvic topics with humor and honesty. Episodes address pain, stigma, and real patient experiences while reinforcing evidence-based care. Highly binge-able.
🔗 https://open.spotify.com/show/3jQf0zZ9G2W8YqPZ5mV7bV
📘 It's Not Hysteria
Karen Tang, MD (2023)
This book dismantles myths about reproductive pain and explains why so many conditions—like endometriosis—are underdiagnosed. It validates your lived experience while offering practical, science-based guidance.
🔗 https://amzn.to/4bErt5J
📘 All in Her Head
Elizabeth Comen, MD (2024)
This book explores how historical gender bias shaped modern medicine and continues to impact diagnosis and care. It contextualizes why so many people feel dismissed—and how change is possible.
🔗 https://amzn.to/49vqiEj
🎧 Embodied Podcast
This podcast explores healing through nervous system regulation, body awareness, and lived experience. It bridges science with humanity.
🔗 https://www.embodiedpodcast.com
📦 STARTER PACK: If You Are Worried About Menopause, Midlife & Bone Health
🎧 Not Your Mother’s Midlife Crisis – Episode 30
A candid, science-forward conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and identity. It normalizes symptoms often dismissed in medical settings and reframes midlife as adaptive. Our very own Dr. Becky Gordy is a guest on this episode!
🔗 https://www.notyourmothersmidlifecrisis.com
📘 Unbreakable
Vonda Wright, MD (2022)
This book explains how muscle, bone, and connective tissue change with age—and how intentional strength training preserves function. It emphasizes longevity through movement, not restriction.
🔗 https://amzn.to/4jPyTW1
📘 Estrogen Matters
Avrum Bluming, MD & Carol Tavris, PhD (2018)
This evidence-driven book revisits hormone therapy research and challenges fear-based narratives. It helps readers understand estrogen’s role in bone, brain, cardiovascular, and pelvic health.
🔗https://amzn.to/4r1qIbt
Join us in the conversation on social media!
What are your favorite pieces of media for all things physical therapy? What should we read or listen to next?
📞 Call or text us: (609) 300-3963
📍 Visit us at Practically Perfect Physical Therapy in Galloway, NJ
💻 See our services at www.practicallyperfectpt.com
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