At Revive Spine and Sport, we always envisioned having a pelvic floor physical therapist to support our patients through every stage of life. However, as my wife Courtney and I navigate her second pregnancy, the importance of pelvic floor therapy has become even more evident—both personally and professionally. While we always knew it was valuable, bringing it into our practice has amplified just how essential it truly is.
Our First Birth Experience: A Hospital Delivery in 2018
Let’s go back to 2018, when we were expecting our first child. We opted for a traditional hospital birth in the DFW area—and to be clear, there is absolutely nothing wrong with hospital births, C-sections, or medical interventions when they are needed.
As first-time parents, we put our trust in the healthcare system. We loved our OB-GYN (still do) and believed they had both Courtney’s and our baby’s best interests in mind. However, as the labor process unfolded, Courtney underwent multiple interventions—an induction with Pitocin, the OB breaking her water, and several epidurals. Eventually, she became so exhausted and out of it that they had to administer epinephrine to keep her awake. It was an overwhelming experience, but at that moment, all that mattered was a healthy baby and mom—which, thankfully, was our outcome.
Still, living through the experience first hand opened our eyes to the complexities of the hospital system. While we were grateful for the care we received, we also saw how easily interventions can snowball, sometimes unnecessarily.
The Hidden Costs and Errors in Hospital Billing
At the time, I (Dr. Spencer Noble) was working within the hospital system and was aware of billing discrepancies. Knowing that errors happen, I made sure to request an itemized receipt—something I encourage every patient to do. What I found was shocking.
The number of billing errors within a single birth experience was insane—double and even triple charges for certain medications. If some of these charges had actually been carried out, they could have seriously harmed Courtney. Many people don’t think to ask for an itemized bill, meaning they pay for things that never even happened. That experience changed my perspective on patient advocacy and opened my eyes to the gaps in the healthcare system—especially when it comes to pelvic floor health before and after childbirth.
A Missing Piece in Women’s Healthcare
We noticed many gaps in the system, one of the biggest gaps we noticed? Pelvic floor education and care.
There is little to no guidance provided to women before or after childbirth. While there’s some education on healing during the first few weeks postpartum, the long-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on a woman’s body are often ignored. Many women experience issues like incontinence, pain, or pelvic dysfunction, but they aren’t given the knowledge to know what’s normal and what’s not—let alone how to fix it.
When Revive Spine and Sport started becoming a reality, I told Courtney, “We will have a pelvic floor therapist.” This wasn’t just about pregnant women—pelvic floor dysfunction affects both men and women, and it was a huge missing piece in healthcare.
A Different Approach: Our Second Pregnancy Journey
Now, with our second pregnancy, Courtney is taking a holistic approach at a birthing center, working with a midwife and doula. Witnessing this process firsthand has been incredible. The lack of education and resources for pregnant and postpartum women continues to be eye-opening, but it has only reinforced why we are so passionate about bringing awareness to this issue.
Bringing Dr. Amanda Kurtz on Board
To bridge this gap, we brought Dr. Amanda Kurtz on board as a pelvic floor physical therapist—and the impact she’s had on our practice has been amazing. Over the past few months, we’ve seen firsthand how life-changing pelvic floor therapy can be—not just for postpartum women but for both men and women dealing with a variety of pelvic health issues.
Pelvic floor therapy isn’t just about recovery—it’s about preparing the body, improving function, and restoring quality of life.
If you or someone you know has been struggling with pelvic pain, incontinence, or other related issues, know that you don’t have to suffer in silence. There is help, and there are solutions.
At Revive Spine and Sport, we’re committed to educating, empowering, and supporting our patients at every stage of life. If you’re curious about pelvic floor therapy or wondering if it might help you, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help!
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