In this episode of Just Between Us … and Science: The Women’s Health Lab, Dr. Patrícia Mota sits down with Nina Theodorsen, researcher and clinician in women’s and pelvic health, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pregnancy and postpartum care: exercise, diastasis recti, and fear of movement.

Together, they explore how many women are still told to avoid movement during and after pregnancy — often without strong scientific evidence — and how this language can create unnecessary fear and disconnection from the body.

Nina shares her journey into women’s health, how clinical experience shaped her research questions, and what current evidence really says about exercising during pregnancy. The conversation highlights why empowering women to move, strengthening rather than avoiding the body, and using precise, compassionate language matters — for both patients and clinicians.

This episode is for pregnant and postpartum women, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in evidence-based women’s health.

🎧 Brought to you by Eleva.care

Topics Covered

• Diastasis recti and exercise — what the research actually shows
• Why fear of movement is still so common in pregnancy
• How clinical language shapes women’s confidence and body image
• The role of clinicians in translating research into real care
• Why collaboration and high-quality research matter in women’s health

Chapters

00:00 Intro — Welcome to Just Between Us … and Science
03:23 Introducing Nina Theodorsen
04:19 Nina’s Path Into Women’s & Pelvic Health
07:04 Political Advocacy in Women’s Health
09:35 Mentorship, Research & Academic Growth
17:18 Research Findings on Diastasis and Exercise
21:54 Fear of Movement in Pregnant Women
26:48 Studying Exercise Effects During Pregnancy
29:56 Challenging Misconceptions About Diastasis
31:16 How Language Shapes Fear and Confidence
34:55 Embracing Body Changes After Pregnancy
38:24 Encouraging Strength Training in Pregnancy
40:41 Why Guidelines on Exercise Need Updating
44:55 Research Quality and Clinical Practice
48:07 Evaluating Evidence as a Clinician
50:57 Evidence-Based Recommendations for Women
52:53 Clinicians as Bridges Between Research & Care
54:15 Addressing Fear and Empowering Movement
55:24 How Clinical Experience Shapes Research
56:37 Future Directions in Women’s Health Research
58:04 Advice for Pregnant Women & Clinicians
59:41 Encouragement for Women in Science
60:29 Upcoming Women’s Health Conference in Oslo
61:40 Outro — Final Reflections & Goodbye