A Critical THINKING Review of Governor's DeSantis' Veto of CS/SB 688: Naturopathic Medicine |
| Before We Begin... The Governor has a constitutional right to veto legislation and reasonable people can disagree on public policy. This assessment isn't about politics, it's about evaluating whether the reasons given in the official veto letter accurately reflect the bill and logically support the decision. As a professor who teaches critical thinking and a doctor and former researcher who performs expert critical review of scientific and medical research, I ask three questions of every argument:
To that end, I present an assessment (grading, if you will) of Governor DeSantis’ veto letter. I’ll state his claims and evaluate if they are logical, factual, and complete. |  |
claim 1 ❌"Current law allows licensed practitioners such as physicians, doctors of osteopathy, acupuncturists, and dietitians to employ naturopathic methods and recommend natural remedies." |  |
Reality
This is partially true, but it does not answer the question before the Legislature.
Many healthcare professions share therapies; this does not mean they receive equivalent education or practice the same profession.
Shared tools do not eliminate specialized professions, and the way in which they use them will determine outcomes.
CS/SB 688 was not about preventing anyone else from recommending nutrition or botanicals.
It was about licensing a distinct healthcare profession with accredited doctoral education and national board examinations.
In point of fact, healthcare professionals operating under other licenses in Florida have suffered costly and stressful investigations for using the word “naturopathic”, so the governor’s assertion is not entirely accurate.
Many healthcare professions share therapies; this does not mean they receive equivalent education or practice the same profession.
- Family physicians and dermatologists both perform skin biopsies.
- Psychiatrists and psychologists both treat anxiety.
- Physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons both rehabilitate injuries.
Shared tools do not eliminate specialized professions, and the way in which they use them will determine outcomes.
CS/SB 688 was not about preventing anyone else from recommending nutrition or botanicals.
It was about licensing a distinct healthcare profession with accredited doctoral education and national board examinations.
In point of fact, healthcare professionals operating under other licenses in Florida have suffered costly and stressful investigations for using the word “naturopathic”, so the governor’s assertion is not entirely accurate.
semantic sidetrack:Bias Check 🟡Note that the Governor said “physicians, doctors of osteopathy, acupuncturists, and dietitians”. |  |
This is significant.
In 2023, FL Representative Ralph Massullo, MD, and FL Senator Gayle Harrell, sponsored CS/HB 583 which attempted to restrict the use of the word “physician” beyond the established professions recognized in Florida statute, and to severely limit the rights of other doctors to use their earned title of “doctor” in verbal, text, and telehealth communications and in advertising.
To his credit, Governor DeSantis vetoed this bill, but allegedly faced backlash from the Florida Medical Association and some of his major donors from the medical field. Here, the governor may be revealing his allegiance, not to Floridians and their rights to healthcare access, but to big players in allopathic (conventional) medicine.
The use of “physician” to only indicate MDs and the deliberate omission of Florida’s established legal titles of “osteopathic physician” and “acupuncture physicians”, is not only disrespectful to these healthcare professionals, but seems to suggest the governor’s bias and to be designed to make them appear lesser in comparison to his idea of “physicians”.
In 2023, FL Representative Ralph Massullo, MD, and FL Senator Gayle Harrell, sponsored CS/HB 583 which attempted to restrict the use of the word “physician” beyond the established professions recognized in Florida statute, and to severely limit the rights of other doctors to use their earned title of “doctor” in verbal, text, and telehealth communications and in advertising.
To his credit, Governor DeSantis vetoed this bill, but allegedly faced backlash from the Florida Medical Association and some of his major donors from the medical field. Here, the governor may be revealing his allegiance, not to Floridians and their rights to healthcare access, but to big players in allopathic (conventional) medicine.
The use of “physician” to only indicate MDs and the deliberate omission of Florida’s established legal titles of “osteopathic physician” and “acupuncture physicians”, is not only disrespectful to these healthcare professionals, but seems to suggest the governor’s bias and to be designed to make them appear lesser in comparison to his idea of “physicians”.
Claim 2 ❌"Floridians can already access natural remedy treatments because they do not require a prescription or U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.” |  |
Reality
This confuses access to products with access to qualified healthcare professionals.
Patients are not asking for permission to buy vitamins, they are seeking clinicians trained to:
Supplements have always been available.
Licensed naturopathic doctors have not.
Patients are not asking for permission to buy vitamins, they are seeking clinicians trained to:
- diagnose illnesses
- determine whether natural therapies are safe and appropriate
- develop comprehensive treatment plans
- identify herb-drug interactions
- recognize contraindications
- coordinate care with other healthcare professionals, etc.
Supplements have always been available.
Licensed naturopathic doctors have not.
claim
“If enacted, this legislation may negatively impact Floridians who currently work in alternative medicine by mandating post-graduate education that cannot be obtained in Florida and require them to pay costly licensure fees to do the work they are already performing.”
There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s break this down.
Claim 3 🟡“…mandating post-graduate education…” reality |  |
This is correct, under the current bill, only naturopathic doctors who attended qualified naturopathic medical schools accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education would be able to be licensed in Florida. But, critically, this is not a restrictive change.
Under current Florida law, only licensed naturopathic doctors can practice naturopathic medicine, but…Florida has not issued a license since 1959. So, while this bill would have regulated the training necessary to obtain a license, it also opened up a career field that has been closed (under penalty of felony charges) for decades.
Under current Florida law, only licensed naturopathic doctors can practice naturopathic medicine, but…Florida has not issued a license since 1959. So, while this bill would have regulated the training necessary to obtain a license, it also opened up a career field that has been closed (under penalty of felony charges) for decades.
Claim 4 ❌“…education that cannot be obtained in Florida…” reality |  |
Florida currently does not have an accredited naturopathic medical school, that part is true. Under Florida law, practicing naturopathic medicine without a license is a felony. Because accredited naturopathic medical education requires supervised clinical training, Florida’s legal framework prevents that clinical education from occurring here.
The absence of a Florida naturopathic medical school is therefore not an independent reason to deny licensure, it is a consequence of the very laws the veto leaves in place.
Additionally, Florida routinely licenses healthcare professionals educated outside the state. In fact, medical education frequently crosses state lines.
The absence of a Florida naturopathic medical school is therefore not an independent reason to deny licensure, it is a consequence of the very laws the veto leaves in place.
Additionally, Florida routinely licenses healthcare professionals educated outside the state. In fact, medical education frequently crosses state lines.
 | In July 2025 the “Graduate Medical Education Committee” annual report was submitted by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, and reported on statistics regarding physician training and retention in Florida. It’s noteworthy that Governor DeSantis’ name appears on the cover page of the report that underscores the very statistics that contradict his position on this claim. Here are the relevant highlights: |
- Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability reported in 2023 that:
- Approximately 42% of physicians who completed medical school outside of Florida, but completed their residency and/or fellowship in Florida, remained to practice.
- Approximately 75% of physicians who graduated from a Florida medical school and completed their residency and/or fellowship in Florida remained to practice.
- Overall, they reported an approximated 50% retention rate of any physician who was trained in Florida. This is a typical trend; physicians train where they “match” and then choose to stay or return to their home or other state to practice.
- Association of American Medical Colleges reported in 2024 that:
- 58.6% of doctors who completed residency training stayed to practice in the state where they trained. This means that 41.4% of doctors left the state in which they trained to come to other states…like Florida.
- 66.5% of doctors who completed residency training in Florida stayed to practice.
Florida regularly benefits from the care provided by doctors educated outside the state. Licensure is based on accredited education and demonstrated competency, not the geographic location of a school.
His team also reported on Florida’s desperate need for qualified physicians:
- “Current projections estimate that Florida will face a shortage of nearly 18,000 physicians by 2035 (Iacobucci et al., 2021).”
- “Florida’s physician-to-population ratio remains below the national average, with 262 physicians per 100,000 residents, compared to the national benchmark of 297 per 100,000 (AAMC, 2024).”
Claim 5 ❌“…require them to pay costly licensure fees...” reality |  |
Every licensed healthcare profession pays licensing fees.
Those fees support:
This is not unique to naturopathic doctors, it is how professional licensure protects the public.
This is also flawed reasoning, as reestablishing licensing would allow naturopathic doctors to actually practice their profession. This would almost invariably increase their earning potential, making a licensing fee an investment, not a barrier, to practice.
Furthermore, this assertion treats the “burden” of paying a licensing fee as equivalent to being denied the opportunity to practice, as though these have comparable effects. They do not. Licensure fees confer legal authority and professional opportunities.
Those fees support:
- license verification
- disciplinary oversight
- complaint investigation
- public accountability
This is not unique to naturopathic doctors, it is how professional licensure protects the public.
This is also flawed reasoning, as reestablishing licensing would allow naturopathic doctors to actually practice their profession. This would almost invariably increase their earning potential, making a licensing fee an investment, not a barrier, to practice.
Furthermore, this assertion treats the “burden” of paying a licensing fee as equivalent to being denied the opportunity to practice, as though these have comparable effects. They do not. Licensure fees confer legal authority and professional opportunities.
claim 6 ❌“…to do the work they are already performing.” reality |  |
This statement overlooks why the bill existed.
If qualified naturopathic doctors were already legally able to practice their profession in Florida...there would have been no need for this legislation.
The bill created a pathway for qualified graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools to become licensed naturopathic doctors under state oversight. It did not simply charge people a fee for something they were already authorized to do.
Since 1959, it has been a felony to practice naturopathic medicine in Florida. And thanks to the governor’s veto, it remains a felony. We are not “already performing” this work…we are denied this work. And the Florida citizens he represents? Their elected representatives who voted overwhelmingly in support of this bill? He denied them.
If qualified naturopathic doctors were already legally able to practice their profession in Florida...there would have been no need for this legislation.
The bill created a pathway for qualified graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools to become licensed naturopathic doctors under state oversight. It did not simply charge people a fee for something they were already authorized to do.
Since 1959, it has been a felony to practice naturopathic medicine in Florida. And thanks to the governor’s veto, it remains a felony. We are not “already performing” this work…we are denied this work. And the Florida citizens he represents? Their elected representatives who voted overwhelmingly in support of this bill? He denied them.
Claim 7 ❌"There is no need to create additional bureaucratic hurdles." REALITY |  |
Licensure exists for one primary reason: Consumer protection.
Licensure, as outlined in this bill, would have established:
Without licensure, consumers have no straightforward way to distinguish graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools from individuals with little or no recognized naturopathic medical education.
Licensure creates accountability, not unnecessary bureaucracy.
Licensure, as outlined in this bill, would have established:
- minimum educational standards
- verified credentials
- public accountability
- disciplinary authority
- criminal background checks
- transparency for patients
Without licensure, consumers have no straightforward way to distinguish graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools from individuals with little or no recognized naturopathic medical education.
Licensure creates accountability, not unnecessary bureaucracy.
CLAIM 8 ❌"Florida leads the nation in advancing medical freedom and access to care." REALITY |  |
On its face, this is an unfounded claim with no clear way to substantiate it; this is merely a value statement.
But more than that, medical freedom includes the freedom to choose among qualified healthcare professionals. Licensing naturopathic doctors would have:
It would not have taken choices away from patients; it would have added another regulated healthcare profession. It would have given patients freedom of choice to receive therapies provided by professionals with an education intentionally designed to support their use. Because, yes, there are currently licensed providers in Florida that have access to “naturopathic methods”, but this in no way means that they are able to apply them as we can.
But more than that, medical freedom includes the freedom to choose among qualified healthcare professionals. Licensing naturopathic doctors would have:
- expanded patient choice
- increased transparency
- established educational standards
- improved accountability
It would not have taken choices away from patients; it would have added another regulated healthcare profession. It would have given patients freedom of choice to receive therapies provided by professionals with an education intentionally designed to support their use. Because, yes, there are currently licensed providers in Florida that have access to “naturopathic methods”, but this in no way means that they are able to apply them as we can.
claim 9 ❌“…without creating excessive regulations.” REALITY |  |
There is no professional regulation more excessive than one in which you can not practice a profession without a license that is not possible to obtain.
what's missing
This veto letter never addresses that naturopathic doctors already appear throughout Florida law, even defining and protecting the scope of practice. The bill had tremendous bipartisan support (33 yeas to 3 nays in the Senate and 85 yeas to 22 nays in the House), clearing all six committees in just three weeks, and would have opened up opportunities for Florida to close its lagging pace with American national statistics on healthcare. All of this work was undone, all of these voices silenced, all these opportunities quashed by one opinion, poorly reasoned.
What CS/SB 688 Actually Would Have Done
Passing this bill would have:
It was not about regulating supplements.
It was not about replacing allopathic physicians.
It was not about limiting patient choice.
It was about recognizing a qualified profession through education, accountability, and public protection.
- Licensed qualified naturopathic doctors without infringing on the practices and rights of other alternative medicine practitioners.
- Created opportunities for professional collaboration and medical referrals between naturopathic doctors and medical and osteopathic doctors.
- Expanded access to another regulated healthcare profession.
- Provided safer, more complete care for patients outside the conventional medical system.
- Verified accredited education.
- Required national board examinations.
- Protected professional title.
- Created state oversight and accountability.
It was not about regulating supplements.
It was not about replacing allopathic physicians.
It was not about limiting patient choice.
It was about recognizing a qualified profession through education, accountability, and public protection.
final thoughts
Whether you supported or opposed CS/SB 688, healthcare policy deserves careful reasoning and accurate information. As healthcare professionals, educators, legislators, and patients, we should expect our public policy discussions to meet the same standards of evidence and critical thinking that we expect in science and medicine.
The bill was vetoed, but the conversation isn't over. Let's continue it with facts, logic, respect, and a shared commitment to do what's best for Florida patients.
The bill was vetoed, but the conversation isn't over. Let's continue it with facts, logic, respect, and a shared commitment to do what's best for Florida patients.
Pregnancy is one of the most miraculous chapters of a mother’s life. It marks the start of emotional and biological transformation that will change you and your loved ones’ lives forever! As you begin your beautiful journey to parenthood, the first major task that you should bear in mind is the initial or first prenatal visit. Prenatal care is an essential preventive health service designed to ensure the total well-being of both you and your growing baby, thereby nurturing a positive pregnancy experience.¹ Scroll down to learn more about what you can expect during your very first prenatal visit!
When Should Your First Prenatal Visit Happen?
The first prenatal visit should ideally be done within 10 weeks of getting pregnant because this not only confirms your pregnancy, but also identifies what you can do best to keep your baby strong and healthy in the upcoming months. Additionally, a major focus of the first prenatal visit is determining social drivers of your health, such as the ability to access healthy food, rigidity of your daily work schedule, and, most importantly, your support system.²
What to Expect
The first prenatal visit, whether conducted virtually through telehealth or in-person, involves a comprehensive assessment into your health. During the session, your healthcare provider will review your complete medical, obstetric, and family history to identify any risk factors that may put you or your baby at risk early on.³
Routine Laboratory Testing
One of the most crucial parts of the first prenatal visit is establishing your clinical baseline (current health status) through performing standard laboratory tests. These include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): Check for conditions like anemia, as well as ensuring you have enough healthy red blood cells to support your expanding blood volume.
- Blood Type and Rh Factor: Knowing your Rh status is important to prevent future complications. If you are Rh-negative, and your partner or sperm donor is Rh-positive, your doctor will likely plan to give you medication later in the pregnancy to protect the baby.
- Urinalysis and Urine Culture: Check for urinary tract infections that show no symptoms but need to be treated during pregnancy.
- Infectious Disease Screening: American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends universal screening for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C early in pregnancy to ensure immediate treatment, if necessary, and to begin steps to prevent transfer to your baby. Screenings for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are also standard and early treatment can prevent your baby experiencing complications such as blindness, meningitis, and sepsis .
- Early Glucose Screening: Every pregnant patient should be monitored for blood glucose levels to detect abnormal levels and allow for early intervention to prevent complications like abnormal fetal size and nutrition. If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, in addition with another risk factor (such as a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure), ACOG recommends an early 75-g or 50-g oral glucose tolerance test at this initial visit to check for type 2 diabetes.⁴
Prioritizing Your Mental Health
Pregnancy is as much a psychological journey as it is a physical one. If you are feeling worried, you are absolutely not alone! Approximately 37% to 42% of first-time pregnant mothers experience anxiety, particularly because of the health of the baby, the physical mechanics of labor, and impending lifestyle changes.⁷
Because your emotional well-being directly impacts your baby's development, screening for depression and anxiety should be done during the first initial prenatal visit.⁸ Your prenatal care team should aim to support you holistically, and identifying these feelings at the first visit helps to ensure you get the uplifting, therapeutic support you deserve throughout your entire pregnancy. If your provider is not asking these questions, feel free to volunteer this information! Any question or concern you have is valid and deserving of an answer.
Because your emotional well-being directly impacts your baby's development, screening for depression and anxiety should be done during the first initial prenatal visit.⁸ Your prenatal care team should aim to support you holistically, and identifying these feelings at the first visit helps to ensure you get the uplifting, therapeutic support you deserve throughout your entire pregnancy. If your provider is not asking these questions, feel free to volunteer this information! Any question or concern you have is valid and deserving of an answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do my very first visit online?
Yes! The initial needs assessment can absolutely be completed via telehealth, depending on your provider’s policies, saving you time and reducing travel stress while you are experiencing first-trimester fatigue.² But, there are a number of advantages to an in-person appointment, such as checking growth earlier so that early steps can be taken if any issues are identified.
Will I hear the baby's heartbeat at the first appointment?
It actually depends on exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy. Fetal heart tones are typically checked and heard after 10 to 12 weeks of gestation using a handheld Doppler monitor placed over the abdomen. However, if your visit is earlier than that, you might be able to see the heartbeat on an early transvaginal ultrasound instead. Transvaginal ultrasounds can typically identify the heartbeat by 6 weeks.
Do I have to take all the genetic tests offered?
Genetic screenings are entirely optional. Your provider will offer them to you and help you navigate the information, but the final decision to proceed is always 100% yours.⁶ Genetic testing can offer a lot of valuable information, but it can also create anxiety. Plan on speaking to a genetic counselor if you decide to do the testing.
Yes! The initial needs assessment can absolutely be completed via telehealth, depending on your provider’s policies, saving you time and reducing travel stress while you are experiencing first-trimester fatigue.² But, there are a number of advantages to an in-person appointment, such as checking growth earlier so that early steps can be taken if any issues are identified.
Will I hear the baby's heartbeat at the first appointment?
It actually depends on exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy. Fetal heart tones are typically checked and heard after 10 to 12 weeks of gestation using a handheld Doppler monitor placed over the abdomen. However, if your visit is earlier than that, you might be able to see the heartbeat on an early transvaginal ultrasound instead. Transvaginal ultrasounds can typically identify the heartbeat by 6 weeks.
Do I have to take all the genetic tests offered?
Genetic screenings are entirely optional. Your provider will offer them to you and help you navigate the information, but the final decision to proceed is always 100% yours.⁶ Genetic testing can offer a lot of valuable information, but it can also create anxiety. Plan on speaking to a genetic counselor if you decide to do the testing.
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Essential Tips for a Successful First Visit
TIP #1: Write Everything Down
Keep a running list of questions on your phone in the weeks leading up to your appointment to ensure all your questions and doubts are addressed.
TIP#2: Gather Your Family History
Knowing if there is a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, or genetic conditions is important information that will help your healthcare provider personalize your care.³
TIP#3: Bring a Support Person
Having someone during the first prenatal visit to hold your hand, take notes, and share in the excitement makes the experience special and less intimidating. Debrief with them after so you can be sure you understood and heard everything your provider said.
TIP#4: Advocate for Yourself
If you are feeling anxious, please do not hesitate to share. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and having early, gentle support is transformative.
Keep a running list of questions on your phone in the weeks leading up to your appointment to ensure all your questions and doubts are addressed.
TIP#2: Gather Your Family History
Knowing if there is a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, or genetic conditions is important information that will help your healthcare provider personalize your care.³
TIP#3: Bring a Support Person
Having someone during the first prenatal visit to hold your hand, take notes, and share in the excitement makes the experience special and less intimidating. Debrief with them after so you can be sure you understood and heard everything your provider said.
TIP#4: Advocate for Yourself
If you are feeling anxious, please do not hesitate to share. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and having early, gentle support is transformative.
The Naturopathic Approach
Your first prenatal visit is a beautiful milestone where your pregnancy transitions from a personal secret into a shared journey of holistic and loving care. At Natural Path to Wellness your team will help you nurture your pregnancy through a tailored and personalized approach that compliments that offered by your prenatal care team. Conventional prenatal care can feel incomplete or rushed, but adjunctive naturopathic prenatal care can help you create the pregnancy journey that feels right for you. Talk to us today!
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- World Health Organization. WHO recommendation on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. NCBI Bookshelf. Published 2016. Accessed May 25, 2026.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Tailored Prenatal Care Delivery for Pregnant Individuals: ACOG Clinical Consensus No. 8. Obstet Gynecol. 2025;145(5):565-577. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005889
- The OBG Project. Initial Prenatal Needs Assessment and New Recommendations for Prenatal Visits. The OBG Project. Published August 7, 2022. Accessed May 25, 2026.
- StatPearls. Routine early testing for type 2 diabetes at the initial prenatal visit. NCBI Bookshelf. Published 2024.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 226. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;136(4):e48-e69.
- Farrell RM, et al. Reconsidering the First Prenatal Visit: The Role of Shared Decision-Making in Prenatal Genetic Screening. Prenat Diagn. 2023.
- Răchită AIC, Strete GE, Sălcudean A, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety among women in the last trimester of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1009.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 4. Obstet Gynecol. 2023;141(6):1232-1261. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005200
The first few months after giving birth can be daunting, especially for first-time mothers. Your body is in a state of healing after suffering from extreme stress due to childbirth, while at the same time dealing with another wave of stress from sleepless nights to take care of your baby. One of the best routines you can do to support the healing process and reclaim the strength of your pelvic floor muscles are Kegel exercises. Also known as pelvic floor exercises, these comprehensive routines help maintain urinary continence, prevent prolapse, and nurture sexual function, especially during intimate moments.
The Postpartum Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor is a layer of muscles and tissues that houses and supports vital organs for reproductive functions and urine flow. Pregnant and postpartum women are at risk of developing pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), which happens when supportive structures keeping your pelvic floor intact weaken, leading to problems with urination, sexual dysfunction, and organ prolapse (meaning your pelvic organs descend into or beyond the vagina).1 These physiological problems can inevitably affect mental health and well-being, stemming from the inability to fully enjoy sexual intercourse because of pain and decreased arousal, the possibility of uncontrollably leaking out urine due to incontinence, and the discomfort brought on by the abnormal physical location of pelvic organs.
The Effects of Childbirth
During vaginal delivery, muscles in the pelvic floor are naturally stretched to help move the baby out into the vagina, which may cause tears or damage on the structures that hold these muscles together and keep them intact.1 On the other hand, because the bladder is naturally located in front of the uterus, the anatomical position of these two vital organs are temporarily shifted during cesarean delivery to facilitate the safe delivery of the baby. Although beneficial, this temporary change can weaken the structures that support the bladder and eventually cause pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.1 Additionally, the stress response that your body becomes subjected to after a cesarean delivery can heighten the release of inflammatory markers, eventually causing the pelvic floor dysfunction to develop.
The Benefits of Postpartum Kegel Exercises
- Physical Recovery. Your body is built with innate abilities to undergo healing and rehabilitation after childbirth. This wonderful process is supplemented by Kegel exercises through its abilities to help improve blood flow, which acts as your very own courier that delivers nutrients to cells to begin and continue the healing activity!
- Pain Management. Postpartum women may experience pelvic girdle pain due to physical stress and trauma that the body experiences during pregnancy and childbirth. Kegel Exercises are especially helpful in reducing this type of chronic stabbing or dull pain, thereby allowing you to enjoy every moment with your baby without bothersome discomfort in the pelvic area.2
- Fecal and Urinary Continence. Vital muscles that support and maintain fecal and urinary continence are affected when you have pelvic floor dysfunction, eventually causing you to experience problems with controlling the urge to defecate and urinate. These muscles are combined into one muscle group, the levator ani, which is located on both sides of the pelvis. Interestingly, Kegel exercises help strengthen this vital muscle group by helping increase their size, thereby nurturing their abilities to support the pelvic floor.2
- Sexual Health. Kegel exercises help boost circulation to the pelvis, giving more energy and nutrients that your reproductive organs need to function optimally. This improved blood flow additionally supports lubrication, sensation, and whole body response to sexual stimulation.2
The Naturopathic Approach
Whether you are planning to get pregnant, preparing for the birth of your child, or already postpartum, your body undergoes a wide array of changes that require well-rounded support. Always remember, you are not alone during this journey. At Natural Path to Wellness, your naturopathic medicine advisor will help you explore holistic regimens that are right for your unique postpartum body. Talk to us today!
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Gao Q, Wang M, Zhang J, et al. Pelvic floor dysfunction in postpartum women: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2024;19(10):e0308563. Published 2024 Oct 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0308563
- Alharbi JH, Abdul Manan NI, Hantira NY. Empowering postpartum women through health education on Kegel exercises: effects on pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and sexual function. Front Reprod Health. 2026;8:1746383. Published 2026 Feb 2. doi:10.3389/frph.2026.1746383
THE BLOG AT NATURAL PATH TO WELLNESS
AuthorS
Natural Path to Wellness values community education and welcomes contributions from writers with a background in Naturopathic Medicine, natural health and wellness, herbalism, homeopathy, Nature Cure, and more.
Medical Reviewer:
Marney Johnson, ND, MSCI-TS is a Naturopathic Doctor and Naturopathic Medicine Advisor with a background in allopathic (standard American medicine) medical research, Dr. Johnson, is uniquely qualified to evaluate current scientific research and offer insight to help you make sense of how you can integrate natural medicine into your health plan. She is passionate about the roles of Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Nature in health and constantly seeks new ways to make these accessible through food as medicine, encouraging new, healthy habits, and promoting interaction with Nature in its many forms.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
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