What happens after the baby arrives, and why has that conversation been missing for generations? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Aanchal Dasoar Arora, women's health innovator, pelvic floor physical therapist, and founder of Mendhai Health, shares how postpartum depression, pelvic floor dysfunction, and an identity crisis after motherhood led her to leave a high-level corporate healthcare career and build a digital maternal recovery platform born out of MIT.

If you are a leader navigating identity shifts, a healthcare innovator, or a woman seeking support after pregnancy, this episode delivers both validation and visionary solutions.

What You Will Learn:

Why postpartum identity loss is more common than discussed and how it impacts leadership and relationships.

How pelvic floor dysfunction and maternal recovery gaps affect long-term physical and mental health.

The cultural and systemic barriers that prevent women from seeking therapy and recovery support.

What inspired the creation of an all-digital maternal recovery platform born out of MIT.

How technology can address clinician shortages and improve access to women's healthcare.

What it takes to move from corporate healthcare leadership into entrepreneurship.

Why hospital partnerships may be the fastest path to scaling maternal health innovation.

How discipline and structure sustain founders through the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

What it means to choose expansion over shrinking in motherhood and leadership.

FAQ:

Why is postpartum recovery not discussed as openly as pregnancy?

Cultural norms have historically centered pregnancy preparation while minimizing postpartum physical and emotional recovery, leaving many women unsupported after delivery.

How long are wait times for pelvic floor physical therapy in the United States?

In many hospital systems, wait times can extend up to a year due to clinician shortages and limited access to specialized care.

How can digital health platforms improve maternal recovery outcomes?

Digital platforms increase access, provide education across the entire maternal journey, extend clinician support, and reduce barriers related to geography, childcare, and scheduling.

Connect with Aanchal Dasoar Arora Mendhai Health

Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell

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