Happy Occupational Therapy Month!
April is occupational therapy month when we get to celebrate our profession and also bring awareness to this special field of healthcare. You already know by now that I’ve recently transitioned out of acute care setting in the hospital to my private practice, Postpartum Living, specializing in women’s heath. But enough about me! I’m dedicating this blog post to talk about what OT is and also share 4 amazing OT’s who are working in very unique areas of practice! What is Occupational Therapy? As occupational therapists, we become very accustomed to explaining our profession to people, almost on a daily basis. No, it’s not the same as PT. No, OT…
5 Tips for Better Sleep During Pregnancy
We’ve all heard people say this when you’re pregnant, “Sleep while you can!” followed by a myriad of personal anecdotes about baby exhaustion, never sleeping again etc. While sleep during pregnancy is very essential for growing a tiny human and for your own health, it’s often easier said than done. Many women suffer from sleep disturbances in pregnancy, much due to physiological reasons and surging hormones. Aside from the fluffy info (e.g. don’t look at your phone 30 mins prior bedtime, meditate, go to bed early), I’m breaking down some clinical solutions with 5 tips for better sleep during pregnancy. 1. Get yourself into position- using pillows or maternity pillow…
Launch of My Private Practice, Postpartum Living
So I have some big news…I’m going to have two new babies this year. Nope, calm down, we are not having twins. My other baby has become my new business. I have officially launched my private practice, Postpartum Living, LLC, which provides in-home occupational therapy services to moms before/after delivering their baby. You may have (or not) noticed that my blog homepage has a new button on it ;-). I’ve saved you the trouble of asking the questions and put a lot of the common ones I’ve been asked about this new biz: How did this business idea come about? Last year, (even before I found out I was pregnant,…
Protecting Your Core and Preventing Diastasis Recti In Pregnancy
As women get into the second half of pregnancy, their bumps are growing at a rapid rate. It can get a little more difficult to move around with a watermelon as a belly. The abdominal muscles are stretching significantly and can sometimes separate at the midline, known as Diastasis Recti Abdominis. This condition affects approximately 66% of women in their third trimester and 55% of women in the postpartum period. At times it will resolve itself with natural healing after delivery, but often requires training to regain optimal functioning. Here are techniques and tips to protect your core during pregnancy and decrease the risk of diastasis recti. Protecting your core…
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome During Pregnancy
One of the secondary conditions that may develop during pregnancy is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Some may think this condition only occurs in old people, or those who use their hands a lot during the day. Well, add preggo women to that list as well. As an occupational therapist, I’ve seen this presented in clinic numerous times with patients. As a mom in her third pregnancy, I’ve had it three times. Therefore, I’ve decided to breakdown the facts about CTS, why you can get it while your pregnant, and what you can do about it to alleviate the symptoms. What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? First of all, carpal tunnel is an…
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When Your Toddler Has Vacation Blues
What do you do when your toddler has vacation blues or becomes homesick while on vacation? I didn’t even realize that was a thing…until we traveled with our toddler last week. Well let’s explore what it means and what you can do to help your little one who might be longing for the comforts of home. Last week we took a roadtrip up to New York to stay attend our nephew’s baby dedication, spend some time with my in-laws and then a 5-day vacation in the Hamptons with a few of our friends and their kids. We’ve traveled with Chase numerous times since he’s been born, including Florida, NY, Philly…
Having a Sensory Kid
What is a sensory kid? Have you ever heard the words: Too sticky, too wet, too loud, too bright, too mushy! Not bouncy enough, not tight enough, not soft enough, not crunchy enough! Sound like a child you have or know? Sound like an adult you know? As humans, we all have certain sensory needs or sensitivities. Sensory processing is a way of our brains and body to understand the external stimuli through our five senses: sight, sound, taste, feel and smell. Around the toddler age, a sensory kid starts to develop an awareness for what type of sensations they prefer, tolerate or dislike. For example, they might love being…
Rainy Days with Toddlers
Ever plan out a fun day outdoors and then here comes the rain to ruin everything? Especially when you have toddler, inclement weather can be a terrible start to the day. However, did you know that rainy days can be an awesome sensory adventure for your little one? Here I go throwing some occupational therapy jargon in there…”sensory”? Sensory meaning some or all of the 5 senses are being stimulated by an activity. Babies and toddlers learn SOOOO much through sensory play, by way of touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste. As an occupational therapist, we’re always looking at different play activities as a opportunities for a child to explore…
What exactly is Occupational Therapy?
April is Occupational Therapy month!! What better way to celebrate my profession than to share a little bit about what we OT’s really do? I got into occupational therapy because I knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field and really help people live their BEST lives. I’ve been an OT practitioner for 7 years and still love what I do. I’ve answered some of the major questions we get on the daily basis and debunk any myths or mysteries about occupational therapy. Sooo “occupational”…that means you help people find jobs? Not exactly…the term, occupation, is not referring to careers, but rather the daily activities that a person performs.…
One Year of Therapeutic Miles
It’s been exactly one year since launching this blog, Therapeutic Miles!!!! What started as a small canvas to chronicle my “miles” as a wife, mom and OT, has evolved into this limitless space for sharing the words of others as well. It’s become a cathartic release, a big hug, a much-needed chuckle. It’s been a big year for our family. A week after launching, I found out I was pregnant again and by October that baby boy was here. This blog has been so therapeutic for me throughout this big transition. Here are some other things I’ve learned this past year as a blogger: I’ve found my voice as a…
