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My Strong Little Body
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25.01.2022 International Day of people with a disability PART 2 Some of our clients need help with feeding, dressing, toileting, and communicating for their entire lives. Almost all of them need help with movement in one way or another. You know who helps the child and later the adult with all of that? Mainly Mum. Sometimes Dad, and sometimes a carer.... But often it’s Mum. Day in. Day out. Imagine having to be the manager of your thousands of dollars of government funding. Down to the dollar. (I struggle enough trying to work out my groceries, mortgage and 37 insurance policies. ) And imagine your child getting sick. Like really sick. As in hospital sick. Sometimes for weeks. Finally. Think about how much you WORRY about your child. Are they okay at kindy? How will she go dressing herself after swimming without me? What about going to the toilet by himself? Will she be able to play a sport? Any sport? Will she be good at it? Will he be happy? Will he make friends? Will she be bullied? Will he be okay in the world without me? Now add a little-one with movement or communication difficulties into that mix. There is so much heart ache and so much ‘unknown’ for Mums of children with a disability. But make no mistake. These Mums are fighters. They are Mumma bears advocating for their babies from day 1. They want their children to be included. They want to give them independence. They want life to be fair for them. They want their baby to have the Best. Life. Possible. Exactly like you want for your baby. So here’s to those Mumma Bears. I see you. Every week. Day in. Day out. Sometimes with tears, but usually with ginormous smiles. Because they are ALWAYS so so proud of even the smallest achievement their child makes. And I often get to share those moments with them. It’s my the absolute best part of my job. Do you know one of these super Mummas? Make sure you let her know how wonderful she is today. Cos she’s sure as hell not thinking about herself. She’s just doing what she knows. She’s just being a Mum in her eyes. And she’s doing a damn fine job of it. See more
24.01.2022 Posted @withregram @my.strong.little.body Whenever you’re ready baby. Babies each have their own developmental path laid out for them. Some will be wired for 4 point crawling... Others for commando crawling And some will do funny little monkey or bear crawls or something in between. It’s all good Mumma. Baby development is so varied. It’s what makes the world go round! If your bub is a commando crawler, then they were probably always going to be a commando crawler! And that’s totally fine and normal. The question is, can physio help your baby get stronger? Yes absolutely. Can physio help your baby to crawl on all fours? Sometimes. But it’s not always necessary. Our job is not to force babies into skills they are not yet ready for. Our job IS to show parents how to provide a nurturing environment for their baby’s gross motor development at home, so they have the best OPPORTUNITY to practice and learn age appropriate skills at their own pace. After that.... we just have to let the babies take the lead. Remember Mumma, it’s all in the journey. Not in the destination. Enjoy your bub in the moment- celebrate what they are doing right now, rather than worrying about what they ‘should’ be doing. And as always, if you’re very concerned about your baby’s gross motor development, then an assessment with a Paediatric Physio is the best place to start.
23.01.2022 I know many of you will be right into newborns. Their head smell (oh my god). Their snuffly snuggles, their adorable cries, baby hiccups.... their tiny clothes... But I think I prefer toddlers. I bloody love them. I adore the hilarious conversations, how they read books upside down, their obsession with inanimate objects... the mole on the back of my neck.... gloves (if ya know ya know! ) , their favourite cuddly toy. ... I love their puffy little red cheeks when they fall asleep in the car, their baby curls (that I cannot bare to cut) and their all-encompassing hugs that wrap around your neck with everything they have. And that first I luff you Mumma. Well that’s it for me. Dead. Sure. Toddlers can also be assholes. I have a real feisty one that I think has a split personality who resides in the fiery pits of hell.... he is seriously demonic when he’s in the mood. But God I love him. So yes. I love toddlers. They’re so fun. But I look back at this photo, and I have to say.... nothing beats sitting with your baby all wrapped up, staring at them sleeping. Or even better, having them stare right back at you with those little eyes just like yours. So if you have a newborn, and I know so many of you do.... cherish those snugs, but also..... look foreword to the craziness of toddlerhood time. You will adore getting to know your little person, and you’ll never laugh (or cry) so much in your life.
23.01.2022 PT 3 Despite being born very early, Xavier has shown himself to be every inch the survivor. He has beaten the odds & shown us how tenacious he is. God has shown us so many miracles through our little boy. I can never put into words how grateful I am that Xavier is alive, happy, growing & such a healthy little chap today. He surprises me in so many ways. We love watching him grow & I am so proud to be his mum. The late nights, tidy up, messy feeding sessions, little fin...gers poking my eyes & up my nose at 5am, never-ending dirty clothes, the list goes on...ALL worth it. Motherhood is really, truly THE toughest job I have ever taken on, but the one filled with the MOST love. Walking out of the hospital with a baby is a gift Walking out with a NICU baby is a true miracle Everything is different after you experience the NICU. It changes you forever. Watching your child fight for survival gives you a new appreciation for life and the value of it. All I really wish for in life is for Xavier to be safe, happy & healthy & the ability to always show sincere kindness, empathy & to inspire others. Alana asked me if I have any advice for others going through a similar situation: You are all so much braver than you know, & I so wish I could give you all the tightest hug. Please let people take care of you and please ask for help. I know you don’t want to leave your baby for a minute, but get some fresh air & a hot meal. I know you want to do it all on your own, but your baby needs you to take care of yourself too. NICU changes you for the better. This journey will make you a better parentand a better person. ........ Note from Alana. I was floored by the positivity shining out of this story, one that began with such grief & loss. The reflections these two have had in the aftermath of losing a child & taking home his twin brother is something we can all take away as parents. How lucky are we to have our babies at home, safe and well with us? We have so much to be grateful for. Thank you to Kathryn & Glenn, for your generosity & strength in telling your story. I hope it helps. X See more
22.01.2022 #mystronglittlejourney Kathryn, Glenn, Xavier & Ignatius PART 2/3... Having our family away from us, all back home in the Philippines was a huge challenge but we felt their love and support virtually. Their messages and phone calls and prayers meant so much to Glenn and I. We couldn’t thank enough our community in Kew and friends all over Australia for the love and prayers, for the cards, flowers and meals, for looking after us so beautifully. We are forever grateful. The care we received from our Obstetrician, Frances Perry Birthing Staff, Royal Women’s NICU and Royal Children's Butterfly Ward was most extraordinary, especially during those difficult times. We cannot thank them enough. They are all miracle workers. We came out of that early rough experience extremely thankful. We started physiotherapy sessions 3 months after graduating in NICU. Xavier did have a physiotherapist in the NICU, though I can’t really remember much about what they did, as it was such an overwhelming time. His first actual physio 'appointment' was at the Royal Children's Hospital. Following that, we were referred to a private therapist. Doing physio was one of the very first early intervention services that we acquired for Xavier. We wanted him to reach his full potential despite the odds of being born very prematurely. Xavier has some minor delays, but we make sure we are on top of every developmental stage. I believe that Xavier's gross motor skills are the strongest link of all the 3 therapies (Speech, OT and physio). The therapy would not just end at the physio session. We continue following all their advice; at home, in the park...just about everywhere. It has always just been a part of our daily activities - learning ways to make him even stronger and healthier. We are very lucky to have all our specialists to help guide us through every stage of Xavier’s milestones and development. TBC
21.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY Megan & Charlie (Pt 3) At around 6 months, we had a call out of the blue from our Paediaterician. She had recently attended a conference in which they spoke about a condition called Beckwith Weidermann Syndrome, where sometimes one of the only presenting markers was an enlarged tongue. She referred us to the Genetics Department of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital for testing. ... While we were waiting for our genetics results, we completed an Ages & Stages checklist with our local MHS. As Charlie was behind with his development, they referred us to physio through our public system (so we were now working with 3 physios at the same time I figured there was no limit to how much intervention might help Charlie!) At our first appointment with this physio, she mentioned that Charlie had low muscle tone. It was the first time that this had been mentioned to me, but was a term I was familiar with & could be the reason that Charlie was having difficulty meeting his milestones. My understanding is that low muscle tone can occur on its own or be linked with other genetic conditions. So it was also a slow & worrying time while we were waiting for the results of the genetic testing (which all came back normal, thank goodness!) I also note that another way in which I felt we let Charlie down in his development, was he started to sit around six months, & was so happy sitting & playing, that we didn’t focus on lots of floor/tummy time, which took away opportunities for Charlie to practice his motor development. With the help of physio input, Charlie began rolling at around 8.5 mths, a delightful bum shuffle at 12 mths (no crawling happened in our house!) & finally started walking at 19 mths! It was such an exciting & proud moment in our house! Now watching Charlie around other children a similar age, you wouldn’t necessarily know he was delayed at all! We’re currently pregnant with our second child, & I know there are things we’ll do differently. We definitely know a lot more about what we can do to support our child’s development, markers to look out for if things don’t seem right & where to go to get the help. See more
20.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY Megan & Charlie (part 3) At around 6 months, we had a call out of the blue from our Paediaterician. She had recently attended a conference in which they spoke about a condition called Beckwith Weidermann Syndrome, where sometimes one of the only presenting markers was an enlarged tongue. She referred us to the Genetics Department of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital for testing. ... While we were waiting for our genetics results, we completed an Ages & Stages checklist with our local MHS. As Charlie was behind with his development, they referred us to physio through our public system (so we were now working with 3 physios at the same time I figured there was no limit to how much intervention might help Charlie!) At our first appointment with this physio, she mentioned that Charlie had low muscle tone. It was the first time that this had been mentioned to me, but was a term I was familiar with & could be the reason that Charlie was having difficulty meeting his milestones. My understanding is that low muscle tone can occur on its own or be linked with other genetic conditions. So it was also a slow & worrying time while we were waiting for the results of the genetic testing (which all came back normal, thank goodness!) I also note that another way in which I felt we let Charlie down in his development, was he started to sit around six months, & was so happy sitting & playing, that we didn’t focus on lots of floor/tummy time, which took away opportunities for Charlie to practice his motor development. With the help of physio input, Charlie began rolling at around 8.5 mths, a delightful bum shuffle at 12 mths (no crawling happened in our house!) & finally started walking at 19 mths! It was such an exciting & proud moment in our house! Now watching Charlie around other children a similar age, you wouldn’t necessarily know he was delayed at all! We’re currently pregnant with our second child, & I know there are things we’ll do differently. We definitely know a lot more about what we can do to support our child’s development, markers to look out for if things don’t seem right & where to go to get the help we need.
19.01.2022 PT 3 Despite being born very early, Xavier has shown himself to be every inch the survivor. He has beaten the odds & shown us how tenacious he is. God has shown us so many miracles through our little boy. I can never put into words how grateful I am that Xavier is alive, happy, growing & such a healthy little chap today. He surprises me in so many ways. We love watching him grow & I am so proud to be his mum. The late nights, tidy up, messy feeding sessions, little fingers p...oking my eyes & up my nose at 5am, never-ending dirty clothes, the list goes on...ALL worth it. Motherhood is really, truly THE toughest job I have ever taken on, but the one filled with the MOST love. Walking out of the hospital with a baby is a gift Walking out with a NICU baby is a true miracle Everything is different after you experience the NICU. It changes you forever. Watching your child fight for survival gives you a new appreciation for life and the value of it. All I really wish for in life is for Xavier to be safe, happy & healthy & the ability to always show sincere kindness, empathy & to inspire others. Alana asked me if I have any advice for others going through a similar situation: You are all so much braver than you know, & I so wish I could give you all the tightest hug. Please let people take care of you and please ask for help. I know you don’t want to leave your baby for a minute, but get some fresh air & a hot meal. I know you want to do it all on your own, but your baby needs you to take care of yourself too. NICU changes you for the better. This journey will make you a better parent and a better person. ........ Note from Alana: I was floored by the positivity shining out of this story, one that began with such grief & loss. The reflections these two have had in the aftermath of losing a child & taking home his twin brother is something we can all take away as parents. How lucky are we to have our babies at home, safe and well with us? We have so much to be grateful for. Thank you to Kathryn & Glenn, for your generosity & strength in telling your story. I hope it helps someone else out there. Love A xx
19.01.2022 48 hours only and last restock before 2021 20% off Hard Copy 40% off eBook ... My Strong Little Body: A Physiotherapist’s Guide to Nurturing Your Baby’s Development Learn more at the link below: www.mystronglittlebody.com.au/buy
17.01.2022 Today is International Day of People with a Disability PART 1 But I’m not going to talk about kids with disabilities in this post.... ... Instead today, I want to share my love for some of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. Today I’m going to talk about the Mums of kids with a disability. Of course the kids (my patients) are incredible. They are the reason I do what I do. These kids climb mountains every day, and many of them never EVER complain. (Some do a lot but that’s a story for another day ) These kids are my inspiration when I think my own life gets a bit difficult sometimes. But man. Their Mums..... now they are something else. Being Mum to my two little boys gives me my greatest joy, but it is also one of my greatest challenges. I’m sure you all feel the same. The ups, the downs, the push and the pull. The pure happiness. The guilt and the worry..... Now imagine if your little love, the one who now has your heart and soul directly inside of them, had a disability. Imagine your life, and how busy you are. How you can feel overwhelmed with day to day tasks. With work, with family life, with school stuff, trying to keep of top of phone calls, emails, checking up on your own Mum, making sure your kid eats at least one piece of fruit today....not to mention the car service and the dentist appointments.... ugh. The mental load for any Mum is huge. Now imagine, on top of all that, needing to take your child to three therapy appointments a week. And needing to fit that around school. And your job. Imagine trying then to follow through with all of that therapy at home. Amongst the chaos . With siblings crashing around. Because that’s what all three therapists want you to do. Speaking of siblings, imagine the guilt you feel for there not being ENOUGH of you to go around to all two, three, even four of your children who NEED you. And then imagine if one of them had special needs: who needed you even more. Continued in next post
15.01.2022 In celebration of International Physiotherapy Day and Paediatric Physio’s everywhere, it’s time for a sale! For the next 48 hours I’m offering: 40% off the My Strong Little Body eBook... And 25% off the hard copy Get in quick friends!!! I rarely put the hard copy on sale, so this is your chance! No code needed, just head to the link below Www.mystronglittlebody.com.au *no #titbittuesday today but I thought you’d like this better
15.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY Story #8 (Part 1) My name is Megan & I live in Adelaide with my husband, Tom, & our son, Charlie (2). Tom & I were really excited to become parents, we talked often about how we pictured our life with a family. It has been nothing short of an amazing, & at times, tiring, journey! But we have loved every minute of it. ... We were blessed that we had no difficulties falling pregnant, & the pregnancy for the most part went well. At my 38 week obstetrician appointment we discovered I had started to develop high blood pressure & pre-eclampsia, so was scheduled to be induced the next day. The moment going into hospital was an emotional one, we were excited to meet our baby, but the unknown of how it would go was quite scary! While they were monitoring Charlie before my induction got into full swing, they noticed that Charlie’s heart rate was dropping, & so I went straight in for an emergency caesarian. Charlie was born just 30 minutes later - a beautiful baby boy! We saw a paediatrician routinely in hospital, who noticed that Charlie had an enlarged tongue, but no other markers of any condition that is linked with this as a symptom. The paediatrician monitored again at 6 weeks, but at that time wasn’t concerned that it was linked to anything in particular. It just became part of Charlie, & we weren’t too worried at the time. Charlie & I made the most of my maternity leave! We joined breast feeding support groups, playgroups & attended regular afternoon teas put on by the hospital. We were so blessed to develop a network of other mum’s & babies around us, the only downfall being that there are plenty of other babies the same age for you to compare to. One of the guest speakers at a hospital afternoon tea was a physio specialising in the progression of childhood movement. At this point Charlie was only a few weeks old, so we hadn’t noticed any concern with his movement patterns or meeting milestones; however, the topic was of interest to me as I work as an Occupational Therapist, but with very limited experience in working with children & I wanted to do what I could to set Charlie up for his development. TBC See more
14.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY Megan & Charlie (Part 2) We began attending fortnightly group sessions facilitated by the physio.... My husband & I knew that tummy time was important, I even remember Tom putting Charlie onto his tummy in his bassinet in hospital. What we didn’t understand, was there were so many different ways of achieving tummy time. Charlie didn’t love being on his tummy, so we didn’t offer it as much as we could have. We also noticed early on that Charlie had a preference for facing his head one way. We tried to re-position him when we noticed, but again, I now realise we should have done more for him at this time. At about 3 months old we attended another hospital afternoon tea with a different physio as a guest speaker. At this session I asked a question about tummy time, noting that Charlie didn’t love it yet. She exclaimed straight away oh, can you see how one ear sits further forward than the other & that one side of his forehead is protruding more?! It was confronting, & not well delivered. It was the moment we were told that Charlie had torticollis & plagiocephaly. Our understanding of these conditions were limited, but effectively Charlie had a tightening of muscles in his neck known as torticollis, causing him to favour turning his head to one side. He also spent a lot of time lying on his back (as he didn’t love tummy time, & we spent a lot of time out and about in the pram or car), so that in combination with the torticollis caused him to develop plagiocephaly (a change in his head shape). We began physio, learning stretches & alternative ways of achieving tummy time. We began to see an improvement in the torticollis (the changes in head shape were slower to happen), but we still noticed that he was behind lots of the other babies in regards to movement milestones, such as rolling. We continued attending physio & the child movement group, which was invaluable in helping us to develop strategies to assist his motor development. I also turned to social media and began following lots of physios and occupational therapists to gain further ideas. This is how I came across Alana’s page My Strong Little Body. TBC
14.01.2022 Hey guys. This is my day job . In celebration of International World Physiotherapy Day I wanted to tell you a bit more about my 9-5. It’s certainly not like this every day.... just like with my own kids at home I get plenty of refusals and tantrums in the clinic too. My little patients are put to the test in my sessions and they can get frustrated and tired too. ... Paediatric physio can quite honestly be exhausting for both therapist and child (as anyone who works with kids all day will know). I spend all day trying to create fun ways to achieve a therapy goal. I trick kids for a living ..... and it’s kind of tiring. And then I often go home and think about these kids in the middle of the night, wondering what more I can do to help them...... (it’s sometimes to my own detriment that I REALLY give a shit about my patients.) BUT..... This photo says it all....why I truly do ADORE my job. I have the privilege to be a part of something so beautiful for so many families.... achieving little goals like climbing that first set of steps so they can make it to their classroom at school, or being able to help a young boy find an awesome mobility device that helps him keep up with his mates....it’s just so incredibly heart warming. But more than that, I get to see these kids grow, I get to watch their confidence bloom over the months (sometimes many many years!) that I see them, and seeing their little faces light up when they try and try AND TRY to achieve something and then one day, finally, they can do it......It truly is so special. Lucky me for finding a job like this one. . . . . #worldinternationalphysyiotherapyday #worldinternationalphysicaltherapyday #worldphysiotherapyday #worldphysicaltherapyday #mystronglittlebody #thebabyphysio #strongerstart #paediatricphysiotherapy #babymilestones #paediatricphysiotherapist #pediatricphysicaltherapist #grossmotorskills #developmentaldelay #putthemonthefloor #childdevelopment #therapyideas #kidshealth See more
13.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY Story #8 (Part 1) My name is Megan & I live in Adelaide with my husband, Tom, & our son, Charlie (2). Tom & I were really excited to become parents, we talked often about how we pictured our life with a family. It has been nothing short of an amazing, & at times, tiring, journey! But we have loved every minute of it. ... We were blessed that we had no difficulties falling pregnant, & the pregnancy for the most part went well. At my 38 week obstetrician appointment we discovered I had started to develop high blood pressure & pre-eclampsia, so was scheduled to be induced the next day. The moment going into hospital was an emotional one, we were excited to meet our baby, but the unknown of how it would go was quite scary! While they were monitoring Charlie before my induction got into full swing, they noticed that Charlie’s heart rate was dropping, & so I went straight in for an emergency caesarian. Charlie was born just 30 minutes later - a beautiful baby boy! We saw a paediatrician routinely in hospital, who noticed that Charlie had an enlarged tongue, but no other markers of any condition that is linked with this as a symptom. The paediatrician monitored again at 6 weeks, but at that time wasn’t concerned that it was linked to anything in particular. It just became part of Charlie, & we weren’t too worried at the time. Charlie & I made the most of my maternity leave! We joined breast feeding support groups, playgroups & attended regular afternoon teas put on by the hospital. We were so blessed to develop a network of other mum’s & babies around us, the only downfall being that there are plenty of other babies the same age for you to compare to. One of the guest speakers at a hospital afternoon tea was a physio specialising in the progression of childhood movement. At this point Charlie was only a few weeks old, so we hadn’t noticed any concern with his movement patterns or meeting milestones; however, the topic was of interest to me as I work as an Occupational Therapist, but with very limited experience in working with children & I wanted to do what I could to set Charlie up for his development. TBC
12.01.2022 Are you guys enjoying my guest posts for #mystronglittlejourney? For me, this new love project of mine has been such an honour and privilege to be a part of. If you’re new here, each fortnight (or thereabouts) I’ve asked real Mums and Dads, with real experiences of paediatric physiotherapy to share their story with me (and you); to let their guard down, and tell it how it really is on the other side of the fence. What it feels like to be the parent of the patient. ... Sometimes the journey is nice and smooth and simple and all the loose ends can get tied off nicely. There is a beginning and an end. A cure even. But more often than not, having a child with a health condition can be really complex and messy. It’s a long, winding road. It can be tough on families. I’ve asked these parents to tell their story how they would’ve liked to have told their own friends and family. What they would have liked to hear themselves in the early days. What I do know is this; these stories, no matter how small, are incredibly helpful and reassuring for families going through similar experiences themselves, and I am sure they will also be really valuable for therapists too. Giving us the opportunity to walk in their shoes, even if just for a moment, is a wonderful gift these parents are giving and I am so humbled these families have opened up to me like they have. Is there a condition you’d like to hear more about? Or even better, do you have a story you’d like to share? I’m trying to get a really diverse range of stories from all walks of life. There is no journey too small. And golly gosh I’ve got some incredible stories coming up in the next month. I can’t to share them with you. Which has been your favourite story so far?
09.01.2022 What about my rainbow book? Last hours of Black Friday sale on now. This will be your last opportunity to secure the hard copy before the end of the year (and at a bargain too!) and I very rarely put the ebook on at this ridiculous discounted rate either. ... 40% of the My Strong Little Body eBook And 20% off the hard copy Head to the link below for more info. Sale ends at midnight tonight. www.mystronglittlebody.com.au
06.01.2022 Which way do you face your baby in the car? Australian law ensures we all rear-face our babies 6 months & under in an approved, properly fastened car restraint. From 6 months until 4 years of age, children must wear an approved, properly fastened car restraint with an in-built harness that is EITHER rear-facing OR forward facing.... Children between 4 and 7 years of age must be in a forward-facing facing properly fastened restraint with a built in harness OR an approved booster seat which is properly fastened. So. We can legally turn our babies around at 6 months. And I get it. At 6 months of age I had real screamers in the car. BOTH of my babies would howl that awful baby death-rattle cry, the ear piercing one that makes you want to go ahead & howl with them, after just 10 minutes in the car. And it would not stop until I got them out. Me driving on an hour long trip in traffic was not only anxiety and sweat inducing, but it also made me question myself as a mother. Was he all of a sudden starving? (cue countless breastfeeds on the side of the road) Was he in pain? Did he feel sick? Or was he scared that he couldn't see me? And I think this is exactly why so many parents make the call to turn their babies around early. But Mummas and Papas, I beg you to have a look at the video I have posted in my stories today. I promise it will change your mind about which way to face your baby in the car. I kept my babies in a rear-facing seat until they were almost 2 because of the below statistic. In a car accident, a child who is rear-facing will be 5 x safer than a baby who is forward facing, with the rear-facing seats distributing the crash load over a large surface area, rather than through their neck and spinal cord. It could be the difference between life and death in a severe car accident. It is recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics that children should be rear-facing until at least 2 years of age. Sweden suggests up until age 4. And p.s It doesn't matter at all if their legs are up on the seat. My kids were absolutely cool with it in the end. I'd love to know, have you kept your bub rear-facing?
03.01.2022 THOSE EARLY DAYZZZ #titbittuesday Part 1... This is Fraser and Alfie’s first ever hello. Oh my heart. Those early days of becoming a mum are so special. And also so freakin hard. You have so much to learn and adjust to. All while getting to know this beautiful little soul you just built.... your heart will burst more than you ever knew. And you’ll most likely feel a little broken some days. It’s ok, I’m pretty sure us Mums all feel a bit broken some days. The first chapter of My Strong Little Body is dedicated to those early days. That ‘fourth trimester’. A baby’s foundation for development can be influenced from as early as a few weeks old. But Mumma, I don’t want to make this any harder than it needs to be. You’ve got enough on your plate. You know, becoming the new you and all. In summary, here are my top 5 VERY simple tips for the first 6 weeks at home. 1. Look after yourself. As @nicole_kidsphysio has coined: connection before correction. If things don’t feel right, or if you’re having trouble connecting with your bub, speak up. Talk to a friend, family member or health professional. Post natal mental health issues are incredibly common. You are not alone and help is there if you need it. 2. Recreate the womb. Imagine being suspended and all curled up in the most heavenly place in earth- then being pushed or pulled out of there. Try and recreate that womb environment for your bub as best as you can to allow an easier transition from womb to earth side. I lots of ideas on how to do this, but my go-to is baby wearing. It’s as close to being back in your belly as you can get. I also adore ‘nesting’ new bubs. For the nitty gritty on recreating the womb, check out My Strong Little Body at the link in my bio. more tips for the 4th trimester in next post See more
03.01.2022 *Trigger warning* This story discusses a heart breaking infant loss. Please be mindful of how you are feeling today, & view at your own discretion. A In honour of #worldprematurityday I am honoured to share this beautiful story of love & loss with you. It is both heartbreaking & warming all at once, & a journey that so many prem families go through, yet it is rarely spoken about with such clarity. Kathryn sees herself as a mother of twin boys; Xavier & Ignatius. But tragi...cally, Xavier was the only baby out of the two who made it home. She asked me specifically to include Glenn in the title today, which I thought was so thoughtful. It highlights to me how Dads don't get enough recognition on this platform, & how integral they are to so many of these journeys. We see you Dads & partners. You are so important. Thank you for so often being the ones that hold us up & together in times like this. I hope you enjoy today's #mystronglittlejourney PART 1/3 I’m Kathryn, we live in Melbourne. I have a very supportive, loving & selfless husband named, Glenn. We are blessed with twin boys Ignatius & Xavier. Before I had Xavier I thought that my life was full. It was full of things, it was full of attempted glamour, it was full of shallow friendships. It was busy, but it wasn’t full. My entire life was very different. I felt really excited about being pregnant, especially when we knew we are having twins. I didn’t truly realise the life that will be ahead of us. Xavier & Ignatius were born at 23 weeks gestation. Xavier was 604g while Ignatius was 598g. It was very sudden & unexpected. Shortly after Xavier was born, the doctors told us that they were able to inflate his lungs, he responded well & needed to be transferred to NICU. They also told us that Ignatius wouldn’t make it. It was a confusing time because we were so excited to hear that Xavier was doing well, but grieving because we knew we had to say goodbye to Ignatius. We were all over the place. For Xavier, the first 48 hours were crucial. Glenn & I were very grateful for every minute he was alive. Though Xavier has grown stronger by the day, he fought a few battles to get here. TBC
03.01.2022 It’s spotlight on |BABY-WEARING| for today’s #titbittuesday I’m a huge advocate for baby wearing and I could talk all day about why..... but Instagram has a caption limit so I’m sticking to 3 tips today. Always make sure baby’s hips are spread wide with knees higher than hips to keep hips in the safest position and to avoid developmental dysplasia of the hip... The ‘kiss test’ ensures your baby’s head (and airways) are at a safe level (you should be able to kiss the top of their head easily). And following on from last week's #mystronglittlejourney post, this last one is important particularly if your baby has a side preference which can lead to plagiocephaly (a flat head)..... one of the most common conditions we treat as paediatric physios. Alternate which your baby’s head is turning each time you pop them in. If bub has a side preference, this is a great opportunity to get a nice gentle stretch in the other direction. Do you love baby wearing? Or have you not managed to get into the groove? (It’s not for everyone). Team baby wear or Team pram? (You have to pick one!) I’d love to hear your thoughts.
01.01.2022 MY STRONG LITTLE JOURNEY In honour of World CP Day, I am thrilled to introduce you to Mel Dimmitt, author of @the_special_book. You guys are going to adore this one. Alana Part 1... My name is Mel and I live with my partner Rowan and our two kids, Arlo (4) and Odette (2) in Bowral, a very pretty town just over an hour’s drive south of Sydney. Before Arlo came along I was a well-slept person with zero appreciation for the abundance of solitary time and hot teas at my disposal. Having a baby wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do until I’d been with Row for a few years and thought it might be nice to make a mini version of him. We got engaged, decided to ‘see what happens’ and a few weeks later I was watching two lines appear and sprinting to the chemist to buy another 10 tests to pee on. I didn’t have many expectations around what parenthood would be like, but I did think it would somewhat resemble a Huggies ad. Boy was I in for a rude awakening. Arlo was born by way of an emergency caesarean, during which he was deprived of oxygen. I was put under general anaesthetic so my first memory of his birth is my bed being rolled into the NICU, where we’d spend Arlo’s first week, and having a beautiful, navy-blue eyed baby placed on my shoulder. He stared straight at me. To this day, the kid has the most engaging, gorgeous blue eyes. With a grand total of zero experience of babies between us, Row and I didn’t notice anything unusual about Arlo at first. He breastfed well and was generally a happy chap. His limbs were a bit stiff, but this was swiftly Googled away as tone that will disappear over time as it must for some babies. It wasn’t until Arlo hit the three-month mark without hitting any three-month motor milestones that we knew things weren’t going by the book. At six months he received his diagnosis of cerebral palsy from a kind paediatrician who told us Arlo would be like any other kid, he’d just need to spend an hour or two a day doing therapies. ‘In your bubble, at home, everything will be great,’ he said. ‘It’s only when you’re out in the world, having to explain your child to other people, that it can get tricky.’ True that.
