Gosh! It’s been a while between blog updates! I’ve been buried in a systematic review for was seemed like an eon, and am very pleased to be finally emerging on the other side of it. It has been incredible to read so much about how occupational therapists are thinking about women’s health needs during perinatal transitions. There’s an impressively diverse practice field growing out there, which has been inspiring and thought-provoking to no end. The published and grey literature contributions to guide and inform occupational therapist practice is growing. It’s certainly an exciting time for perinatal occupational therapy practice.
Today I stumbled across an adapted model of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which has been interpreted by Meagan Francis to consider the needs of mothers. I love it. Another great source of inspiration to help encourage consideration of what women really need throughout their motherhood transitions, and to reflect how occupational therapists might find a strong fit within maternal health services to support maternal well-being.
And then this image really caught my attention too… Are we thinking about women’s perinatal needs are in the right way?
Author: Dr Hannah Slootjes (PhD)
I'm an occupational therapist, women's health researcher, academic, writer, mum, and passionate life learner. In 2022, I completed PhD exploring how OTs globally do, could or should work to promote health and maintain wellbeing for mothers during and after pregnancy, and matrescence. Titled, 'The Role of Occupational Therapists in Perinatal Health' my thesis introduced the Person-centered Occupational Model of Matrescence (POMM) to understand women's wellbeing from a human-centered approach, and the Functional Co-occupation Spectrum (FCS) for working with mother-infant dyads.
I am currently teaching occupational therapy and public health students at La Trobe University, and writing a textbook about working with women during perinatal stages and matrescence based on my thesis (aiming for publication in 2024). I still love clinical practice, and work in women's health locally in Bendigo.
After taking a year-long sabbatical to recover and re-energise after completing my PhD, I'm rolling up my sleeves and gearing up for the next life chapter! I'm still writing and teaching, and will be increasing practice-based supports for OTs from this website from May 2023. I am so looking forward to reconnecting with OTs practicing and researching in this space, and cannot wait to be part of the next phase of practice-based professional development!
View all posts by Dr Hannah Slootjes (PhD)
Research & evidence-based practice for OTs in perinatal health, motherhood, and matrescence 