This image popped up in my Instagram feed this morning, reposted by someone in honour of World Breastfeeding Week. For me, this image is everything. Feeding with love and building a bonded connection. Nurturing our precious babies and strengthening our connection by feeding them in whichever is the best possible way for mum and baby is a total joy to see. Women and babies all have different strengths and needs, and it’s so important to be able to freely celebrate the connection and richness that can come when we feel allowed to acknowledge the closeness and intimacy of infant feeding, however it occurs. It’s a co-occupation fundamental for mother-infant (or parent/guardian-infant) bonding, and I love seeing it celebrated in this way. Gorgeous!
Felicia Saunders Photography
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 