About

I’m Hannah, an academic, writer, and occupational therapist (OT) passionately researching and writing about the existing and potential role for occupational therapy in matrescence, motherhood, and perinatal health. I run a small private practice offering OT services to girls and women during matrescence, Berdy Occupational Therapy.

In 2022, I completed a PhD exploring the role of occupational therapists in perinatal health. I started this research blog during my PhD as a way of connecting with people and sharing what I was learning. From mid 2023, I decided to wholeheartedly invest in continuing what contributions I can to this area of emerging practice and professional development. As an independent researcher and writer, all of the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I first became a mum in 2010. Embarking upon the roller-coaster learning curve into and through motherhood, that countless of others before and after me know well, was a humbling and defining process. For me, it was true that “when a child is born, a mother is born”, and also that:

“Giving birth to a child does not automatically unleash a previously contained flood of maternal behaviour. Nor… does it determine when a woman becomes a mother. The process of matrescence includes a subtle, supportive process of socialization into motherhood. In many cultures and for most women becoming a mother is their most dramatic life crisis.” ― Lucile Newman (1975, p. 9).

Like so many other OTs who become mothers, I experienced the vast majority of my perinatal journey with thoughts in the back of my mind considering how an occupational therapist might help me through challenges in a way that no other profession seemed to provide or consider in their scope of practice. Eventually, I was wondering why OTs are not already working in maternal health services. Turns out, they are.

I love the idea that women who are embarking on the journey to motherhood are not unwell or sick – that the transition from woman to mother is a major life adaption, and women need support. The “common-sense” and myriad of other issues that many women face can be better addressed to support women grow into be the very best kind of mother and person that they can. It’s the most important job in the world, and women need as much support as we can offer them!

Since 2012, I have been researching, networking, interviewing and exploring the literature, and am endlessly searching for OTs who are working with women who are generally well. I believe that there’s a role for allied health professionals – including OTs – to join and enhance maternal healthcare teams. Together, I believe we can help well women stay holistically well through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood.

There’s growing call for maternal health services reviews around the world, and OT’s need to stand up to be considered. This research is my contribution to advocating for a more holistic future which addresses improved maternal occupational engagement and justice, to support women’s positive identity, performance capacity, health and wellbeing. Let’s go for it!

Publications:

Slootjes, H. (2022). The Role of Occupational Therapists in Perinatal Health. La Trobe Universty. Doctoral thesis. https://doi.org/10.26181/19836172.v1

Slootjes, H., McKinstry, C., & Kenny, A. (2015). Maternal role transition: Why new mothers need occupational therapists. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12225. http://t.co/wtljq9FKML

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Follow me on Twitter: @HannahSlootjes