Becoming a mother is a profound journey—filled with joy, transformation, and, often, overwhelming stress. Whether it’s navigating the physical recovery after birth, adjusting to a new identity, or juggling the demands of everyday life with a newborn, mothers face a range of challenges that can impact their overall well-being. Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in helping mothers manage stress, build confidence, and reclaim balance in their daily routines.
Understanding the Stress of Motherhood and/or Caregiving
New and expecting mothers are vulnerable to mental health struggles such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and burnout. These challenges are often compounded by:
🥱 Sleep deprivation
🪞Changes in body image and physical functioning
⏳ Lack of time for self-care and desired occupations
🤱Pressures around feeding, bonding, and caregiving
🧍♀️ Social isolation or reduced support
Evidence: Postpartum stress may negatively affect women’s health and affect infant growth, nutrition, bonding, temperament and overall mental well-being (Wang et al., 2023).
How Occupational Therapy Helps
Occupational therapists are uniquely equipped to address the daily life disruptions that come with motherhood. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all advice, OT provides personalized, functional strategies rooted in the individual needs and values of each client. Here’s how OT can support maternal mental health:
1. Stress Management and Self-Regulation
OTs use evidence-based approaches like mindfulness, sensory modulation, and breathing techniques to help mothers cope with stress and anxiety. These tools can be embedded into everyday routines—whether it’s using calming strategies during a baby’s crying spell or learning to decompress in between feedings.
2. Education on Body Mechanics and Pain Prevention
Pregnancy and postpartum recovery often come with aches and pains. OTs teach safe ways to lift, carry, breastfeed, and engage with babies to reduce strain and injury. Proper body mechanics are essential for long-term health, especially for caregivers recovering from birth.
3. Health Education and Advocacy
Occupational therapists provide functional education on nutrition, sleep hygiene, activity pacing, and recovery support. They also help moms advocate for themselves—whether it’s asking for help, navigating healthcare appointments, or identifying signs of perinatal mood disorders.
4. Routine and Role Redesign
New moms often feel like they’ve lost a sense of control over their time. OT helps moms rebuild meaningful routines, balancing childcare with time for rest, movement, connection, and personal goals. This includes integrating new roles—such as “mother”—into an evolving sense of identity.
🌟OT is Collaborative and Empowering 🌟
OT is client-centered, evidence-based, and encompasses your connection with daily activities, making it an important part of your postpartum recovery. At Sunny Day Therapy, we don’t aim to “fix” solely conditions. Instead, we apply a holistic lens and strive to provide comprehensive family-centered care to help improve your daily activities and health.
When to Consider Occupational Therapy for Maternal Health
- Persistent stress, anxiety, or sadness
- Difficulty balancing baby care with personal needs
- Pain or injury related to birth or caregiving tasks
- Sleep disruptions impacting daily life
- Feelings of disconnection, burnout, or loss of identity
💭Final Thoughts
At Sunny Day Therapy, we support mothers through all stages of the perinatal journey—from pregnancy through postpartum. Whether you’re a new mom adjusting to life with a baby, planning a birth/role transitions, or navigating mental and physical recovery, we offer holistic, occupational therapy services to meet you where you are.
🌼 Let’s build routines that nourish you. Let’s find calm in the chaos. Let’s rediscover the joy of everyday life—together. 🌼
📩 Contact us today: Email kim@beewellot.com to schedule a consultation.
Learn more here
References
Wang, Y., Gu, J., Gao, Y., Lu, Y., Zhang, F., & Xu, X. (2023). Postpartum stress in the first 6 months after delivery: A longitudinal study in Nantong, China. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23, Article 687. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06094-7
Sunny Day Therapy's Blog- Helping Children & Caregivers Shine, Do, and Thrive 
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