Blossom Birth and Family
(650) 321-2326
  • HOME
  • Events
    • JCC - Birth & Family Fair 2023
    • Doula Meet and Greet (in-person)
    • DEMO - Baby Sign Language
  • Parenting Journey
    • Preconception
    • Pregnancy Stage
    • Newborn++
    • Toddler & Beyond
  • SUPPORT
  • Yoga+Fitness
  • Doulas
  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Resources
  • Become an Annual Member
  • Purchase a Gift Credit
  • Reward points program

Meeting You Where You Are: In-Home Pelvic & Occupational Therapy w/ Thrive Maternal Care

3/2/2023

0 Comments

 
Pregnancy and new parenthood can be a beautiful period. But it’s also a time of immense changes to our bodies, lifestyle, identities, and emotional health. Many women experience pains and discomforts related to pregnancy or postpartum recovery. And yet, there’s little discussion about it. So many women don’t know how to find the resources or treatment they need and deserve.

Enter Isabel Hartounian, an occupational therapist who founded Thrive Maternal Care. She’s on a mission to meet moms where they are and help them towards smoother functioning in their daily lives. 

​
Please tell us about yourself/your business and what you do.
I am a mom of two kids, born and raised in the Bay Area, and a licensed occupational therapist (OT) of 14 years. After my own experiences, I realized there are various challenges moms face everyday whether pregnant or after baby.​
Picture
Picture
I started Thrive Maternal Care in 2022 to offer pelvic floor therapy in home. I'm passionate about helping moms manage symptoms of pregnancy and postpartum recovery so they can be more comfortable doing their everyday activities.

What inspired you to get into this work?
My background was in pediatrics so I listened to a lot of moms' experiences. After my second baby, I was dealing with pelvic pain and incontinence, so I asked my doctor for a referral to a pelvic floor therapist. I was inspired by how it helped me and pivoted my career by diving into all things pelvic and maternal health.
​
What are the main reasons or areas of concern that lead families to seek out your services? What are your key resources and offerings to help address these needs?
Many moms don’t receive guidance on how their body mechanics change as their belly grows in pregnancy or how to deal with issues that arise in postpartum. 

One main concern in pregnancy is dealing with aches and pains, especially in the lower back, groin, and pubic bone area. Then in postpartum, moms get one 6-week checkup and are cleared for intimacy and returning to fitness. But they are often still healing from tearing or a Cesarean birth, learning the ropes of being a mom, and coming to terms with a new role and routines in their daily life.
Picture
My vision is to keep pelvic floor therapy holistic where I consider your emotional well-being when we work together. We look at how managing overwhelm and making small adjustments to our routines can help with incontinence, pain with intimacy, diastasis, and so much more. I love to educate clients as well as offer lifestyle modifications, manual therapy, and exercises.
​

How does your work support/uplift/impact expecting or new families?
My vision is to help moms to function in a way that feels better for them– where they feel like they understand their symptoms or challenges, have tools, and gain a new perspective. I believe all birthing people should have their pelvic health evaluated during and after pregnancy, and be given education to help themselves. At the same time, I think how we manage our expectations and give ourselves compassion as we become parents is huge.

​What's one tidbit of helpful information or encouragement that you'd want all families to know?
I know there are some discomforts and challenges we cope with and live with as moms, but I also know you don't have to live with them forever. This can mean within our bodies (ex. leaking, pelvic and other related pains) or within our minds (ex. emotional overwhelm in parenting, not feeling bonded with baby). Of course, the mind and body are always connected so I like to take a full, holistic approach without adding more burden to the mom's plate.
​

So it sounds like you’re encouraging women to speak up for their health. Is it ever “too late” for someone to get PT or OT? When’s the optimal time to be seen?
It is never too late for someone to get pelvic floor OT/PT.  Realistically, the most optimal time to be seen is when you feel you need help with managing pain, leakage, navigating returning to fitness, managing overwhelm, adjusting to motherhood and so on. You can be pregnant, 6 weeks postpartum or 10 years postpartum. 
​

But it’s been my experience that some moms have a hard time assessing when they need extra support or have a hard time asking for that help. I have a checklist I like to share to know when it might benefit you to go to pelvic floor therapy.
pelvic_therapy_checklist__thrive_maternal_care__8.5_×_11_in_-2.pdf
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Where are you located? What area(s) do you serve?
I am in San Jose and serve moms within a 30 minute radius which includes, but is not limited to Campbell, Santa Clara, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and the surrounding areas.

What's the best contact for people to reach out for further information or questions?
I encourage moms to schedule a free, 15 minute phone consultation with me to see how I can help. 
You can also find more information on my website and I am on Instagram.
Picture
0 Comments

    Archives

    March 2023
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    April 2021
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories

    All
    Articles
    Awards
    Events
    Provider Content
    Virtual Happy Hours
    Volunteer

    RSS Feed

About Us

Founded in 1999,
Blossom Birth & Family is a 501 c(3) community based nonprofit organization 
​(EIN #77 0506942).
Donate
Download our Flyer


 

​

Get Involved

Volunteer
Sponsor
Become a Member
​Teach a Class
Become a Provider
​
Our Blog

Payments & Policies

Payment + Registration
Refund Policy
Scholarship/Financial Aid
​Gift Certificate (Electronic)
Be Her Village Gift Registry

Awards

Mommy Nearest
​Guidestar
Bay Area Parent
​
Best of Palo Alto

Connect With Us

Newsletter

Download our APP 

Picture
Picture

Contact Us

At this time, the best way to reach a member of the team is to email us:
​blossom@blossombirthandfamily.org

Voicemail:
P. (650) 321-2326

Office Hours

Mon - Fri: 10am- 2pm
Sat: 9am- 12:30pm
and by appointment

DISCLAIMER.                                                       Photo credit: Images by Rosalinda, Lilia Faith Schwartz, Photographer, Devin Begley, and Christy Scherrer, bellymotherbaby
Blossom is not a Medical Provider and Does not Provide Medical Services.  It is understood by all persons who use Blossom’s  services that: (a) Blossom is not a medical provider and does not render medical or other health care services or treatments to any and all persons who use Blossom’s services and Blossom’s services are not intended to or shall be interpreted as imposing, any duty or obligation to provide such health care services; (b) Blossom is not in any way responsible for the health care that is delivered by a health care provider to any and all persons who use Blossom’s services; (c) health care providers are solely responsible for the health care they deliver to any and all persons using Blossom’s services; and (d) health care providers are not Blossom’s agents or employees.