The Challenges of Being a Mobile Postnatal Therapist In New Jersey
Greetings, whomever has happened to stumble upon this page. (Hmm..IS the website StumbleUpon still a thing? I wonder…anyway…)
As you might have ascertained from my alias, I’m an LMT focusing on the perinatal population in my training and practice.
I love my work, and I really feel fulfilled providing help to new Moms.
I like helping others, and I take seriously the edict that it’s for all of us to help others not to suffer.
There are a few challenges, however, that I’d like to discuss today.
These are all specific to this niche occupation.
Prenatal and Postnatal LMTs Tote Loads Of Equipment
Firstly, there’s a lot of stuff to bring.
The usual portable massage table, linens, massage oil bag, personal bag with essential oils and other stuff have to be brought in.
Often, there’s a staircase that must be climbed as well.
But when working with pregnant or postpartum populations, there’s also the Pregnancy Support System, really a bunch of specially-shaped interlocking pillows that Velcro together that have space for the pregnant person’s tummy and engorged breasts. It’s like a transformer and the perinatal LMT can change the shape and position to suit the pregnant person.
It’s not the weightiest thing, but it’s a big bulky case for a bunch of giant padded upholstered cushions.
The size and bulk make talking much more than the Pregnancy Support System in one trip.
Anyway, anyone know Larry David? Love him or hate him, I don’t care. He’s a smart guy.
He did tell us all to “take two trips.” I take his funny advice seriously.
And, I’ve probably already mentioned this in a past blog. It’s alright.
I’m saying it again.
Postnatal Massage Therapists Must Allow For More Time
The second difficulty is timing.
It can happen that a breastfeeding session that began before you arrived goes overtime, and a new Mom is late for the Postnatal Massage session.
You’ve arrived and you’re all set up, but the Mom is still feeding the baby. It happens. As I’m also a Certified Lactation Professional working in New Jersey, I’m just happy the baby’s feeding!
Or, the new Mom hears the infant crying and wants to check on the baby during the Therapeutic Massage session. Sometimes the baby will end up needing to be fed or tended to.
So, a postnatal therapist has to understand this.
As A Postnatal Massage Therapist, I Stop The Clock
I stop the clock. I only charge for time on the Massage Table. How could I do otherwise and still feel like a decent person?
Of course, some Postnatal Massage Therapists do charge and don’t stop the clock.
What do you think? I take the time to stretch or prepare some blended oils.
Either way, the point is, scheduling cannot always be relied upon to be exact.
Squishing The Pregnancy Pillows Into The Case Is Challenging
And, you may not get to as many sessions in a day as you might have wanted, just because of the above-mentioned factors.
Also, there’s more to clean up. Besides the usual, the Pregnancy Support System (PSS) has to be cleaned and disinfected, and then put away.
Putting the pillows away is annoying; they pop out as you try zipping up the case!
In fact, when I open the case, sometimes the pillows pop out like those snake-in-a-can gags I’ve seen on TV as a kid but never encountered in real-life.
New Mothers Have To Pee. Frequently!
And, sometimes the new Mom might take a longer time than a usual patient might when using the toilet before the session starts.
That’s completely understandable; whether a woman has had a C-section or vaginal birth.
And, because many women suffer pelvic floor issues during pregnancy or during delivery, incontinence is also an issue.
Consequently, many postnatal women have to pause the session to get up and go to the bathroom.
Again, I stop the clock.
Fewer Sessions Means Less Income
I’ve told this to people and many have told me that this is ludicrous.
What do you think? I couldn’t possibly charge a family for a 90 minute session when the mother only received 40 minutes of help!
At the same time, time is money, and the longer a therapist stays at one spot, the fewer clients they can see in a day.
