Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Le.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for +10 years in numerous hospitals and facilities in the DFW area. I have worked in varying settings, including all levels of rehabilitation, specialty area of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), home health, outpatient, and telehealth. I received a Bachelors in Psychology at the University of New Orleans and a Masters in Occupational Therapy at LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating, I moved to Texas in 2009 and have lived here since.
With my experience in NICU, it has lead me to a path to specialize in women’s health more in-depth as my passion. I was seeing mothers struggling to show up to the hospital after being discharged to visit their babies in the NICU and were somehow “expected” to show up after having a major abdominal surgery.
I have seen and treated women who are pregnant suffering in pain, on modified bedrest in a hospital for months, recovering moms from cesarean section due to preterm labor or emergent, mom who are needing to have to return to work sooner than later, or lastly, moms who return home with no family support.
This lead to my passion to help families ease the transition home after birth, help be an advocate, and provide education and awareness for women’s health and wellness during and after birth.
These situations are scenarios that are happening to all women, and we are told it’s part of motherhood, it’s “normal”, or just deal with it. This is why I am passionate about bridging the gap to educate women, mothers, or caregivers that there are ways to handle the transition to motherhood, and there is support vs. keeping it to yourself, causing anxiety or even depression.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
If it was a smooth road, I think there would be an abundance of wellness care postpartum.
As for the struggles, other than the business side of things, I would say getting the buy-in from mothers to see this service as a need, a standard of care, prevention service, or intervention to healthier lifestyle.
We tend to believe all the struggles during and after pregnancy is part of the process. Yes, it can be, but if you are having chronic pain, stress, overwhelmed constantly, and having a difficult time where you are not able to function, you need help.
So, it is difficult to spread awareness or add value that we need to change our mindset of how we think pregnancy and postpartum should look like.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love being an occupational therapist and being a holistic practitioner. What does that mean? Whatever the setting you are in receiving occupational therapy services, as a clinician, we tend to ask patients about their activities of daily living and what is difficult for them to do so we can work on meaningful goals. We like to ask questions to build rapport and get a good grasp of what your roles, habits, and routines look like to get a whole picture of the person and see where we can help.
I currently work with pregnancy and postpartum patients educating them on maternity wellness, pregnancy and postpartum needs, and basis infant care. Outside of that, I also work in a major city hospital, working with medically complex patients rehabilitate in a hospital setting before going home.
I am most proud that I continue to grow and educate myself during the last 13 years of my professional career to serve others. I am always learning new things, meet new people, and get inspired by other practitioners. This sets me apart by not boxing myself into one area of expertise. I am well-rounded and love to educate my patients.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am an introvert at heart. I turn “on” at work and do my job as expected, but when I get home, I like to wind down and have some “me time.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.perinatalmovementconsultant.com
- Instagram: PerinatalMovementConsultant
- Facebook: Perinatal Movement Consultant
