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Welcome to Reliable Maternity's very own blog! We are so happy to have you. Although we are primarily a durable medical equipment (DME) company, our overall goal is to empower, educate and support our patients, their families, and beyond. We have always wanted to provide a safe space for parents to share, grow, and connect with one another. We are a team of women who wholeheartedly believe that there is “no shame in the feeding game.” However you decide to feed your baby whether that is breastfeeding, formula, bottle feeding, we are judgement-free. We think that it is important that every family makes the choice that is best for them and their baby. We want to be helpful in providing resources and insight for any situation! So, what will you find here? The #MoreThanAMotherBlog will be a place with articles and posts on topical information (the stuff we think you should be aware of!), tips & tricks, personal stories, resources from our certified lactation counselors, other experts, and more! Expect this to be a place that covers more than just what it means to be a mother. Want to take this IRL? We engage in community events all around New England and provide solutions for all types of lifestyles. Please visit our community events page to learn more about past and upcoming events. We hope to meet you soon!

Pelvic health has become a hot topic in the past decade, and for good reason. Women experience significant changes to their pelvic floors throughout their lifespans, and we have historically received minimal education about this part of our bodies. Perhaps you have birthed children vaginally and forever sworn off trampolines with your kids. Perhaps you leak urine when you sneeze, but you cross your legs and hope for the best. Perhaps you hit menopause, and have just accepted that you have symptoms of prolapse at the end of each day. These examples are extremely common, but far from normal. There are treatment options available and even ways to prevent many of these issues before they start. They are not something that women have to live with due to childbirth or aging as was believed by previous generations. The pelvic floor is a critical group of muscles at the bottom of the pelvis. They play important roles in sexual health, bowel and bladder function, organ support, core stability, circulation and posture. These muscles are small but mighty, and deserve more awareness and education. In females, the pelvic floor undergoes significant changes across the lifespan with injuries, exercise, pregnancy, childbirth (even Cesarean section), and menopause. Understanding what signs or symptoms to look for, and how to go about addressing or preventing them, can help avoid long-term issues and improve your quality of life. During childbearing years, the pelvic floor is a key player. It is quite literally responsible for supporting the growing uterus during pregnancy, which may lead to weakness or spasming of the muscles trying to support these changes in posture. Following childbirth, weakness, tearing, stitches, muscle spasm or trigger points can cause persisting issues with postpartum pelvic floor function. The pelvic floor also works closely with your abdominal muscles and breathing diaphragm, and the coordination between these structures can be altered after delivery. Women who have c-section births often still have changes to the pelvic floor from pregnancy, and scar tissue from c-sections can also directly affect how the pelvic floor works. The pelvic floor undergoes significant changes at menopause when hormone levels shift drastically. This group of muscles and the tissue at the perineum is particularly susceptible to the drop in estrogen in the body. These changes can lead to increased muscle atrophy, tissue laxity and tissue sensitivity. This often presents as symptoms such as organ prolapse, pain with sexual activity, or urinary urgency or incontinence, to name a few. Sometimes, these pelvic floor changes may be present (though asymptomatic) prior to menopause, but the hormonal shift can bring symptoms to the forefront and impact function. While the pelvic floor is a small group of muscles, it is an important puzzle piece that works closely with the rest of the body. Other factors that may affect your pelvic floor health include back and hip injuries, chronic pain, diastasis recti, core weakness, abdominal pain or surgeries, gynecological conditions or procedures, constipation, PCOS, endometriosis, stress/anxiety, or poor postural habits. Some types of exercise can also contribute to pelvic floor stress if not done properly or if you have underlying pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor is susceptible to many changes, stressors, and challenges throughout the female lifespan, which is really no different than any other group of muscles in the body. The difference, however, is that this small group of muscles is responsible for such critical roles, that when they are not functioning optimally, significant inconveniences can result. The great news is that there are treatment options available, and you do not have to live with these concerns indefinitely. Finding an excellent pelvic floor therapist as part of your women’s health team can be life-changing from reproductive years to post-menopause. After many years in this profession, I can tell you that it is almost never as simple as the blanket recommendation to “Do Kegels,” but a skilled physical therapist will assess your concerns and get you back on track to improve your pelvic health. You can find more information from Dr. Kaitlyn Labberton and ReclaimHER Physical Therapy at https://www.reclaimherpt.com.

Let's talk about the PUMP Act and why it's important for you to know about it. The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers was signed into law on December 29, 2022. This means that although it went into effect immediately the enforcement won’t go into effect until April 28, 2023. So, if a company or organization fails to follow this new legislation there are no repercussions until April 28th. You may have heard of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law which was signed in 2010 and requires that requires employers to provide reasonable break time AND a private space for all lactating employees (bathrooms don't count). The PUMP Act is a different law, but it was created to address some of the loopholes in the Break Time law. How is it different? Let’s break it down! The PUMP act includes the following additions: Provides the right to break time and space to pump breast milk at work to millions more workers, including teachers and nurses, as well as other salaried workers Makes it possible for workers to file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation if their employer fails to comply Makes it clear that pumping time must be paid if the employee is still doing any work while pumping breast milk Why is the PUMP Act important? Well, first of all, this is huge news for all lactating individuals in general. Beyond that, this is big news when it comes to equity in the workplace. This law gives lactating individuals both proper support and protection. This act is another step towards gender equity in the workplace and allows for new moms who are wanting to come back to work feel that much more confident in being able to step into their role as a parent and not feel like they are jeopardizing their status as an employee. Secondly, if you are currently pumping breast milk you can feel confident in knowing that your employer is required to accommodate you. However, be mindful that employers who have yet to put this into effect in the workplace can't face repercussions until April 28, 2023. Happy pumping! Learn more: https://www.usbreastfeeding.org/pump-act.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2022/12/22/senate-passes-two-bills-for-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-moms-at-work/?sh=6491904633c2 https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-facts-about-the-pump-for-nursing-mothers-act/

View Our Past Events Boston Children's Corporate Cup July 2023 Learn More Boston Children's Yoga Reaches Out April 2023 Learn More Falmouth Road Race August 2022 Learn More Boston Children's Eversource Walk June 2022 Learn More Event Spotlights Back to all events

Join us in the community Upcoming Events Past Events Learn about some of our past events! Drool Baby Expo March 2023 Learn More Breastmilk Depot Opening December 2022 Learn More Boston 10k for Women October 2022 Learn More Upcoming Events Boston 10k for Women Saturday, October 12, 2024 - Boston Common; Boston, MA Learn More

who we are About the Reliable family our story Reliable Maternity is a part of the Reliable family of healthcare solutions. We are dedicated to providing excellent service and top-of-the-line equipment for all new parents. ​ Our mission is to empower, educate, and support parents throughout their breastfeeding journey and beyond by offering lactation counseling, educational resources, support for breastmilk donations, and more. ​ Based in Norwood, MA, we are one of the leading independently-owned providers of specialty medical equipment and home respiratory supplies in the United States.​ We service all of New England with knowledgeable specialists to provide advice and support directly to our patients. our values Empower We want to supply parents with the tools and knowledge they need to feel in-charge of their breastfeeding journey. Educate We are determined to inform and provide resources to parents so that they can take control of their overall health and wellness. Support We want to continue to build a community of parents who are there to support each other and lean on one another. our customer care team LISA Director of Health and Wellness and Certified Lactation Counselor Mom of five • Therapy Dog Handler • Runner • Ocean Lover • Women's Health & Fitness Enthusiast HANNAH Operations Manager and Certified Lactation Counselor Mom of two • Rescue-dog Mom • NE Patriots Superfan • Passionate Home Cook • Chocolate Lover YULIYA Human Resources Director Mom of one • Cat Lover • Chocolate Superfan • Beach Lover • Amateur Chef MOLLY Human Resources Manager Sister • Aunt • Reality TV Superfan • Wannabe Professional Organizer • Chocolate Obsessed EMMA Project Specialist and Design Team Sister • World Traveler • Active Living Enthusiast • Matcha Lover • Mental Health Advocate SHONDA Human Resources Coordinator New England Native • Foodie • Shoe Lover • Proud Owner of 2 Stray Cats • Avid Reader SHELLY Project Specialist Mom of one • Animal Lover • Gamer • Coffee Superfan • Martial Arts Enthusiast SARA Design Lead Sister • Athlete • Foodie • Passionate About Optimizing Women's Health explore See how we're getting involved Learn more about how we are getting involved in the community with some amazing organizations! Click Here Explore our resources Check out our thoughtfully designed resources for patients and healthcare providers. Click Here Meet the Reliable Family of Healthcare Solutions Reliable Diabetes Care Reliable Respiratory Reliable Urology Care