Mama Wellness Co

Breastfeeding concerns? We’re here to help ✨
 
Did you know some physiotherapists have additional training to help support your breastfeeding/chest feeding journey?
 
Common feeding concerns we address:
· Breast conditions such as blocked ducts, mastitis, breast inflammation, and ni**le trauma.
· Infant conditions such as torticollis, plagiocephaly, tight jaw muscles, and difficulty achieving a wide, open mouth for latching.
· Latch concerns such as shallow latch and positioning concerns for feeding.
 
Working closely in collaboration with other members of your healthcare team, let’s ensure a smooth and comfortable outcome for you and your baby 🤱🏻
 

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year. This year’s theme is:

CLOSING THE GAP: BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT FOR ALL

The campaign highlights how families, communities, and health practitioners can support every breastfeeding/chestfeeding parent.

This theme resonates with my own feeding journey. My two boys both had significant posterior tongue ties and lip ties. My support team included private dentistry for laser frenectomies, an internationally board-certified lactation consultant, a pediatric chiropractor and an osteopath for body work. Without this team, I am not confident I would have been able to, and still continue to, successfully nurse. Accessing these services for me required a significant level of financial privilege, as they were all paid for out of pocket or with private medical insurance.

My hope is that, with time, our community can close the gap so that all individuals who wish to breastfeed/chestfeed their babies can access the same supports we did. I strongly believe that everyone should have the choice of how they feed their baby, and a lack of support shouldn’t make that decision for them.

One of the things I love most about our perinatal world here in HRM is our community!

As I’m gathering up a few last minute things to get ready for with , I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and colleagues and connecting with each and every one of you ✨

See you this Sunday at the Halifax Forum - Maritime Hall

✨ April is Cesarean Awareness Month ✨

C-sections are the most common in-patient surgery performed in Canada 🇨🇦

Do you have a scheduled c-section?

C-sections can bring unique challenges to postpartum recovery, affecting pelvic floor function and overall well-being. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you prepare ahead of time by teaching you post-operative strategies to promote optimal healing and recovery after birth.

Didn’t know you’d be having a c-section and not sure what to do next?

Your local physiotherapist trained in pelvic health can be a great resource for early mobilization, pain management, and overall pelvic floor and core rehabilitation.

Mama Wellness Co is all about supporting YOU, no matter how your little one makes their arrival into this world 🌎

Wishing you all the very best long weekend with friends and family 🐣

This teething baby is eyeing those Easter snacks with envy, but this basket seems to be doing the trick for now!

Happy International Women’s Day!

As a female small business owner and a women’s healthcare provider, I am forever grateful for the community of professional women here in the HRM who’ve truly embraced the phrase ‘empowered women empower women.’

Let’s continue to empower the women in our lives and celebrate their strength, resilience, and achievements today and every day 🤍

Just a friendly reminder that if you’ve ever had a baby, you are postpartum.

I love this saying because it encapsulates the understanding that the impact of pregnancy and childbirth extends beyond the immediate postpartum period. Often, self-care can get pushed to the back burner as you navigate new motherhood, but I’m here to remind you that postpartum is not a finite chapter, and it certainly isn’t linear – and that’s okay.

I’m here to help whenever you’re ready ✨

As I prepare to come back to work, I thought this may be as good of a time as any to re-introduce myself!
 
My name is Kendra Penney, and I am the owner of Mama Wellness Co. I am a registered physiotherapist in Nova Scotia, providing in-home pelvic and breast health physiotherapy services to Halifax and the surrounding areas.
 
I started Mama Wellness Co after I learned firsthand as a mother that we will always make everything happen for our little ones, but tend to put our own needs on the back burner. My goal is to make those postpartum appointments more convenient for you, in the comfort of your own home!
 
Here are some things you may not know about me:
 
· Since my last introduction, we’ve completed our family with the addition of another little boy. My days are busy chasing after the two of them, and my heart couldn’t be any fuller ❤️
· In case you’ve missed it, I’ve opened up my schedule for the Spring of 2024. Fun fact: one of my favorite things about living in Canada is getting to experience all four of the seasons 🌺☀️🍁❄️
· I love to read! Since having my second, I’ve started a book club 📚 I’ve been more intentional about carving out some me time, and this happens to include reading more books for fun and spending time with the loveliest group of women I’m lucky enough to call friends!

PS. Send along those book recommendations! I read a little bit of everything 🤓

For more information on these services and more, check out our website at www.mamawellnessco.ca.

Still have questions? Reach out anytime!

My calendar is now open for Spring 2024 🎉

Reach out via email to [email protected] to book your appointment now!

For more information, link to my website in bio 👆🏻

✨ Birth Story Monday ✨
 
Sharing my most recent birth story has been on my list for a while now, and to be honest I think I’ve held off because my care with the Nova Scotia Midwives is so much more than just the birth itself.
 
I was lucky to have been accepted into the program with my first pregnancy back in 2020/21. From the moment I knew I was pregnant with my second, I held my breath until I had been accepted back into the program a second time. I couldn’t imagine not having that same quality of support, and fortunately I didn’t have to. Unfortunately, many in Nova Scotia are turned away and never get to experience their care due to a lack of funding.
 
They supported me in navigating bleeding during both my RH- pregnancies, provided evidence-based education on all of my options, supported my family’s decisions without judgement, were available 24/7, provided in-home appointments those first weeks postpartum, all with compassion and kindness.
 
Similarly, to my last labor and delivery, my membranes spontaneously ruptured the night before I progressed to active labor. Upon admission at 7cm dilated, I found myself walking into the same birthing room I had delivered my first in 2 years prior. We had planned for a hospital water birth, and luckily baby allowed us the time to set everything up. Throughout my labour, midwife Alannah made sure myself and baby were safe, while allowing my husband and our doula the space to support me in a calm and peaceful environment. Through the hiccups surrounding monitoring baby’s heart rate in the birthing pool, a nuchal cord, and the difficulty determining the amount of blood loss while in water, Alannah stayed calm and reassuring. She always communicated well and asked for informed consent, which allowed me to feel in control, confident and safe in my decisions.
 
I was both empowered and supported as I delivered our water baby. Reaching down and pulling him up to my chest is one of the greatest memories of my life, and one I will never forget. For everything, I am forever grateful
 

I’ve checked off baby snuggles on my to do list at least 20x today and it just doesn’t want to stay unchecked… I’m not complaining though 🤍

In all seriousness, I’ve been loving spending time with my little Leo, but I’m also looking forward to getting back to all my mamas on a very part time basis.

✨ Stay tuned for when I officially open my books in the upcoming weeks ✨

Still on maternity leave over here, but couldn’t help but wish you a very happy holiday season 🤍

To all the mamas and mamas-at-heart 🤍

Wishing you all the best this holiday season ✨

Happy Halloween!!

We’ve sponsored our first athlete over here at Mama Wellness Co 🏁

Zoom in for the branding 😉

Yesterday I celebrated 1 year of being a mama ✨

A few of the things I’ve learned over the past year for what it’s worth:
1. Sitting still is not my strong suit. In those early postpartum days, even though I knew better, I had a hard time resting. Ask for help, lean on your tribe, let them support you.
2. Feeding a baby is a lot of work, no matter which feeding option you choose. We’ve officially reached the 1 year mark of our breastfeeding journey, and it’s been just that… a journey. More on that later.
3. You will never regret the snuggles.
4. Sometimes it’s just easier to stay home. Our schedule worked for us and I didn’t veer too far from it. Big thanks to everyone who understood and accommodated.
5. Mom guilt is real.
6. So is a mothers instinct. No one is going to advocate harder for your baby than you. If something seems off, trust it, and do something about it.
7. There is no greater joy than hearing those first baby giggles, watching those first steps and hearing ‘mama’ on repeat.
8. It is so special to be someone’s favorite person in the world, but being touched out is a very real thing that I don’t think is talked about enough.
9. You can be counting down the minutes until bedtime, only to watch the monitor while they sleep because you miss them so much 5 minutes later.
10. I’ll repeat again, you will never regret the snuggles.

Wishing all fathers and father figures a special day, today and everyday!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I am overwhelmed and grateful for all of the support I’ve received this week for this passion project of mine 🤍

And just like that my website is live! This means it’s about time I share a little more of my story and what I’m bringing to the HRM:

✨MOBILE PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR PELVIC HEALTH✨

In 2019, I began my journey in women’s health. At the time, I found myself looking to gain more information and knowledge of the pelvic floor to further help my orthopedic clients get the care they needed. Since then, I’ve continued to deepen my knowledge and understanding through further education and have developed a passion for providing women’s pelvic health physiotherapy.

Fast forward to today: I delivered my first child in August of 2021. Not only have I experienced pelvic floor physiotherapy from a client’s perspective, but I now have a special interest in treating the pelvic floor for a perinatal population. I am a big advocate in preventative care when it comes to overall health and I believe pregnancy and the postpartum period of time are no exception. Having an understanding of how your body works, how it will change throughout your pregnancy, how you can help your own recovery during that post partum period and how you can return safely to the activities you love make a huge quality of life difference. That’s where I’m here to help!

I was fortunate enough to experience in-home care early on postpartum with the IWK midwives, my birth doula, and my post-partum doula, AND I do not think in-home services should stop there!

It’s hard enough as a mother to prioritize your own wellness with a new baby, who has their own demanding schedule and needs. I want to help you make your own care a priority, by making it just that little bit easier for you. Instead of arranging childcare, or timing out feedings and naps, allow Mama Wellness Co. to provide your treatment in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Now accepting new patients 🙋🏻‍♀️

Check out the website for more information (link in my bio☝🏼), or reach out and let's chat!

Business cards have arrived!

In 2020 I won an amazing prize package from that included photos with 📷

As all of the pieces are coming together, I’m really excited about what we’ve been able to put together and cannot wait for you all to see more!

Why Mama Wellness Co?

I’m a mother first. It is the most important role I will ever play in this life.

I believe to be the best mama to my son, I need to also prioritize myself and my own wellness. This I’ve learned is much easier said than done. It truly is an ever changing balancing act.

With a 9 month old at home myself - I see you, I feel you, I AM you 🤍

My primary focus will be on your physical health and healing, but wellness is so much more than that. Using both my physiotherapy training and my yoga teacher training, my goal is to help and guide you in your journey to find your own wellness.

Always remember, your ideal outcome is what we are striving for. Your goals may look different than other peoples goals, and that’s ok ✨

Someone asked me the other day how I ended up in the field of pelvic floor. To be honest, this is a question I get asked regularly and my answer is always the same.

Everything is connected.

Did you know that up to 95% of individuals with lower back pain, also have some form of pelvic floor dysfunction?

That being the case, I often referred to physiotherapists trained in pelvic health to make sure we weren’t missing an important piece of the puzzle. Eventually, I sought out courses to gain the knowledge I needed to understand and treat pelvic health myself! I have been offering pelvic health services to anyone with female anatomy since 2019.

What if you don’t have a va**na? Although I don’t have the training myself, I have a list of amazing local practitioners I am happy to send your way ✨

Hi everyone 👋🏻! For those of you I’ve not yet met, here’s a little bit more about me:

• I am from Lower Sackville, NS.

• My husband Brad and I eloped in October of 2020 at Polly’s Cove right here in NS. It wasn’t Hawaii like we had originally planned, but it sure was stunning.

• We welcomed our wonderful son Caden in August of 2021. Waiting to find out his s*x until the birth was the best surprise!

• We are obsessed with our Bernese Mountain Dog Sir Indiana Bones, “Indy” for short. He was the “Best Dog” at our elopement.

• I graduated from Queens University with a Master of Science in Physiotherapy in 2014.

• I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training in India in 2016.

• I LOVE to travel. Our last big adventure pre pandemic was hiking the Inca trail and hanging out in the Amazon rainforest!

• I began my pelvic health training in 2019, and I haven’t looked back since.

• I currently offer orthopedic physiotherapy services out of Coastal Sports and Wellness in Bedford, NS.

It has been a long time coming for me to finally launch a professional account! My name is Kendra Penney and I thought I should officially introduce myself as the face behind Mama Wellness Co 🙋🏻‍♀️

I am an physiotherapist trained in orthopedics and women’s pelvic health. I have a special interest in working with a prenatal and postpartum population. Helping you stay active in pregnancy, preparing you for labour and delivery, and getting you back to all of your favorite activities post partum are just a few of my favorite things!

Fun fact about this photo: and I rushed to squeeze these in before it was completely obvious to everyone I was expecting at the time🤰🏻