Arielle Martone has been through IVF, pregnancy, a c-section and the related recovery, postpartum depression and more. She says, “Postpartum is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be what our current standard is. Too often what is common in postpartum is normalized as just mom life. Moms deserve better.” This experience and desire to help other moms is why she founded her business Find Your Way Mama LLC Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. I really enjoyed getting to know Arielle and I’m confident you will too. Keep reading to learn more about her and Find Your Way Mama.
Meet Arielle Martone
Where are you from originally and what town do you live in now?
I was born in the Bronx, NY (so yes, I’m a Yankees Fan- don’t hate me!) and grew up in Pennsylvania. My husband and I moved up to Massachusetts 10 years ago (work and his family brought us up this way) . We initially landed in Stoneham but have lived in North Andover for about 5 years now.
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
After a long journey with infertility, I feel so lucky to have two kids. I have a son who’s 5 and loving kindergarten, and a daughter who is 3.
What’s your favorite family activity on the North Shore?
Anything outside. We love exploring the trails near our house and Harold Parker State Park. In the summer we love beach days, our favorites are Plum Island and Dane Street Beach in Beverly–the kids love the playground and looking for hermit crabs during low tide. This time of year we have to make our way to Connors Farm. We can easily spend all day there.
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop on the North Shore?
So this depends on who you are asking! If you ask the kids they will say either the Friendly Toast or Dominic’s Diner–they love watching the planes take off. If my husband and I are sneaking away I love Elm Square Oyster Co and La Fina. The food and atmosphere are always on point and I love how convenient they are to where we live.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to start Find Your Way Mama.
I graduated from Columbia with a DPT in 2009. My two passions at that time were neuro rehabilitation and women’s health – my capstone project was on diastasis recti in pregnancy and safe exercising. Initially my career led me to focus on neuro, and I achieved my neuro clinical specialization. That was the majority of my early career although I did spend some time in outpatient and home care as well.
When I started thinking about motherhood more was when I started to shift back to women’s health. It was during the years that I was undergoing IVF that I started diving into continuing education, specifically for pelvic health becoming a certified pre and postnatal coach and pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist.
It was also during this time of trying to have kids that I leaned into my yoga practice more heavily and completed my 200 hour teacher training at Barre and Soul in Melrose.
How did your own motherhood experience, inspire your work at Find Your Way Mama?
After having my two children I was blown away by the lack of support and resources for physical recovery. I had a c-section with my son and no one met me in the room to go over my recovery timeline, what I should expect or how to get out of bed. It was challenging and I knew what to do rehabilitation wise–I couldn’t help but wonder how new moms without a background in rehab or an understanding of tissue healing felt going home after a major surgery with a newborn!
With my daughter I was able to have a Vbac, but that did not mean that recovery was any easier. I needed pelvic floor physical therapy for myself. Again I knew what was normal and what wasn’t, what my options were and how to navigate given my background. And again it was still a challenge–to find someone, to get there and on top of it all I was also dealing with postpartum depression.
It was during this time that once again I began to lean into my yoga background as well as postpartum wellness principles including nutrition and nervous system regulation techniques.
As I moved through my pelvic floor dysfunction and depression I became more aware of how interconnected our mental and physical health are. How integral our pelvic health is to our overall well being. Our pelvic health is our foundation – yes of physical movement but also it is our place of grounding, of safety–it’s our inner compass.
It isn’t “just” a matter of pelvic pain or incontinence – it affects who we are and how we see ourselves. When we don’t have adequate care and recovery postpartum we are starting motherhood off at a disadvantage–one where we feel disconnected from ourselves, where we doubt ourselves and where we become overwhelmed easily. Postpartum is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be what our current standard is. Too often what is common in postpartum is normalized as just mom life. Moms deserve better.
This is why I founded Find Your Way Mama LLC Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in pregnancy and postpartum. To help new moms navigate their way to better pelvic health in pregnancy and in postpartum. And to help them feel good in their changing bodies so they can have the birth they want and the postpartum they deserve. I want to help moms feel like themselves again that that starts with whole person care with pelvic floor physical therapy.
What are the main services you offer through Find Your Way Mama?
Find Your Way Mama offers pelvic floor physical therapy (evaluations and treatment) in the comfort of your home as well as in a calm and inviting treatment space in Amesbury. During pregnancy, these visits can be for addressing discomfort, birth preparation and/or pre-op visits for c-section. In postpartum visits can help improve recovery and function while monitoring for complications as well as addressing c-section recovery. We can also address issues that arise, such as pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, back pain and issues with bowel and bladder.
I also am launching a virtual course The Postpartum Revolution – Your Comprehensive Postpartum Plan that allows you to feel empowered postpartum by guiding you through the pillars of postpartum wellness as you transition into motherhood.
What towns on the North Shore do you serve?
I am located in Amesbury weekly and provide home visits throughout all of Essex County as well as North Reading, Reading, Wilmington and Tewksbury.
What are the main benefits of working with a Pelvic Physical Therapist
A pelvic floor physical therapist can perform a comprehensive evaluation externally and internally of your pelvic floor combining that with a full body assessment that looks at your medical history and current symptoms. The goal is to help you get to the root cause of your concerns and develop a plan for lasting relief. A pelvic floor PT can help improve any of the functions of your pelvic floor which includes: supporting your organs, bowel and bladder functions, sexual functions, supporting pregnancy and birth, assisting with core support and breathing, as well as can be impactful for venous return. Working with a pelvic floor therapist can help decrease your pain and improve your recovery postpartum and can even help prevent pelvic floor dysfunction.
How does treatment typically work?
I treat the whole person in each visit instead of treating moms like just a body part or sending them for additional prescriptions for each complaint/concern. As a mother myself and someone working only with pregnant and postpartum clients, I truly understand the unique challenges of motherhood and how it impacts your day-to-day life.
Clients will never just be hooked up to a machine; they will receive hands-on care and work on and off the table with a variety of pelvic, orthopedic, viscera, and yoga techniques, including manual work and exercises to achieve optimal results.
How do moms and moms-to-be get in touch with you for a consultation?
The best way to connect with me is through my website www.findyourwaymama.com hit the request appointment button.
What is the best piece of mom advice you ever received?
You don’t have to enjoy every moment but try to be present in them. I think this is so helpful to not only savor those special moments and sweet snuggles but to also help us get through the more challenging ones.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you need some “me” time?
A solo run. I often run with the stroller and/or the dogs but if I’m really craving some me time I like to slip out the door hands free. I always feel refreshed if I can just disconnect from it all while connecting back to breath and movement.
Learn more about Find Your Way Mama at findyourwaymama.com and follow along with Arielle on Instagram @ariellemartone or and on Facebook @Find Your Way Mama LLC.
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This post is sponsored by Find Your Way Mama, LLC but all opinions present are my own.