Motherhood changes everything including the way you see your body, your energy, and the everyday movements you make without thinking.

For Alaskah Hindry, a paediatric occupational therapist and mum of two, that shift has been especially interesting. Her journey into motherhood happened right alongside her journey into becoming a clinician, giving her a unique perspective on both parenting and physical wellbeing.

We sat down with Alaskah to talk about motherhood, common injuries she sees in new mums, and how tools like the HipSurfer can help make everyday parenting more comfortable.

What You’ll Learn in This Blog

In this conversation with paediatric occupational therapist and mum Alaskah Hindry, we cover:

• Her journey into occupational therapy and motherhood
• The most common physical strains mums experience and how to prevent them
• Simple posture and lifting tips parents can use every day
• The parenting products she actually recommends
• How the HipSurfer supports better weight distribution when carrying babies and toddlers
• Why the toddler “carry me” phase can be tough on your body
• Her honest advice for new mums navigating the early years

Meet Alaskah: Mum, OT, and Advocate for Practical Parenting

Alaskah is a paediatric occupational therapist with a busy household, a supportive husband and two children aged six years and eight months.

Interestingly, her journey into occupational therapy started by chance.

In Year 10, she needed to organise work experience but had no clear direction. While chatting about it with her mum at her brother’s soccer training, a local occupational therapist overheard the conversation and offered her a placement.

Alaskah accepted the offer simply because she didn’t have another plan— but that week changed everything.

She loved it.

Looking back now, the career path makes perfect sense. Growing up around family members with additional needs gave her a deep appreciation for helping people participate fully in everyday life.

Occupational therapy aligned naturally with who she was and the environment she grew up in.

Today, she channels that passion into supporting families while also navigating motherhood herself.

Becoming a Mum While Becoming an OT

Alaskah became a mum while still studying her OT degree balancing assignments, placements, and parenting all at once.

That experience shaped how she practices today.

“Having my daughter while I was still learning and building my clinical skills gave me a huge amount of patience, empathy and perspective as a therapist.”

She understands firsthand the mental load parents carry. The constant juggling of responsibilities while also trying to support their child’s development.

But being an OT has also made some parts of parenting easier.

Her professional knowledge has helped her approach things like picky eating with less stress and given her confidence not to obsess over milestones.

“I have a good understanding of the wide range of what’s typical, so I’m able to take a more relaxed and practical approach.”

The Physical Strain of Motherhood (That No One Talks About)

One of the biggest surprises for Alaskah after becoming a parent was how constant motherhood really is.

“You know babies wake through the night and need you a lot, but nothing quite prepares you for the fact that someone needs something from you almost every minute of the day.”

As an occupational therapist, she also became much more aware of the physical strain parenting places on the body.

Common issues she sees in new mums include:

• Neck pain
• Shoulder tension
• Upper back strain
• Wrist and thumb pain (“mother’s thumb”)
• Lower back discomfort from repetitive lifting

Feeding positions, awkward lifting, bending over cots and prams, and holding babies on one hip can all contribute.

Babies might be small, but lifting them dozens of times a day in awkward positions really adds up.

Simple Body-Saving Advice for Parents

Alaskah says one thing makes a huge difference.

Your setup matters.

Using pillows for feeding support, lifting babies close to your body, and paying attention to posture can dramatically reduce strain.

“Looking after your body is part of looking after your baby.”

The Parenting Products That Actually Help

When asked about the parenting products that make the biggest difference, Alaskah focuses on tools that support the parent’s body.

Caring for a baby involves constant lifting, feeding, carrying and bending. Small movements repeated dozens of times each day can quickly add up.

For her, the biggest helpers have been:

• Proper feeding support
• Lightweight baby gear
• Easy-to-use equipment
• Tools that reduce awkward lifting

And then there’s carrying.

“Babies and toddlers naturally want to be held a lot, and most parents end up holding them on one hip or with their arms doing most of the work.”

Many parents reach a point where they realise something has to change.

The constant lifting.
The awkward one-arm carries.
The shoulder and wrist strain that builds up throughout the day.

For Alaskah, finding practical tools that support the parent’s body became just as important as supporting her child’s development.

That’s when she discovered the HipSurfer.

Discovering the HipSurfer

Alaskah first discovered the HipSurfer while preparing to present at the PBC Baby Expo.

While researching exhibitors and brands attending the event, the design caught her attention.

“I hadn’t really seen a baby carrier quite like it before.”

After connecting with Laura, founder of Hackerlily, she was offered the chance to try one herself.

Since then, it has become part of her daily routine.

“It’s been especially handy for those quick in-and-out moments like running to the shops, school pick-up and drop-off, or any of the little errands in between where your child wants to be held but you still need to move around easily.”

First Impressions: “This Just Makes Sense”

When Alaskah first used the HipSurfer, her reaction was immediate.

“As a parent you get very used to carrying your child on one hip, constantly switching sides, or trying to juggle holding them while doing other things, and the HipSurfer just made that feel effortless.”

It takes the strain out of those constant ‘pick up, put down’ moments that happen all day with babies and toddlers.

She describes it as one of those products where you try it once and instantly understand why it exists.

She’s also noticed something else.

When she’s out using it, other parents constantly ask about it.

“I’m always getting stopped at school pick-up or in the shops with people asking what it is and where I got it.”

How the HipSurfer Fits Into Everyday Life

For Alaskah, the HipSurfer is most useful in everyday moments.

Quick trips in and out of the car.
School pick-ups and drop-offs.
Running errands.
Walks with friends.

“If my son suddenly decides he’s unhappy in the pram, I can just pop him onto the hip seat and keep walking comfortably.”

Instead of ending the outing entirely, she can continue moving and socialising.

“It really just fits seamlessly into everyday life.”

 

An OT’s Perspective on Hip Carrying

From a professional standpoint, Alaskah has always been supportive of babywearing.

During the newborn phase, she relied heavily on traditional carriers because being hands-free made a huge difference.

But as babies grow heavier, those carriers can place increasing strain on the neck and shoulders.

She also notes that front-facing babywearing is not something she typically recommends long-term.

The HipSurfer offers a different solution.

The hip seat design redistributes the baby’s weight through the parent’s hips rather than the shoulders.

For curious toddlers who want to see the world, that can be a big advantage.

 

Would She Recommend the HipSurfer?

Alaskah says yes especially during the stage where babies and toddlers constantly want to be picked up, put down, and picked up again.

It helps reduce the physical strain that often comes with that phase of parenting.

 

One Honest Piece of Advice for New Mums

When asked for one piece of advice for new mums, Alaskah doesn’t sugarcoat it.

“Put the baby down sometimes.”

Not to be productive.

But to take care of yourself.

“You’re allowed to take five minutes to breathe, make a coffee, or eat something with two hands.”

Because a mum who has eaten, rested, and taken a moment to reset is far better equipped than one running purely on survival mode.

 

Connect With Alaskah

You can follow Alaskah and her parenting insights here:

Instagram & TikTok: @alaskahhindry

 

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Curious about the HipSurfer Alaskah mentioned? You can explore it here.