A new study at the University of Connecticut hopes to help women who just had a baby get healthier and lose any extra postpartum weight. Researchers are launching the free study and are looking for women to be a part of it.
It’s those sweet baby smiles that melt our hearts. For Ashlee in Columbia, it’s those smiles that keep her motivated as she has her hands full with newborn twins.
“I feel like I am in constant motion. Like, between the babies and nursing them, changing diapers, getting them to sleep and then we have a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old. So also meeting their needs as well. I feel like there is a lot of running around and a lot of juggling we are still getting used to,” said Ashlee.
All of the juggling leaves little time for Ashlee to take care of herself. Most moms can attest, she is not alone.
“There are a lot of challenges that are the same when you have little ones,” said Molly Waring.
Waring is an Assistant Professor in the Allied Health Science Department at the University of Connecticut and has young kids herself. She is launching the new study all about new moms.
“Studying different approaches for postpartum weight loss. So to help moms lose weight after they have had a baby. And we are comparing an in-person program to an online program that we deliver via Facebook,” said Waring.
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If new moms choose to participate in the study, half of them will go to Hartford to get their health advice and the other half can simply use their phone or computer.
“Think about a secret Facebook group, you can engage whenever, wherever. So you can be sitting on the couch nursing the baby, you can be running around the kitchen and you need support and you can just connect with other moms and the health coach right there rather than carving out time to come in, in person,” said Waring.
Moms who participate will get personalized professional nutrition, fitness and even stress-relieving advice for free through the program. They will also have a network of fellow women to connect with for support.
The study is looking for 80 women. They are recruiting moms and moms-to-be who are eight weeks to 12-months postpartum, through May. That means women who are currently pregnant may still be able to apply. To learn more information call (860) 486-1519 or email momsstudy@uconn.edu.
“To have someone who could maybe be a resource for that, would really be a tremendous help for me,” said Ashlee.
For moms like Ashlee, it would be a welcome helping hand when she is busy helping everyone else.
“At the end of the day you just do as a mom, whatever you can, to make sure everybody is healthy and happy,” said Ashlee.
