About
Darline Turner-Lee, Founder of Mamas on Bedrest & Beyond, a subsidiary of Next Step Fitness, Inc.*
Darline Turner-Lee is the founder of Mamas On Bedrest & Beyond, a subsidiary of Next Step Fitness, Inc*. She brings nearly 17 years of experience as a physician assistant, ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist and perinatal fitness instructor to the business along with extensive personal experience. Turner-Lee was pregnant every year between 2001 and 2006 with the exception of 2003. She has has 4 conceptions, 2 miscarriages, 2 high risk pregnancies and 2 cesarean births.She has the unique perspective as a clinician and as a high risk and older mom (who gave birth at 37 and 40 respectively) which enables her to meet the unique needs-both physical and emotional-of high risk pregnant women. Turner-Lee’s vision for Mamas on Bedrest & Beyond is to change the way that clinicians, friends and loved ones care for high risk pregnant women.
Turner-Lee strives to shift the paradigm of high risk pregnancy care by:
- Providing support via one on one and small group coaching to ease a pregnant mamas through this time of transition. Turner-Lee helps mamas navigate the various obstacles-physical, emotional and financial-providing them with useful tools and staunch support, to smoothly transition to motherhood. Turner-Lee seeks to make a woman’s bed rest experience a time of joyous transformation.
- Resources and information (see our blog and podcasts) to empower mamas on bed rest and new mamas with the necessary tools and information they need to make wise and informed decisions for themselves and their babies.
- Research studies in order to evaluate the efficacy of bed rest versus a modified lifestyle with supervised activity and to propose safe alternatives to the bed rest prescription when appropriate.
- Efforts to extend maternity leave and to make such prenatal care services covered medical benefits. To date there is still controversy as to whether or not bed rest is an effective treatment for high risk pregnant women. As more tests are made available to detect the probability of preterm labor, we hope women who aren’t at risk for preterm labor won’t be placed on bed rest. In the mean time, it is the mission of Mamas On Bedrest & Beyond to support high risk pregnant mamas, help them smoothly transition to motherhood and to be healthy and strong in the process.
*To learn more about Next Step Fitness, Inc., Click here.
Partners
Better Bed Rest
Better Bed Rest is a non-profit organization that provides one on one telephone support to women on bed rest. Better Bed Rest also has a micro grant program to assist women on bed rest who are in financial distress as a result. Better Bed Rest provides micro grants up to $500 for women to pay rent, mortgage, utility bills or other essential expenses. Better Bed Rest and Mamas on Bedrest & Beyond are both committed to seeing that maternity leave becomes a paid benefit in the United States and have joined forces, along with other organizations to see the process through.
Sullivan Physical Therapy
Sullivan Physical Therapy specializes in Women’s and Men’s health. This group of advanced practice physical therapists and a licensed massage therapist work together to provide comprehensive personalized care to men and women experiencing pain and discomfort related to prenatal and post partum conditions, pelvic muscle weakness, pelvic pain and muscle spasm syndromes and pre/post operative rehabilitation. Mamas on Bedrest & Beyond is proud to Partner with Sullivan Physical Therapy to provide care and comfort to (high risk) pregnant and new moms.
