What Derails Development Before Your Baby Is Even Born - Guest: Emily Roper | A Parent's Guide to Child Development
About this episode
The episode discusses how primitive reflexes and various prenatal factors can impact a child's development, featuring insights from expert Emily Roper.
Why do some kids sail through development while others struggle with anxiety, sensory overwhelm, ADHD, or learning challenges? Often, the answer traces back to something almost nobody talks about: primitive reflexes that never fully integrated — and the risk factors that get in their way. Host Annamarie von Firley sits down with Emily Roper, Neuro-Developmental Delay Therapist, certified Midwife's Assistant, & founder of Early Roots, to unpack what derails reflex integration — starting as early as five weeks after conception through pregnancy, birth, & the first year. Emily also hosts The Early Roots Podcast. This conversation is for expectant parents, new parents, birth workers, and anyone parenting a struggling child — not to create guilt, but to build awareness and offer a path forward. What We Cover: Why retention isn't about blame — what's in a parent's control Why this isn't routine in prenatal/pediatric care In-utero risks: maternal stress, substances, illness, positioning, low amniotic fluid Multiples and IVF considerations Common birth scenarios linked to retained reflexes C-sections and reflex retention research Induction, epidurals, vacuum, forceps, Pitocin…
People in this episode
Host: Annamarie von Firley
Guest: Emily Roper
Topics covered
- primitive reflexes
- developmental challenges
- prenatal care
- birth trauma
- parenting awareness
Keywords
- development
- anxiety
- sensory overwhelm
- ADHD
- learning challenges
- maternal stress
- birth scenarios
- postpartum mental health
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Early Roots
Books & works: The Early Roots Podcast
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