Sensory Processing, Head Shape, and Whole-Body Feeding Support: Episode 133
About this episode
Lisa and Jess discuss the role of occupational therapy in infant feeding and tongue tie care, focusing on sensory processing and whole-body support.
In this episode, Lisa welcomes Jess Draper, a holistic infant occupational therapist, IBCLC, and pelvic floor therapist based in Eugene, Oregon. Through her practice, Hali’a Therapeutics, Jess provides concierge-style care for families from pregnancy through the first year of life, bringing a whole-body, nervous-system-informed lens to feeding, oral motor function, movement, milestones, and tongue tie care. Lisa and Jess talk about the important role occupational therapy can play in infant feeding and tongue tie care, especially when babies are struggling with regulation, sensory processing, oral motor coordination, head shape, or feeding patterns that do not fit neatly into one category. Jess explains sensory processing in a practical way, including how babies take in, filter, and respond to touch, sound, movement, and oral input. They discuss how sensory differences may show up during feeding, such as gagging, popping on and off the breast, difficulty reorganizing after switching sides, or becoming easily overwhelmed by movement, sound, or touch. They also explore neuroplasticity, mirror neurons, and why babies often need support learning how to use new tongue mobility after…
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