As an occupational therapist, I am looking at how your baby moves (motor skills, range of motion, coordination, strength), reflexes, oral-motor function, swallowing, sensory processing, and vision.

As a lactation consultant, a few areas I assess, include: milk supply, infant weight gain, supplementation needs, infant latch, positioning at breast, pumping, breast/ nipple pain, and more.

Is the feeding/lactation issue due to the baby's skills? Does baby show signs of another underlying medical concern (i.e. gastrointestinal, airway, allergy, tethered oral tissues)? Does mom have an oversupply/fast letdown or low milk supply? Does baby just need a positioning change or a different bottle system? Often it is a combination of factors!

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping infants/children develop and improve their skills to engage in meaningful activities of daily life (also what we as OT’s call “occupations”). For babies, this includes: playing, eating, moving their bodies, bonding with caregivers, interacting with their environment, and sleeping.

Pediatric feeding therapy focuses on supporting infants and children who experience difficulties with eating or drinking. Your therapist may be either an occupational therapist or speech therapist who has specialized training in feeding and swallowing. Sessions aim to address issues such as difficulties with latching, swallowing, motor strength/coordination, oral motor skills, and sensory sensitivities that may impact a child’s ability to feed effectively and safely. Employing techniques and strategies tailored to the individual needs of each infant helps to promote healthy and successful feeding experiences for adequate nutrition and growth. It is essential that feeding therapists utilize a team approach - working closely with your physician, physical therapist, IBCLC, and/or pediatric dental provider.

IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. An IBCLC is considered the highest level of certification in the field of lactation support. They undergo extensive and comprehensive training, including: specific lactation-focused education, clinical practice hours, and a challenging board examination. This ensures a high level of expertise in breastfeeding and lactation support.

I have partnered with The Lactation Network (TLN) to help families receive insurance coverage for a large portion of their visit. Please see the “Insurance and Pricing” section for details.

If you do not qualify for TLN, I am happy to provide a superbill for potential reimbursement from your insurance provider. Please check with you insurance company regarding your “out of network” benefits.