Reflexes, Milestones, Tongue-Ties OH MY! with Dr. Allison Chisholm PT, DPT

01/29/25 • 47 min

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Allie Chisholm as she shares her journey from a pediatric physical therapist to becoming a mother and how it reshaped her approach to supporting both infants and their caregivers during the vulnerable postpartum period.

Key Topics:

Background & Journey
- Education in Boston; Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
- Transition from skilled nursing facilities to pediatrics.
- Specialization in infant populations (ages 0-2).
Transition into Motherhood
- Personal experiences with feeding struggles and unexpected challenges of motherhood.
- The importance of preparing for postpartum realities.
Holistic Care Approach
- Emphasis on treating infants alongside supporting mothers emotionally and mentally.
- Collaborative care model that empowers parents rather than sidelining them.
Birth Experiences & Infant Development
- How different birth processes can affect newborns physically.
- Examples include head shaping issues due to positioning during birth or tightness affecting feeding patterns.
Primitive Reflexes & Early Postpartum Interventions
- Understanding primitive reflexes like the breast crawl post-birth.
- Importance of early interventions such as tummy time for motor skill development, breathing optimization, and elongation of body muscles.
Tongue Tie Controversy & Management Strategies
- Discussion around tongue tie diagnoses; conservative management versus surgical intervention options.
- Empowering parents through informed decisions about potential releases based on functional impairments observed in infants.
Tummy Time Benefits Beyond Motor Skills – Addressing common parental anxieties regarding SIDS while emphasizing varied approaches to tummy time practice.
Plagiocephaly (Head Flatness) Insights – Conservative treatment strategies over helmet use when appropriate, focusing on early detection and intervention techniques within critical age windows.

Takeaways:

Parenting is humbling; practical experience often diverges from theoretical knowledge—embrace this learning curve!
Support systems are crucial—both professional guidance like PTs who consider family dynamics holistically but also peer networks sharing similar journeys can be invaluable resources too!
If you’ve experienced pregnancy/baby loss, you don’t have to cope alone, reach out to us for support and check out the other podcasts that helped Dr. Allie as she navigated this challenge: The Birth Hour & The Worst Girl Gang Ever.

Quotes:

"Motherhood will humble you right where you need it most."

"Working collaboratively ensures families feel supported instead of sidelined."

Connect with Dr. Allie Chisholm, PT, DPT:

www.themovingpeanut.com

On Instagram @themovingpeanut
Download my FREE Meditation here.

Send us a text

Key Topics:

Background & Journey
- Education in Boston; Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
- Transition from skilled nursing facilities to pediatrics.
- Specialization in infant populations (ages 0-2).
Transition into Motherhood
- Personal experiences with feeding struggles and unexpected challenges of motherhood.
- The importance of preparing for postpartum realities.
Holistic Care Approach
- Emphasis on treating infants alongside supporting mothers emotionally and mentally.
- Collaborative care model that empowers parents rather than sidelining them.
Birth Experiences & Infant Development
- How different birth processes can affect newborns physically.
- Examples include head shaping issues due to positioning during birth or tightness affecting feeding patterns.
Primitive Reflexes & Early Postpartum Interventions
- Understanding primitive reflexes like the breast crawl post-birth.
- Importance of early interventions such as tummy time for motor skill development, breathing optimization, and elongation of body muscles.
Tongue Tie Controversy & Management Strategies
- Discussion around tongue tie diagnoses; conservative management versus surgical intervention options.
- Empowering parents through informed decisions about potential releases based on functional impairments observed in infants.
Tummy Time Benefits Beyond Motor Skills – Addressing common parental anxieties regarding SIDS while emphasizing varied approaches to tummy time practice.
Plagiocephaly (Head Flatness) Insights – Conservative treatment strategies over helmet use when appropriate, focusing on early detection and intervention techniques within critical age windows.

Takeaways:

Parenting is humbling; practical experience often diverges from theoretical knowledge—embrace this learning curve!
Support systems are crucial—both professional guidance like PTs who consider family dynamics holistically but also peer networks sharing similar journeys can be invaluable resources too!
If you’ve experienced pregnancy/baby loss, you don’t have to cope alone, reach out to us for support and check out the other podcasts that helped Dr. Allie as she navigated this challenge: The Birth Hour & The Worst Girl Gang Ever.

Quotes:

"Motherhood will humble you right where you need it most."

"Working collaboratively ensures families feel supported instead of sidelined."

Connect with Dr. Allie Chisholm, PT, DPT:

www.themovingpeanut.com

On Instagram @themovingpeanut
Download my FREE Meditation here.

Previous Episode

Cord Clamping, The Role of the Placenta & Waterbirth with Barbara Harper

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In this episode, we welcome back the influential Barbara Harper, a pioneer in water birth and gentle birthing practices for over 40 years! She shares her recent global travels, insights into delayed cord clamping, and the significance of nurturing connections between mother and baby immediately after birth.

Key Topics Discussed:

Barbara's global travels training doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas and birth support workers in waterbirth and hypnobirthing.

Delayed Cord Clamping:

Importance of not cutting the umbilical cord immediately post-birth.
Scientific evidence supporting benefits such as increased blood volume for newborns.
The concept of optimal cord clamping where the placenta is birthed before severing the cord.

Nurture Science & Connection:

Emphasis on immediate skin-to-skin contact ("in the sanctuary") for at least six hours post-birth.
Nils Bergman's "nurture science" highlighting continuous love and attention from mothers to infants.

Global Practices & Education Challenges:

High cesarean rates due to lack of understanding of normal physiologic births among medical professionals.
Need for educational reforms in medical schools worldwide emphasizing natural birthing processes.

Postpartum Care Models:

Insights from postpartum facilities in China offering extensive support during the first forty days post-birth.

Notable Quotes:

"The baby's brain only has one program – connection."

"We must change how we welcome babies into the world."

Listeners are encouraged to explore more about gentle birth practices by revisiting our previous episode titled ‘Embracing Waterbirth’ featuring Barbara Harper. Consider advocating for informed birthing choices that prioritize both maternal comfort and infant health through education and community support systems.

Get in touch with Barbara Harper on instagram @thebarbaraharper

Or at her website: www.waterbirth.org

Click here to get the free meditation

Next Episode

Honing Your Intuition for Birth and Motherhood

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decision-making beyond logic and intellect. This episode emphasizes the importance of tuning into your intuition, particularly for women navigating fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

Key Topics Discussed:

Understanding Intuition:
- Defined as a "gut feeling" or an embodied experience.
- Differentiates from logical thinking; relies on bodily sensations.
Cultural Conditioning:
- Society often prioritizes intellect over intuitive feelings.
- Importance of balancing both to thrive in life.
Biological Perspective:
- Women might find it easier to access intuition due to biological roles in childbirth and nurturing.
Practical Applications:
- Using intuition during labor and birth when plans change unexpectedly.
- Trusting gut instincts in parenting decisions against external advice.
Barriers to Intuition:
- Fear and survival mode can cloud intuitive judgment.
- Previous traumas may inhibit connection with one's inner guidance system.

Enhancing Your Connection

Be curious about bodily sensations indicating "yes" or "no."
Allow space for exploration without fear of societal judgment.
Engage in healing practices like psychotherapy or community support to clear past traumas affecting clarity.

Personal Insights

Dr. Cindy, ND shares personal experiences where trusting her heart's signals led her through challenging times successfully—from empowered births to crucial life decisions.

Want more guidance on how to tap into your power for labour, birth and postpartum?

For further questions on connecting with your intuition, reach out via Instagram @drcindytahhan.
Download my free meditation here.
Explore the upcoming Birth Mentorship Program for personalized guidance throughout pregnancy, birth and early postpartum stages.
- Click here to apply.