You may have noticed issues such as
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Struggles with breast and/or
bottle-feeding skills -
Difficulty maintaining a latch
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Nipple pain/damage
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Leaking milk from the side of the mouth
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Two-tone lips or blisters
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Poor coordination of sucking, swallowing, breathing
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Coughing or gagging
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Clicking or noisy feeding
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Unsettled during feedings
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Prefers feeds better from one side over the other
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Sleepy feedings
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Open mouth posture at rest
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Mouth breathing or snoring while sleeping
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Poor weight gain
You may have noticed other symptoms like
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Body asymmetries/ body curvature
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Body tension
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Head tilt
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Head turning preference
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Head shape concerns
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Struggles with tummy time
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Development concerns
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Reflux
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Colic
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Gastrointestinal issues
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Tethered oral tissues, a.k.a tongue/ lip/ buccal ties
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Lots of gas and/or spitting up
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High arched palate
What We Help With
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Baby’s oral motor skills for bottle and breastfeeding
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Establish proper oral rest posture
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Bottle Selection
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Pre and post therapy tongue, lip, and/or buccal ties
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Body tightness
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Body alignment
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Head turning preference and head tilt (torticollis)
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Head molding issues (plagiocephaly)
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Tummy Time
1 / Free Consultation
First, we offer a free consultation via zoom where you can voice your concerns and determine if our services are a good fit for you and your baby.
2 / Your Evaluation Appointment
Next, we set up an evaluation in person or via Zoom to determine the root cause. A care plan will be determined that focuses on your individualized goals through compassionate care and using a holistic lens that best suits you and your baby’s needs.
3 / A Treatment Plan Tailored to Your Needs
We want to meet you and your baby where you are based on your needs. Once a plan has been created the treatment sessions will focus on your functional goals while collaborating with your baby’s lataction provider, physical therapist, chiropractor, CST, osteopath, pediatric dentist, ENT, pediatrician, and/or sleep educator.
About Me
Dr. Emily Hawkins
I am Emily, an occupational therapist and mama myself who has been through this process. I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, exploring outdoors, boating and watching Iowa Hawkeye Sports.
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As a mom and OT, I am passionate about supporting individuals with informed decision making for their needs. I strive to provide services that support healthy outcomes for each person, baby and their family.
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I pursued specializing in myofunctional therapy and training with newborns and infants after going through my own journey with myself and my baby. I saw that there was a need that needed to be filled in this area and I wanted to be a part of this movement. Therapy is oftentimes overlooked when it comes to tongue/lip/buccal releases and addressing the function is just as important, if not, more than releasing the restriction. Plus the earlier the invention the better and faster we get results.
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I earned my Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Drake University and my B.A. in Health and Human Physiology from University of Iowa. I have specialty training in myofunctional therapy through MyoMentor with Sarah Hornsby, and training with newborns and infant therapy with Michelle Emanuel’s pre/post frenectomy therapy, and infant pelvic floor.