Parents with NICU or premature babies often face challenges around feeding, development, and overall health. If you're experiencing feeding or lactation challenges with your newborn, Hali'a Therapeutics can help! As an infant bodyworker, holistic infant and toddler Occupational Therapist, and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (aspiring international board certified lactation consultant IBCLC) in Eugene, Oregon, I provide tailored support to help you and your baby overcome common Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)/premature challenges, such as feeding difficulties, body tension, and developmental delays. I offer in-home services making it easier for you to fit therapy in to your day. Less need to leave the house, find childcare or make sure you have everything you need. Let me come to you and make the process of healing easier. I work with families to identify the root-cause of the feeding challenges. By addressing these problems early, we can set the stage for successful feeding and help your baby thrive.
In-home lactation support is often the best to solve these challenges. Let's dive into how I will assess your newborn's latch, tongue tie, oral ties, feeding position, overall feeding behavior, body tension, gross and fine motor skills, and milestones. As a holistic infant feeding therapist, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and infant and toddler Occupational Therapist I am uniquely qualified to help families in Eugene Oregon.
Common NICU Baby Problems
1. Feeding Difficulties: Premature babies often struggle with breastfeeding or bottle feeding due to underdeveloped sucking and swallowing reflexes, leading to weight gain issues. My role as a holistic infant feeding specialist includes offering breastfeeding support, bottle feeding guidance, helping to wean from nipple shields or SNS, newborn feeding therapy, and creating customized feeding plans. We work on both compensatory skills (to get baby feeding immediately) and rehabilitative skills (to get baby developing proper skills for long-tern feeding success).
2. Respiratory Issues: Many preemies experience breathing difficulties, making feeding harder. My expertise in infant bodywork helps babies develop the coordination needed for effective feeding. As an infant and toddler Occupational Therapist I have a unique whol body lens that gives me a unique understanding of the complex interconnectedness of body tension and how it relates to feeding issues. I am able to provide advanced bodywork to release infant tension, promote symmetry, and strengthen weak muscles that in turn makes feeding easier and later milestones easier to achieve.
3. Developmental Delays: Delayed motor skills are common among NICU and premie babies. Infant bodywork and occupational therapy can help address these delays and promote healthy growth. I will work with you to use toys and items that you already have in your home to create a tailor made play plan that includes the whole family. This unique play based plan will facilitate progression of your preemie's motor skills, decreased body tension, and improved infant feeding skills and coordination.
How Can Lactation and Infant Bodywork Support Help NICU Babies?
As a holistic infant feeding specialist in Eugene, I offer a variety of services for NICU graduates premature babies and their families:
Feeding evaluations: Assessing and supporting breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and supplementation (including nipple shield weaning and tube/SNS use and tongue ties).
Infant bodywork: Focusing on body tension, reflexes, and fine and gross motor skills and feeding-related issues.
Weight gain support: Developing feeding strategies to help preemies gain weight and maintain their growth percentiles for optimal development.
Breastfeeding education: Teaching effective pumping, milk storage, and breastfeeding techniques for preemies.
Supporting Your Baby After the NICU
Even after discharge, preemies often require ongoing feeding therapy and bodywork. My in-home consultations provide continued lactation support and address any lingering feeding issues or developmental delays.
Infant bodywork is especially beneficial for babies who experience muscle weakness, tension, stiffness, or feeding difficulties. It can help ease body tension that may impact feeding, swallowing, breathing, or motor skills development. Combined with occupational therapy, we can create a comprehensive plan to address motor delays and ensure your baby meets critical developmental milestones.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for expert lactation support, holistic infant feeding therapy, or infant bodywork in Eugene, Oregon, I’m here to help you and your baby through every step of this journey. Whether your baby is in the NICU or recently came home, my services are designed to promote healthy growth, development, and successful feeding. Contact me today to schedule a free consultation and start your baby’s journey toward thriving.
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