Therapy and Breastfeeding

Aug 12, 2021

Breastfeeding is a great way to provide nutrients to your baby and promote bonding between the nursing parent and infant

Amanda Dyer, M.S., OT


“How can therapy services help with breastfeeding?”

Breastfeeding is a great way to provide nutrients to your baby and promote bonding between the nursing parent and infant. Therapy services can help with breastfeeding in the following ways:

Oral motor skills

Speech therapists can assess a child’s oral motor skills and structures that may impact feeding, including sucking, swallowing, tongue movements, and jaw movements. They can provide exercises to promote strength, coordination, and endurance while eating. 

Regulation

Infant massage trained therapists can promote relaxation and decrease stress during feeding times. Occupational therapists can provide sensory stimulation activities to decrease sensitivity in the mouth. 

Positioning

Occupational and physical therapists can address positioning and motor skills that may be causing discomfort or instability during feeding

Torticollis

Uneven or tight muscles in the neck can cause a baby to favor nursing on one side over the other due to discomfort

Tethered Oral Tissue

Therapists can assist with pre- and post- frenectomy protocols to assist children who have had oral ties released

Red Flags that Your Child May Need Therapy to Help with Breastfeeding

  • Painful latch
  • Red, misshapen, or blistered nipples in the parent 
  • Pushing away or refusing the breast
  • Coughing, gagging,  or choking while nursing 
  • Falling asleep before finishing a feeding
  • Unlatching and re-latching frequently during a feed 
  • Arching back and/or crying when attempting to feed 
  • Refusing to nurse from one side consistently. 


Not Breastfeeding?

Therapy services can help with bottle feeding by assessing many of the same skills listed above, as well as adapting bottle systems to meet an infant’s needs.

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School’s out for summer! Now what? Not sure what to do with your kiddos for the next two months? Both Richmond and Berea Parks and Recreation have filled their calendars with events that are both family-friendly and FUN! Here are just some of the options available to you! In Richmond 4th of July Celebration: Richmond’s annual 4th of July Celebration will be held at Lake Reba Park on Tuesday, July 4th! Here is a schedule of events for the day! Live Music: Tyler Hood at 5:00 PM Allnuts4Music at 6:00 PM Rock of Ages at 8:00 PM Paradise Cove Free Swim: 4:00PM - 7:00PM Free Adventure Falls Mini Golf: 4:00PM - 10:00PM Food Trucks, Beer & Wine Vendors, and Inflatables: Open at 5:00PM Fireworks: 10:00PM Movies in the Park: Movies in the Park will resume this month at Irvine McDowell Park! Movies begin at dark, and there will be vendors for snacks and beverages at each! June 23rd, 2023: Sweet Home Alabama July 28th, 2023: Dirty Dancing Paradise Cove Free Swim: Hang out and swim at Paradise Cove for FREE! Free swim lasts from 4:00PM to 7:00PM and is the perfect family outing! June 30th, 2023 July 21st, 2023 Check out the Richmond Parks and Recreation website HERE for more information on these events plus a calendar filled with even more family fun! In BErea Family Swim Nights: The Berea Swimming Pool has three remaining dates for family swim! Mark your calendars for a FREE night of fun! All dates are from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. June 20th July 11th July 25th Dive in Movies: There is no better way to enjoy a warm summer night than swimming AND a movie! Berea Parks and Recreation is hosting free movie events at the Berea swimming pool. Check out the dates and movie choices below! June 16th: “Super Pets” July 21st: Movie TBD Check out the Berea Parks and Recreation website HERE for more information on their summer calendar and pool! Be sure to take advantage of these awesome events to beat the heat and spend some quality time with your family and friends! We can’t wait to see you there!

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