About Baby Bodywork and Breastfeeding Therapy

Helping babies to feed better is one of the major issues that I see in my practice supporting the pre and perinatal field.  There are several components that need to be named.  I have created subsections here for you to explore, along with descriptions of my work.  There is a cohort growing nationally to work with babies that have soft tissue restrictions that affect their tongue, jaw and whole body. Breastfeeding is a full body activity for a baby.  If you are having trouble with nursing, sleeping, gas, constipation, inconsolable crying, please give these resources a try. 
 Testimony:

I reached out to Kate when my second daughter, A., was four weeks old. I had consulted our pediatricians, dentist, and multiple lactation specialists for help with our breastfeeding issues, and had attempted two separate tongue tie revisions with no noticeable impact. In our first appointment, Kate pinpointed the root of our issues, which began in utero with prolonged fetal malpositioning, resulting in muscle and fascial compression and cesarean birth (and torticollis and tongue and jaw issues that made breastfeeding difficult and painful for both of us).

Kate's expertise and advice, both with addressing my baby's unusually complex physical needs (which required intensive bodywork over a period of four months) and helping me to soothe and connect with her, have been unbelievable important to our family. She pursued every possible treatment avenue while designing a care plan for my daughter, including consultation with an international professional network of CST practitioners and traveling out of state for training in a new technique she believed could (and did) produce a treatment breakthrough. Between appointments, Kate reached out with questions about A.'s progress and what I was noticing at home.

When I first met Kate, I was struggling to meet A.'s physical needs and connect with her emotionally. I was overwhelmed by a fussy, "high-needs" baby who seemed miserable much of the time. Thanks to Kate's skill and persistence, both with CST and with coaching me in how to connect with my baby, I was able to return to work knowing that our bond was strong enough to weather that transition, and at ten months old A. is still breastfeeding.  
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I cannot recommend Kate enthusiastically enough; she is highly skilled, deeply empathic, and committed to doing all she can to serve mothers and babies. I am wholly grateful for her and her work, and she has been an inestimable blessing to our family. 

Casey Graham Baber, Charlottesville
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About Craniosacral Therapy

I have had my hands on a lot of babies now, starting this path in 1995 with massage, 1999 with biodynamic craniosacral therapy, pre and perinatal therapy starting also in 1999.  Babies and my hands are what have taught me the most, and listening to mothers and fathers.  Please enjoy these resources.

What is pediatric craniosacral therapy?
Carol Gray
Alison Hazelbaker
Michelle Emanuel
Ankyloglossia Bodyworkers

Baby Bodywork

This is an area that is currently being pioneered by eclectic somatic therapists, including myofascial therapy, craniosacral therapy, infant massage, and breastfeeding.  I am trained in all these modalities.  You can research these therapies here:

Upledger Craniosacral Therapy
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
Myofascial Release
Infant Massage
Breastfeeding Therapy with Alison Hazelbarker

Lactation Support

The gold standard and best support for breastfeeding are IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.  Find one near you that you feel good about.  Other support can include La Leche League and other peer support.  Below are my local recommendations, and then a few pages nationally.

Breastfeeding Medicine at UVA
Lactation Corner at Martha Jefferson
Lou Lamb
Denise Wall and her Saturday Clinic
Free breastfeeding support at Bend Yoga
La Leche League
​Kelly Mom

Tongue Tie 

This perhaps one of the most confusing areas of breastfeeding difficulties.  Research shows that only about 5% of babies are actually truly tongue tied, a congenital anomaly that starts inutero as early as 8 weeks.  Here are some resources that might support you:

Tongue Tie Support Group on Facebook
Ankyloglossia Bodyworkers