On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes Dr. Dusty Hess, a nationally recognized functional medical doctor, speaker, author, and founder of Upstream Health. Together, they explore a critical topic for foster and adoptive families: understanding and supporting children who have been impacted by prenatal drug and alcohol exposure. Dr. Hess helps shift the narrative for struggling caregivers, offering profound hope by explaining that what often presents as behavioral defiance is actually a physiological response from a nervous system adapted to survive difficult circumstances.
Dr. Hess details the biological mechanics of how substances and chronic maternal stress alter brain development in the womb, impacting neuron formation, dopamine pathways, and stress response systems. He breaks down the behavioral clues that indicate a child is living in a chronic fight-or-flight state, including explosive emotional reactions, sensory sensitivities, sleep disturbances, and difficulty with transitions. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of looking beneath surface behaviors, documenting patterns with curiosity, and addressing underlying biological causes like gut-brain connection issues, blood sugar instability, and toxic burdens.
Rather than relying on legalistic or punitive parenting strategies, Dr. Hess equips caregivers with practical ways to build biological safety through environmental changes. He shares actionable tips for establishing consistent household rhythms, creating soothing bedtime routines to improve sleep quality, and regulating a child’s nervous system by maintaining a calm, organized home. Packed with encouragement, this conversation reminds parents that healing is a gradual, directional process and that even small, intentional steps can powerfully shape a child’s path toward safety and wholeness.
About the Guest
Dr. Dusty Hess is a nationally recognized functional medical doctor, author, speaker, and the founder of Upstream Health, a movement dedicated to helping Christian families reclaim their health through God's original design. Through his practice and public speaking, Dr. Hess specializes in getting to the root cause of chronic health and neurological challenges by looking at biological, environmental, and lifestyle factors. He is passionate about empowering caregivers and foster parents with personalized, practical tools that foster long-term healing and biological safety for vulnerable children.
In This Episode
Recognizing the behavioral clues of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure, including emotional volatility, transition challenges, and sensory sensitivities.
How prenatal substance exposure and maternal stress alter brain development, dopamine pathways, and nervous system regulation.
The biological drivers behind dysregulation, including the gut-brain connection, blood sugar swings, and sleep dysfunction.
Practical tools for creating biological safety at home through consistent rhythms, calming bedtime routines, and an organized, regulated environment.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative - https://theforgotteninitiative.org/
Follow TFI on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theforgotteninitiative/
Understanding & Supporting Kids with Prenatal Drug and Alcohol Exposure - https://onedrive.live.com/?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fa3caa6cbe49cc1ae%2FDocuments%2FDesktop%2FTFI%20Files%2FPodcast%20Recordings%2FTFP%2FDusty%20Hess%2FUnderstanding%20%26%20Supporting%20Kids%20with%20Prenatal%20Drug%20and%20Alcohol%20Exposure%2Epdf&listurl=%2Fpersonal%2Fa3caa6cbe49cc1ae%2FDocuments&ithint=file%2Cpdf&e=BkW1Zk&migratedtospo=true&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fa3caa6cbe49cc1ae%2FDocuments%2FDesktop%2FTFI%20Files%2FPodcast%20Recordings%2FTFP%2FDusty%20Hess&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL2IvYy9hM2NhYTZjYmU0OWNjMWFlL0lRQjBzZFlMcWUxSVJMYklzYW9QeExqUEFRTHVwbUdOb0JGSU5jLUVsYTlBbFFjP2U9QmtXMVpr&ga=1
