In this episode, Lisa welcomes Jess Draper, a holistic infant occupational therapist, IBCLC, and pelvic floor therapist based in Eugene, Oregon. Through her practice, Hali’a Therapeutics, Jess provides concierge-style care for families from pregnancy through the first year of life, bringing a whole-body, nervous-system-informed lens to feeding, oral motor function, movement, milestones, and tongue tie care.
Lisa and Jess talk about the important role occupational therapy can play in infant feeding and tongue tie care, especially when babies are struggling with regulation, sensory processing, oral motor coordination, head shape, or feeding patterns that do not fit neatly into one category.
Jess explains sensory processing in a practical way, including how babies take in, filter, and respond to touch, sound, movement, and oral input. They discuss how sensory differences may show up during feeding, such as gagging, popping on and off the breast, difficulty reorganizing after switching sides, or becoming easily overwhelmed by movement, sound, or touch.
They also explore neuroplasticity, mirror neurons, and why babies often need support learning how to use new tongue mobility after release. Jess shares why infant care should include more than identifying restriction, and why supporting function, movement, and nervous system regulation can make such a difference.
The conversation also includes an important discussion about head shape, palate shape, birth positioning, time in containers, and how the body’s structure can influence feeding. Lisa and Jess emphasize the importance of looking at the whole baby, not just the mouth.
Lisa and Jess discuss:
- How occupational therapy fits into infant feeding and tongue tie care
- What sensory processing means in babies
- Signs that sensory overwhelm may be affecting feeding
- Why some babies struggle with oral input, movement, or switching sides
- Neuroplasticity, mirror neurons, and infant oral motor learning
- Why babies may need help learning to use new tongue mobility
- How head shape and palate shape can affect feeding
- The impact of birth positioning, prematurity, and time in containers
- Why whole-body assessment matters before and after tongue tie release
- Supporting both baby and parent as a connected dyad
Connect with Jess Draper
Instagram: @haliatherapeutics
Email: jess@haliaot.com
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This podcast is meant for education and conversation only. It is not medical advice and does not replace formal education, professional training, or individualized care from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek appropriate guidance for individual concerns. The views and opinions shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Tongue-tie experts.
