249: Supporting Moms and Babies Through Occupational Therapy

Today’s focus is on pediatric occupational therapy and how it helps many families with a variety of feeding, swallowing, and developmental issues. My guest shares her exciting work and her experience in helping struggling parents with physical difficulties AND mental health. Join us to learn more! Aviril (Apple) Sepulveda, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BSP, SCFES, IBCLC is a board-certified pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience. She spent most of her career in pediatrics at a children’s hospital in metropolitan Los Angeles where she specialized in infant feeding and swallowing and infant development. She also holds the AOTA Specialty Certification in Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing (SCFES). In addition to her doctorate in Occupational Therapy, she is earning her Ph.D. in Translational Health Sciences at George Washington University. Her clinical areas of expertise include occupational therapy interventions on infant development and feeding, pediatric feeding and swallowing in medically-complex children, sensory processing, lactation, and maternal and infant mental health. Dr. Sepulveda received a fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program from 2016-2019, including grant funding for community-based participatory research to address mental health disparities among Filipino immigrants through parenting programs. She co-founded Nurture Collective to address the gaps in early intervention practice. Her vision for Nurture Collective is to integrate parental mental health in early intervention for children at risk for developmental delays. Show Highlights: How Apple’s journey brought her to the work she does today How she realized the systemic issue (and the broken system) of overlooking the care of moms in treating their babies An overview of occupational therapy and the work of an infant feeding specialist Why feeding issues add a lot of additional stress and shame for parents What Apple notices about the screening process for postpartum depression and why support partners are important for primary caregivers How Apple’s work tries to connect parents with available services that can alleviate their stress in many areas How infant mental health is shaped by their environment and experiences Why special needs kids need their moms to be “on” all the time–which is difficult How Nurture Collective works to support parents Dr. Apple’s basic tips for struggling parents Resources: Connect with Dr. Apple Sepulveda:  www.mynurturecollective.com  Visit www.postpartum.net for resources! Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.   Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!