Tongue ties happen everywhere in the world and India is no exception. In this episode, Katie Oshita and Dr. Ankita Shah discuss what tongue tie care looks like in India today, the awareness, the gaps, and how one specialist is working to change the conversation. Listen to hear more about the unique challenges of diagnosis and treatment in India.

Tongue ties happen everywhere in the world.  Some places are good at diagnosis and support and others are still denying their existence.  In the UK many babies aren’t diagnosed and if they are most are “snipped” and sent on their way.  In this episode Katie Oshita and Dr Suraj discussed the similarities and differences in the tongue tie climate between the UK and US.  Listen to hear more about the complexities of hyper mobility and  use of Serrapeptase and wound healing.  Listen here.

In this episode, Katie Oshita reviews a case study.  This includes oral dysfunction, low supply, including root cause support and tools for feeding babies.  Listen here.

Osteopathy is meant to be a hands on manual therapy, yet in the US Osteopaths function more as medical doctors.  In Canada schools aren’t regulated.  In this episode Andie Poulin discusses with Katie Oshita how different schools work and how osteopathy can help, especially from pre-conception through early childhood.  Listen here for more.

Brazil is a country that regularly and routinely assesses for tongue ties and oral dysfunction; unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean full functional assessments.  Using a team approach to body and oral function, Ligia Conte helps babies thrive in São Paulo, Brazil.  Listen to hear more about bodywork and teamwork from Katie Oshita and Ligia Conte.

With a large group practice of 35 therapists, Jennifer Teplin has been able to create a safe space for mental health.  And with 12 of those therapists trained in perinatal mental health, the space is very focused on supporting new parents.  Since this country has an epidemic of postpartum depression and anxiety, it’s wonderful that centers such as Manhattan Wellness exist.  Listen here as Jennifer Teflon and Katie Oshita discuss postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, and all the challenges new parents face today.

When most pediatricians aren’t even acknowledging oral ties, Dr Erick Galindo Valdes goes above and beyond.  In his practice, he releases oral ties with a laser and is the only physician in Guadalajara doing so.  Listen as Katie Oshita and Dr Erick Galindo Valdes discuss common vs normal, trusting the biological norm and how conversations like these advance the field. Listen here

From his first release 28 years ago on his daughter to being a board member of ICAP, Stefano Colasanto has spent his career focusing on oral dysfunction.  How this interacts with breastfeeding is where Katie Oshita comes in.  Together they discuss how this amazing organ, the tongue effects so much in the body and the resulting dysfunction when there are restrictions.  Listen here for more.

In lactation private practice, IBCLC's spend more time with families than most other healthcare providers.  This gives us more time to help identify issues and refer out for support.  In this episode Katie Oshita discusses what screenings can be beneficial to support dyads and what to do with that information.  Listen here for more.

Once you see dysfunction, once you know it’s there, you can’t go back.  That was the case for Vijaya Hunt, who learned about tongue tie from a parent perspective with her first child and made it her mission to learn more about how to support dyads with oral dysfunction.  Vijaya’s oral function knowledge has shaped her family and even extended families lives.  In this episode, Katie Oshita and Vijaya Hunt discuss oral function, paid leave, adult releases, and more.  Listen here.

The placebo effect is a real thing.  Our minds are so powerful that if we really believe in something, it makes it more likely to be true.  In lactation, parental confidence is of extreme importance.  If the parent believes they will be successful they are more likely to be successful.  Supporting that confidence is one of the many roles that an IBCLC fills for new parents.  Listen here as Katie Oshita and Sarah Oakley discuss parental confidence, breastfeeding, oral ties, and how important trusting your intuition is.

Weight is an important metric for growth and development with infants, but it is not as simple as it seems.  There are different growth charts and metrics to decide if growth is adequate.  In this episode Katie Oshita and Hope Lima discuss how weight needs to be discussed with colleagues and clients.  Collaboration not competition is essential to support families.  Hope also discusses her Infant Feeding class and how having multiple levels of skill and support helps families. Listen here for more.

Norway has universal healthcare, but it doesn’t cover tongue ties. That means families in Norway struggling with infant feeding, airway and sleep issues need to pay out of pocket for functional releases.  Dr Skallevold is not just a dentist but a specialist for oral function, airway health, and tongue ties.  His practice supports patients of all ages and helps to bring health and healing all across Norway.  Dr Skallvold discusses this with Katie Oshita in this episode.  Listen to hear more.

Slow gaining, faltering growth, failure to thrive- all of these are babies that are not getting optimal growth and development during the crucial early years.  When you add in babies not stooling regularly and the effect of the microbiome, babies aren’t doing so great.  In this episode Katie discusses how both weight and poop are common issues for babies and how these are areas we need both more research and more attention to.  

Slow gaining, faltering growth, failure to thrive- all of these are babies that are not getting optimal growth and development during the crucial early years.  When you add in babies not stooling regularly and the effect of the microbiome, babies aren’t doing so great.  In this episode Katie discusses how both weight and poop are common issues for babies and how these are areas we need both more research and more attention to.  

Birth and babies are a family affair in India.  Families are large and support is deeply tied to the culture.  Dr Shivika Agarwal and Katie Oshita discuss how family support impacts breastfeeding, what it’s like to be a release provider and an IBCLC, and how bias affects medicine. Listen here.

Maternal and child health thrive with the right support. For over two decades, Dr. Manisha Gogri has combined her expertise as a medical doctor and IBCLC to guide families through pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. She pioneered one of Mumbai’s first pregnancy fitness programs and led lactation initiatives across India. She approaches care with a whole-person perspective. In this episode, Katie Oshita talks with Dr. Gogri about her journey and passion for empowering mothers and babies. 

Airway health is absolutely critical to growth and development.  When our brain isn’t getting enough oxygen, we don’t sleep, grow or feel as good.  Dr Roche and his wife Kate started the National Tongue Tie Center in Ireland 8 years ago to address this integral part of health.  Now they see patients as a whole person, not just a part of their body.  In this episode Katie Oshita discusses with Dr Roche and Kate why they saw the need for the Center, and how it has changed.  Listen here to learn more about tongue tie in Ireland.

Breastfeeding in the Philippines is commonplace, yet lactation support is not.  For 116 million people there are only 29 IBCLC's!  Yet the breastfeeding rates are more than double compared to the US.  In this episode Katie Oshita and Marj Sibayan discuss how breastfeeding and lactation care is in the Philippines and US.

Starting a private practice is hard.  While it's amazing to have so much control and autonomy, it can also be overwhelming to figgie out all the things that need to be done.  In this episode Katie Oshita discusses starting a private practice, income, education and growth.  If you are thinking about starting your own lactation private practice, this is a great starting place.