Teddie Buchner, PhD, OTR/L, QMHP, OT Reg. (AB), an expert in pediatric and maternal mental health, joins host Nicole Quint to explore the hidden connections between maternal mental health and pediatric sensory development. Drawing on clinical experience and original research, Teddie and Nicole dive into how occupational therapists can better support new mothers while fostering healthy co-occupations and sensory integration in infants. Listeners will walk away with evidence-based insights and practical tools to address maternal mental health in everyday pediatric practice. Join us for a thoughtful conversation that reaffirms the OT’s vital role in nurturing the parent–child relationship from the very beginning.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze evidence linking pregnancy-related mental health to maternal attachment behaviors and pediatric sensory integration outcomes
• Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to support maternal mental health and promote occupational development in early parent–child relationships
• Solve patient case scenarios involving new mothers facing mental health challenges during their transition into the parenting role

Timestamps

• (00:00:00) Welcome
• (00:04:30) Why ask about maternal mental health?
• (00:05:38) Baby blues vs. PMADs: what OTs should know
• (00:08:30) Stigma, silence, and the fear of disclosure
• (00:10:30) The power of OT in early parenting support
• (00:13:50) What to look for in a new mother
• (00:17:05) Complex symptoms of postpartum mental illness
• (00:22:38) How maternal mental health affects infant development
• (00:27:20) What the research says
• (00:30:30) Attachment vs. bonding: why the difference matters
• (00:35:00) The sensory side of co-occupations
• (00:38:40) Translating research to practice
• (00:46:00) The gap between parent reports and observed performance

• (00:50:00) Resilience as a protective factor
• (00:51:30) Top 3 clinical takeaways

• (00:55:00) What’s next in research and advocacy
• (00:57:25) Wrap-up

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