Christy DelCamp, PA-C, shares how her NICU-to-mom journey led her to functional pediatrics—covering gut health, picky eating, anxiety, sleep and airway, the first 1,000 days, and simple changes parents can make right now.

Topic: Practical, evidence-informed ways families can address root causes behind common pediatric issues—eczema, reflux, picky eating, anxiety, sleep/airway concerns, and frequent illness—without abandoning conventional medicine.

What You’ll Learn
• How Christy went from ER work to founding ThriveWell Functional Pediatrics
• What “root cause” really means—and why treating why matters alongside what
• The “inflammatory cup” model and why symptoms look different for each child
• Gut–brain connection: anxiety, ADHD/autism, picky eating, and sugar
• Sleep quality vs. quantity—mouth breathing, airway, palate, and myofunctional therapy
• Three wins parents can start today: more whole foods, less than 25g sugar, better sleep
• The first 1,000 days: microbiome foundations from conception to age two
• When medication is still needed—and how gut support can reduce side effects

Resources & Links
🌐 thrivewellfunctionalpediatrics.com
📸 Instagram: @thrivewell_functional_peds
📞 Free Discovery Call available on her website

Rapid Recap / Key Takeaways
• Start small: whole foods, less sugar, prioritize good sleep.
• Gut testing can uncover hidden causes behind skin, mood, and behavior issues.
• Airway matters—mouth breathing, crowded teeth, or daytime fatigue are red flags.
• Functional + conventional = better function, fewer side effects.
• Early life (conception–age 2) is the foundation for lifelong wellness.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & why this conversation matters
00:26 Christy’s story: ER PA to functional pediatrics
01:28 “He’ll grow out of it”—trusting mom intuition
02:45 First tests: gut panel + allergy insights
03:35 Respecting conventional care while listening to families
04:52 What is functional medicine?
06:12 Gaps in traditional care: time & testing limits
07:14 Why gut testing should be routine
07:58 Picky eating, ADHD/autism, and the food loop
08:55 The “inflammatory cup” explained
10:21 Processed foods & zinc deficiency
11:22 Inflammation showing up as anxiety, OCD, PANS/PANDAS
13:19 Gut–brain link and mood
14:54 When meds are still needed
18:18 Autism: focusing on function
19:26 The functional toolkit: testing & nutrition
20:50 Healing eczema from the inside out
21:33 Three parent wins now
23:15 Why sugar feeds “bad guys”
25:03 Sleep quality ≠ quantity
26:41 Palate expansion & myofunctional therapy
28:16 Drooling & oral microbiome
31:10 Diet and oral health
31:20 How to work with Christy
32:43 The first 1,000 days explained
35:42 Infant reflux & early clues
37:32 Pregnancy probiotic tip
38:49 Gut health and immune strength
40:11 Collaboration wins for families