Does your baby hate tummy time? Wondering if that bouncer or walker is actually helping or hurting?

In this episode, I sit down with Keri Kamryn Skjei, infant physical therapist on the Be Well Baby team, to break down everything parents need to know about baby positioning, containers, and motor development.

We cover the truth about all that baby gear you registered for—car seats, bouncers, walkers, exersaucers, and Bumbos—and share what's actually helpful versus what might be getting in the way of your baby's development.

Plus, we dig deep into tummy time: when to start (hint: right away), what to look for at each stage, and what to do if your baby seems to hate it.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the floor is the best place for your baby's development—and it's free
• The connection between feeding difficulties and motor development
• What head control should look like at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months
• How to get your baby into tummy time without triggering the startle reflex
• The 2-hour rule for car seats and why baby wearing is different from other containers
• Which containers to avoid completely and which can be used safely
• Why "happy sitters" often have delayed rolling skills
• The concept of "functional frustration" and why it matters

Resources Mentioned:

• Be Well Baby baby wearing video 
• Upseat for Babies (PT-designed alternative to Bumbo)
• Upseat for Toddlers (PT-designed booster for your mealtime struggles)
• Skip Hop activity center (if you must use a standing container)

Connect With Us:

Be Well Baby website: bewellbaby.org 

Beyond Birth Blueprint: Join our membership for comprehensive support throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and babies first year! 

About Our Guest:

Keri-Kamryn Skjei is one of our amazing infant physical therapists at Be Well Baby. With a background in pediatric pelvic floor and a passion for early development, Keri brings a calm, grounded presence to every home visit. She's also a mom of two who gets the real-life challenges of implementing these recommendations. Her specialties include hitch crawlers, baby wearing, and craniosacral therapy. We love Keri! 

More About Your Host

Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Be Well Baby in Portland, Oregon. With extensive NICU experience and training in craniosacral therapy, she leads a team providing home-based health care for families navigating the tricky parts of pregnancy and postpartum. She also hosts the Beyond Birth an online educational community available to families across the country—so no matter where you are, you have access to support, resources, and connection. Emily is also a mother of three and passionate about helping families move from surviving to thriving.

Ever heard "regulate your nervous system" but wondered what that actually means? This episode breaks down the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system—and why it matters so much during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and for your baby's development.

Resources:

• Huberman Lab - on How to Breathe!

• Oura Ring (10% off sleep and recovery tracking)
• Ninni Co. Pacifier (code: BEWELLBABY for 10% off)
• Be Well Baby Support Group (Fridays at 10am)
• Beyond Birth Blueprint (Educational Community)

What You'll Learn:

• The two main parts: central nervous system (brain + spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system (everything else)
• The autonomic nervous system and its branches—sympathetic and parasympathetic
• Why your sympathetic nervous system isn't the enemy
• The vagus nerve: why everyone's talking about it and how 80% of its fibers send information FROM your body TO your brain
• The freeze/shutdown state (dorsal vagal response) and why you can't just "positive think" your way out
• Your enteric nervous system: 500 million neurons in your gut—your "second brain"

Why This Matters for You:

• Chronic stress during pregnancy is linked to preterm birth and lower birth weight
• Labor progresses best when you feel safe, private, and unobserved
• Postpartum anxiety often = sympathetic system stuck ON; postpartum depression can involve dorsal vagal freeze
• Babies cannot self-regulate—they need your nervous system to find calm (co-regulation)

Practical Tools:

• The physiological sigh: Inhale deeply through your nose, hold briefly, sip in one more breath through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth
• Know YOUR signals (tight shoulders, shallow breath, racing heart)
• Build in parasympathetic moments: humming, singing, cold water on face, slow breathing
• Prioritize sleep and movement
• Connect with safe people—co-regulation isn't just for babies
• For baby: skin-to-skin, follow their cues, protect their environment from overstimulation

Key Takeaway: Regulation isn't about being calm all the time—it's about flexibility. Can your system activate when needed AND recover afterward? That's health.

More About Dr. Emily:

Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Be Well Baby in Portland, Oregon. With extensive NICU experience and background as a yoga teacher and massage therapist, she leads a team providing home-based health care for families navigating the tricky parts of pregnancy and postpartum. She also hosts the Beyond Birth Blueprint an online educational community available to families across the country—so no matter where you are, you have access to support, resources, and connection. Emily is also a mother of three and passionate about helping families move from surviving to thriving.

Episode Summary:

Today I'm so excited to be talking with Annie Adamson, the founder of Primal Child™. Annie has spent over two decades blending movement science, nervous system literacy, ancestral parenting wisdom, and a deep understanding of holistic pelvic and postpartum care.

She helps parents reclaim trust in their child's innate intelligence, supports body awareness from birth, and even has a revolutionary take on potty training—Primal Potty Training™, which treats it as a sacred stage of body awareness rather than a task to check off a list.

In this conversation, we talk about the "golden window" for potty training (hint: it's earlier than you think), why the 3-day method might not be serving your child, and how rhythm—not routine—can transform not just potty learning but your entire family dynamic.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• Annie's journey from teen mom to creating the Primal Potty Training Method
• The four pillars of Primal Child: movement, ancestral nourishment, nervous system regulation, and potty learning
• What "body literacy" means and how to build it from birth
• The golden window for potty training (6-12 months) and why starting early actually makes things easier
• Why Annie doesn't recommend the 3-day potty training method
• Understanding your child's constitution (fire, water, earth, air) and how it affects their learning style
• The difference between rhythm and routine—and why it matters
• Play by proxy and how to introduce the potty without pressure
• What to do when your child will only poop in a diaper
• Nighttime potty training strategies
• How to respond to family members who question your approach
  

Key Takeaways:

1. Potty training is a developmental milestone, not a task to rush. Just like walking or crawling, it deserves time and respect.
2. The golden window for introducing potty learning is 6-12 months—when babies are naturally curious and less likely to resist.
3. Rhythm creates safety. When the potty is part of a predictable, warm family rhythm (like tooth brushing or morning tea), it stops being scary.
4. Skip the bribes. Sticker charts and candy rewards aren't necessary when potty learning is introduced as a normal part of life.
5. Know your child's constitution. A fiery, strong-willed child needs clear leadership and autonomy, while a sensitive, watery child needs softness and more time.
   

Connect with Annie:

• Instagram: @primal_child 
• Private Consultation with Annie Adamson
• Primal Potty Training Handbook
• Free Potty Training Masterclass 

Upcoming Event:

Join Annie Adamson for an in-person Primal Potty Training Workshop in Portland this spring hosted by Be Well Baby! You'll get hands-on guidance, see different potty options, and have your questions answered in community with other parents. Pre-walking little ones welcome. 

March 8th 3:30pm in SE Portland.

Click Here to Sign Up!

Dr. Emily sits down with Danielle Hanna, an Ayurvedic practitioner who has been supporting families through life's major transitions for over a decade. Together they explore why postpartum care isn't a luxury—it's foundational to your long-term health. Danielle shares simple practices rooted in ancient wisdom that can make a real difference during the postpartum period, plus the life-changing power of showing up to community, even with mismatched socks.

Danielle Hanna is an Ayurvedic practitioner supporting people through life's transformative stages—from daily wellness to postpartum care to perimenopause. In Portland, she offers "Rituals of Care" packages for postpartum families through her business Living Arts Ayurveda. 

• The basics of Ayurveda: the science of life, the five elements, and the doshas

• Reframing postpartum care from "luxury" to necessity

• Abhyanga: warm oil massage and how it supports healing

• The overlap between postpartum symptoms and early perimenopause

• Simple daily practices: tongue scraping, oil pulling, choosing warming foods

• The irreplaceable power of postpartum community

• Postpartum care is not a luxury. You're healing your body for the long haul, not just getting through next week.

• It's the little daily things that compose who we are. Prevention is the foundation, not an afterthought.

• Warm, soupy foods are your friend postpartum—your digestion is impaired after birth.

• Self-oiling (Abhyanga) can be done at home. Sesame oil is warming; coconut oil is cooling.

• Find your people. Connection with others in a similar life stage is a lifeline.

• Living Arts Ayurveda - Danielle Hanna
• Oura Ring (10% off sleep and recovery tracking)
• Ninni Co. Pacifier (code: BEWELLBABY for 10% off)
• Be Well Baby Resources Page – Local Portland postpartum resources
• Be Well Baby Support Group (Fridays at 10am)

1. Website: bewellbaby.org
2. Instagram: @bewellbabypdx
3. Beyond Birth Blueprint: Online membership for birth prep and postpartum support

Everything we discuss on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for care from your own healthcare team.

Returning to work after parental or maternity leave can feel overwhelming, full of guilt, and identity-shifting. Dr. Emily Spaeth sits down with career coach Sarah Malin to explore how to navigate work, motherhood, and boundaries — and why “balance” might be the wrong goal.

This conversation is for anyone navigating identity shifts, work-life boundaries, and the tension between being a parent and a professional — and anyone who wants to feel more grounded and confident in this season of life.

3 Key Takeaways

• Motherhood shifts your identity.
  Returning to work can highlight the tension between your professional self and your parental self. Identity is not one thing — it’s fluid, multifaceted, and socially constructed.
• Balance is a myth — boundaries are your ally.
  Instead of chasing “work-life balance,” focus on setting clear boundaries. Small micro-adjustments and awareness of your needs are more effective than trying to fit everything perfectly.
• You have more options and power than you think.
  Understanding your rights, communicating with your manager, and connecting with other parents can make navigating workplace challenges much easier. You’re not powerless — even in a system that wasn’t designed for working parents.

About Our Guest

Sarah Malin is a career coach specializing in supporting parents as they return to work after maternity leave. She helps her clients navigate identity shifts, guilt, boundaries, and the often-unspoken tension of showing up as both a parent and a professional in workplaces that weren’t designed for caregiving.

Sarah works with clients virtually across the U.S. and offers a complimentary 90-minute session to explore goals and challenges at Livelyhood Coaching.

Resources

• The Pump Act
• If you aren’t into legalese, my blog on The Pump Act
• Livelihood Coaching — Complimentary 90-minute session: livelyhoodcoaching.com
• Oura Ring (10% off sleep and recovery tracking)
• Ninni Co. Pacifier (code: BEWELLBABY for 10% off)

Keywords

returning to work after maternity leave, new mom identity, working mom guilt, work-life boundaries, postpartum career, navigating postpartum work, mother and professional identity, motherhood transition, maternal burnout, postpartum support

More About Dr. Emily

Dr. Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant specializing in pregnancy, postpartum, and babies. She is the founder and CEO of Be Well Baby, a home-visit practice in Portland, Oregon, and the creator of the Beyond Birth Blueprint, an online educational community supporting parents through birth, recovery, babies, relationships, and nervous system health with confidence and compassion. She is also mom to three of her own personal babies who she loves very much.

The SNOO Smart Sleeper is everywhere—recommended by friends, borrowed from coworkers, and marketed as a solution to newborn sleep deprivation. But is it actually safe for babies beyond sleep alone?

In this episode of The Be Well Baby Podcast, Dr. Emily Spaeth—infant physical therapist and lactation consultant, with years of NICU-experience—takes a grounded, non-judgmental look at what we do and do not know about the SNOO.

There is no research proving harm. But there are also major gaps in the research—especially around feeding, bonding and attachment, head shape, and long-term motor development.

This episode is for you if you:

• Are considering buying a SNOO
• Already have a SNOO and want to use it thoughtfully
• Are concerned about feeding cues, weight gain, or bonding
• Are noticing flat head, head turn preference, or rolling delays
• Want evidence-based information without shame or fear

• What the SNOO research actually shows—and what it doesn’t
• FDA clearance vs. long-term developmental outcomes
• Feeding concerns and missed hunger cues
• Bonding, attachment, and human co-regulation
• Swaddling and movement concerns from a pediatric PT lens
• Why evidence-based care includes research, clinical experience, and family needs
• Practical ways to use the SNOO without compromising development

1. Use it as a tool, not a replacement
2. Watch closely for early feeding cues
3. Prioritize daily movement and tummy time
4. Protect bonding and attachment
5. Have a transition plan

The SNOO is FDA-cleared for safe sleep and may reduce crying, but research is limited beyond sleep outcomes. When used intentionally, it can support exhausted families. When relied on too heavily, many clinicians see patterns of flat head shape and delayed milestones.

• 2023 Scoping Review on the Five S’s and the SNOO
• SNOO observational sleep study (Happiest Baby–supported)
• NICU clinician survey on SNOO use

• Oura Ring (10% off sleep and recovery tracking)
• Ninni Co. Pacifier (code: BEWELLBABY for 10% off)

If you’re worried about:

• Feeding or weight gain
• Flat head or head turn preference
• Tummy time struggles
• Motor delays

Reach out to Be Well Baby or join the Beyond Birth Blueprint to get weekly support and education from Dr. Emily.

You deserve sleep—and your baby deserves developmentally supportive care.

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday
@bewellbabypdx | bewellbaby.org

Fatigue, anxiety, low mood, brain fog, or low milk supply are often brushed off in postpartum. But what if those symptoms aren’t inevitable — what if they’re actually signs of treatable physiologic depletion?

In this episode, Dr. Emily Spaeth sits down with Dr. Stephanie Hayes, naturopathic physician and acupuncturist in Portland, Oregon, to unpack two of the most commonly overlooked contributors to postpartum struggle: iron deficiency and thyroid dysfunction.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand the difference between typical prenatal and postpartum labs and optimal health — and learn how to advocate for better care.

3 Key Takeaways

Iron deficiency is common — even without anemia.
A normal CBC does not rule out iron deficiency. Ferritin reflects iron stores, and many people become symptomatic well before anemia appears.

Iron affects more than energy.
Low ferritin can contribute to anxiety, low mood, low milk supply, even nerve pain. Iron is also required for thyroid hormone production.

Postpartum thyroid issues are underdiagnosed and often dismissed.

Postpartum thyroiditis can show up weeks to months after birth with anxiety, insomnia, buzzing sensations, or crushing fatigue — and is frequently written off as “just how it is.”

About Our Guest

Dr. Stephanie Hayes is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist at Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center in Portland, Oregon. She specializes in fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum care and works collaboratively with midwives, OBs, and other providers to support whole-body health during major reproductive transitions.

Dr. Hayes also co-leads The Art of Fertility, a mentorship and fellowship program for clinicians focused on integrative reproductive care.

Resources

Jason Health (direct-to-consumer lab access)
Blog on this topic! (Blood tests to request are included)

Ninni Co - 10% off with code BEWELLBABY

Oura Ring - 10% off

Keywords

postpartum fatigue, iron deficiency postpartum, ferritin levels, postpartum thyroiditis, thyroid postpartum, low milk supply, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, iron infusion, women’s health, pregnancy nutrition, lactation support

More About Dr. Emily

Dr. Emily Spaeth is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and international board-certified lactation consultant specializing in pregnancy, postpartum, and babies. She is the founder and CEO of Be Well Baby, a home-visit practice in Portland, Oregon, and the creator of the Beyond Birth Blueprint, an online educational community supporting parents through birth, recovery, babies, relationships, and nervous system health with confidence and compassion.

Bringing a baby into your family doesn’t just change your sleep—it reshapes your relationships, your identity, and the way you experience connection. In this episode, Dr. Emily is joined by Julia Chapman, LMFT, PMH-C, for an honest, compassionate conversation about the relational shifts that often emerge during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.

Together, they explore how couples can stay connected during the intensity of the fourth trimester, why resentment and loneliness are so common (and so human), and how planning and communication before baby arrives can soften the shock of postpartum change.

1. Postpartum relationship strain is common and not a sign something is wrong.
   Shifting roles, sleep deprivation, and unequal emotional and physical labor can create distance in even the strongest partnerships.
2. Intrusive thoughts are often a sign of care, not danger.
   Many parents experience unwanted or scary thoughts in pregnancy and postpartum. What matters is whether they interfere with daily life.
3. Boundaries protect relationships, not just space.
   Clear communication with partners, parents, and friends—especially before resentment builds—supports long-term connection.

Julia Chapman, LMFT, PMH-C has been working in private practice since 2012. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, her training is aimed at helping people develop healthy, satisfying relationships.

Julia provides affirmative psychotherapy to adults of different cultures, genders and sexual identities. Julia enjoys assisting individuals and couples navigate major life transitions as well as cope with family of origin conflict, codependency, trauma and loss. In addition, she has a Perinatal Mental Health Certification and is passionate about helping clients navigate pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and early parenthood.

Throughout the therapy process, Julia emphasizes the significance of the therapeutic relationship and incorporates warmth, compassion, and humor into the work. She utilizes a collaborative approach with clients, focusing on identifying strengths, developing effective communication strategies and increasing agency in their lives.

• Postpartum Support International (PSI)
• Perinatal mental health therapy and couples counseling
• Baby Blues Connection

postpartum relationships, fourth trimester, matrescence, intrusive thoughts postpartum, postpartum anxiety, perinatal mental health, couples therapy after baby, boundaries with in-laws, relationship changes after birth

Dr. Emily is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, board certified lactation consultant, specializing in pregnancy, postpartum, and babies. She is the founder and CEO of Be Well Baby, a home visit practice in Portland, Oregon, and creator or the Beyond Birth Blueprint, an online educational community that supports parents in navigating birth, recovery, babies, relationships, and nervous system health with confidence and compassion.

In honor of Taylor Swift’s 36th birthday, Dr. Emily dedicates this episode of the Be Well Baby Podcast to imagining what it would look like to fully support Taylor through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and new motherhood.

This episode is part fan tribute, part deep education, and part invitation for all birthing people to stop being blindsided by this major life transition. Dr. Emily walks through the physical, emotional, neurological, and identity shifts that happen in pregnancy and postpartum—and how real preparation can change everything.

From pelvic floor health to nervous system regulation, birth advocacy to lactation preparation, NICU awareness to emotional resilience, this episode lays out what comprehensive, whole-body support truly looks like.

If you are pregnant, postpartum, considering pregnancy, or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you.

About Your Host

Dr. Emily Spaeth is the founder and CEO of Be Well Baby, creator of the Beyond Birth Blueprint, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), prenatal and postpartum yoga teacher, and sometimes a professor. She specializes in the physical and nervous system care of birthing bodies and babies— preconception through early walking.

Dr. Emily worked for years in a Level IV NICU, where she founded the infant massage program and trained medical staff in trauma-informed developmental care. She now teaches and mentors other physical therapists, occupational therapists, and lactation consultants, and supports families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, and early parenting.

Topics Covered

• Why pregnancy is one of the most intense initiations of adult life
• What “advanced maternal age” really means
• How pregnancy reshapes the body, brain, hormones, and identity
• Core, pelvic floor, breathing, posture, and mobility changes
• Nervous system preparation
• Pain coping, advocacy, and surrender in birth
• Why postpartum is recovery, not performance
• Pelvic floor protection for long-term bladder health
• Feeding preparation before baby arrives
• Pumping comfort, flange sizing, colostrum collection
• Infant cues, soothing, consent-based touch, and infant massage
• NICU preparation without fear
• A reminder for anyone in postpartum: you can do this

Resources

Click here for 10% off the Oura Ring 

Ninni Co. Pacifier 10% off Code: BEWELLBABY 

Beyond Birth Blueprint

Connect

bewellbaby.org
Instagram: @bewellbabypdx
New episodes drop every Wednesday!

Book a free 15 min consult

Love you all! Leave a review, share with a friend, you know the drill!

The Legal Stuff: Everything in this podcast is for educational purposes only, It is not medical advice, and it does not replace care from your own healthcare team. You deserve personalized support. By listening, you agree to take responsibility for your own decisions and neither I nor my amazing team can be held liable for how this information is used.

In this special birthday episode, I sit down with Faith Samaan, Be Well Baby’s lead lactation consultant, to talk about flange sizing—what it is, why it matters, and how the right fit can completely change your pumping experience.

We dive into why the “standard” flange size doesn’t work for most bodies, how the latest research has shifted best practices, and why comfort, efficiency, and milk output are all deeply connected. If you’re pregnant, pumping, exclusively pumping, or supporting feeding families—this episode is packed with practical, empowering information.

Faith Samaan is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with nearly 18 years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, postpartum, NICU stays, and long-term feeding journeys. She’s known for her deep clinical knowledge, compassionate care, and expertise in flange sizing, tongue tie, milk supply, and complex feeding challenges.

• What a flange actually is—and why size matters
• Why the traditional 24mm “standard” flange is usually way too big
• How flange sizing research has evolved
• Why nipple-only fit (not areola) is key
• The role of nipple elasticity, engorgement, and postpartum timing
• Different flange shapes (conical, comfy, crater, pano) and how they affect milk removal
• How proper flange sizing can dramatically increase milk output and comfort
• Real-life examples of pumping success after correct sizing
• Why silicone inserts often don’t solve the problem
• Why flange size changes over time
• The power of prenatal flange fitting
• Virtual vs. in-home flange sizing options
  

• Pumping should not be painful.
  
• Comfort and efficiency go hand-in-hand.
  
• Most people are using flanges that are far too large.
  
• Proper flange sizing can improve output, milk fat content, comfort, and confidence.
  
• You are not a cow—and you deserve comfort, too. 🐄♥️
  

Faith Samaan offers both virtual flange sizing appointments and in-home visits in and around Portland, Oregon.

Head to bewellbaby.org to contact our team or just send a text to 971-351-2714

Article: Flange Styles: Features, Benefits, and How to Choose

Goldie Kits: Pano 13-15; Crater 12-14  (these are just to show you the shapes; you should get fitted by a professional if you can!)

Keywords

flange sizing, breast pump flange size, lactation consultant flange fitting, IBCLC advice, lactation advice, pumping comfort, breastfeeding support, chestfeeding support, pumping pain, exclusively pumping, prenatal lactation support, pumping without pain, exclusive pumping, low milk supply, NICU pumping, virtual flange fitting

Next week’s episode is a fun one—December 13th is Taylor Swift’s birthday, and Dr. Emily is dedicating the entire episode to all the ways she would support Taylor through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond… now that she’s officially advanced maternal age.

You won’t want to miss it!