Mothering From Within

In this  episode of the Mothering From Within podcast, Kaili Ets sits down with Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, a neuroscientist, doula, and author, to explore the profound impact of early nurturing practices on children's brain development and mental health.  Dr. Greer shares her personal journey, from her own high-needs babyhood to becoming an expert in infant sleep and brain growth. Through their i...

In this episode, Kaili addresses the immense stress that sleep issues can bring to early parenthood. She empathizes with the struggles of trying various sleep methods without success and offers reassurance by introducing a holistic approach to baby sleep. This approach focuses on connection, responsiveness, and meeting both the baby's and the parent's needs, without relying on traditiona...

In this special episode, host Kaili Ets revisits a deeply insightful conversation with her friend, colleague, and mentor, Meaghan Beames of My Baby CST.  Together, they explore the gentle and transformative practice of craniosacral therapy, its origins, and its benefits for both babies and mothers.  Meaghan shares her journey from being a registered massage therapist to a dedicated craniosacral th...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within', host Kaili Ets uncovers the crucial topic of body tension in babies and its impact on their movement, sleep, and feeding.  Learn what body tension is, how to identify it, and discover simple home strategies and professional interventions to help your baby thrive. Tune in to understand how releasing body tension can support your baby's deve...

Join host Kaili Ets as she chats with Kelsey, an occupational therapist and founder of B.WellTOTs. Kelsey shares her inspiring journey from early intervention to specializing in pediatric feeding and tongue ties. Together, they discuss the holistic approach to pediatric care, the challenges of motherhood, and the nuances of oral dysfunctions, including tongue ties and torticollis.  Learn about the...

In this episode of the Mothering From Within podcast, host Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist, delves into understanding tongue ties, known as ankyloglossia, and their potential impact on breastfeeding, reflux, and overall baby development. Kaili emphasizes that a tongue tie release is not a quick fix, but part of addressing broader feeding and developmental challenges. Highlighting the...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within,' Kaili Ets, a mom and pediatric occupational therapist, explores how understanding your baby's nervous system can help create a deeper sense of security and connection. She introduces the polyvagal theory, explaining the different states of the autonomic nervous system—green (safe and connected), red (fight or flight), and blue (shutdown)....

In this episode, Kaili chats with Bethany, about tools to reduce and regulate the nervous system, especially for adults (that's you mamas!) experiencing sensory overwhelm. They discuss practical methods like I AM statements, EFT tapping, and specific breathwork techniques to help mamas find calm and confidence amidst the chaos of early motherhood. This conversation is packed with actionable i...

This episode (19) of 'Mothering From Within,' is part 2 of the interview with Macall Gordon, a seasoned expert with extensive research on temperament and sleep.  Kaili and Macall discuss why high needs or intense children struggle with sleep and why "self-soothing" is not the goal for sleep. They emphasize that it's more about the child's unique system rather than a l...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' host Kaili Ets chats with sleep expert and researcher Macall Gordon about how understanding your child's temperament can significantly impact their sleep patterns.  Macall shares her journey into this field sparked by her own challenging experiences as a mother and then chats about the nuanced differences in a child's temperament, the...

In this episode of the Mothering From Within podcast, Kaili chats about the different temperaments of babies.  She explains the nine main personality traits that shape a child's temperament, their influence on daily functioning and sleep, and how understanding them can empower parents in nurturing their child.  Kaili discusses the 4 'main categories' of these temperaments - easy-goi...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' host Kaili Ets, a mom and pediatric occupational therapist, welcomes guest Tracy, an occupational therapist, professor, and mother. They discuss the importance of understanding sensory processing in both moms and babies, and how it impacts emotional well-being and parenting.  Tracy shares insights on the polyvagal theory, the challenges of sens...

In this episode of the 'Mothering From Within' podcast, host Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two, discusses the concept of sensory thresholds and how those present in our babies, toddlers, and really every human.  Building on last week's discussion of sensory processing and the eight senses, Kaili simplifies complex concepts to help parents recognize and add...

In this episode of the 'Mothering From Within' podcast, Kaili Ets, pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two, explores the world of sensory processing in babies. Learn about the eight sensory systems, including the often overlooked vestibular, proprioception, and interoception. Kaili offers practical tips for recognizing sensory overload in your little ones and supports you in trus...

In this episode of Mothering from Within, host Kaili Ets, alongside guest Rachel Morrison, dive into the complexities of early motherhood. They discuss how new moms can reclaim their identity, the concept of 'matrescence,' and the importance of self-compassion.  Rachel (she/her) is  a registered occupational therapist and psychotherapist who brings a unique dual lens to her work with par...

In this Episode, #12, Kaili Ets, a mom of  two and a pediatric occupational therapist, explores the significant identity shift that accompanies motherhood and takes you through an exercise to help you get started with rediscovering your identity in motherhood. She discusses how new moms can often feel like they are losing their pre-baby selves while adapting to the demands of parenting. She emphas...

Understanding Your Brain Changes During Motherhood In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' host Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two, sits down with neuroscientist Rocio Zunini to dive into the fascinating changes in the parental brain during motherhood.  Rocio, the founder of Newborn Parents, shares her journey into neuroscience and how becoming a mom piqued...

Why Co-Regulation Beats Self-Soothing for Baby's Sleep and Development In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' I, Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two, dive deeper into the topic of your baby's nervous system and the concept of self-regulation.  I chat about the age old debate of 'self-soothing' and why this is a very mis-understood concept...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' I explore the critical aspects of nurturing an infant's brain from birth to three years.  I discuss why understanding the infant brain is essential for parents to respond to their baby's needs effectively. I talk about the baby's brain size at birth, its development in the first few years, and the importance of the caregiver&apos...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' I chat all about babies' tears and crying.  I talk about understanding crying not just as a means for babies to express immediate needs but as a deeper form of communication, including 'memory crying' linked to pre and perinatal experiences.  I discuss how responding to crying with empathy and support can foster emotional regulat...

In this episode of 'Mothering from Within,' I explore the intricacies of birth from a baby's perspective, highlighting the challenges and resilience inherent in the journey through the birth canal.  I chat about how a baby's birth story influences their early functioning, from feeding and sleeping to overall comfort and shed light on the physical processes during birth.  Then I...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within,' I explore the unrealistic expectations set by societal infant stories on motherhood and infant care.  By reflecting on the narratives around sleep, feeding, independence, and the ideal of a 'good baby,' this episode aims to dismantle pressures towards perfection in motherhood.  I discuss the challenges of aligning with these expectati...

In this episode of 'Mothering From Within,' I chat with guest expert Dacia Davison, a New Zealand-based occupational therapist specializing in mental health.  Dacia shares her personal journey of motherhood, emphasizing the importance of self-regulation and reconnecting with one's identity beyond being a mom.  We discuss the challenges mothers face, including postnatal depression, a...

This episode is a heart-to-heart and real talk about this whole idea of the "perfect mother."  More than half of parents feel that they are failing in their first few years of parenthood. And our society has so many "rules" and things they deem right and wrong, so it is hard not to feel like you are failing if you aren't meeting those things. You feel like you are failing...

Embracing the Emotional Rollercoaster of New Parenthood In this episode #3 of 'Mothering From Within', host Kaili Ets, a pediatric occupational therapist and mother of two, dives into the complexities and emotional rollercoasters of early parenthood.  With guest expert Karen McWilliams, a seasoned birth and postnatal doula with over 20 years of experience, the conversation explores how m...