Connections Occupational Therapy

10/30/2025

10/27/2025

Its day. Nine years ago I completed the first TOTs training in Kentucky.

10/24/2025

A new song for brushing teeth 🪥 🦷 with Elmo and Ms Rachel 🤍🩵

This is your friendly reminder to brush brushy brush your teeth to the brand new version of Brushy Brush with Ms Rachel at Songs for Littles! 🪥💖🦷🎶 https://m.sesame.org/BruhyBrushR

10/20/2025

Connections Occupational Therapy is proud to announce Cara Daubenspeck’s successful completion of a professional certification in Postpartum Mental Health, further solidifying a commitment to supporting the emotional well-being of new families during the critical postpartum period.

The certification, awarded by Postpartum Support International, represents advanced training and support of individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and psychosis.

This certification allows evidence-based, compassionate care tailored to the unique challenges of the postpartum experience. This milestone reflects an ongoing commitment to maternal mental health and a broader mission to ensure that every parent receives the emotional care they need during one of life’s most vulnerable transitions.

Cara Daubenspeck is now one of few OTR/Ls in West Virginia with the PMH-C designation and the only one in WV with the combination of OTR/L, IBCLC, PMH-C.

Special thank you to West Virginia Perinatal Partnership for scholarships for attending the course and the exam fees.

10/14/2025

📢 The Lactation Network is now taking Aetna West Virginia effective immediately! If you have UHC/UMR or Aetna West Virginia and are breastfeeding, contact me to see if your visits can be covered through The Lactation Network!

Email: cara@connectionsot.com or complete an appointment request at www.connectionsot.com

10/14/2025

Got a new shirt 💜💜 Thank you Molly!

10/02/2025

💙 Baby Blues vs PPD vs PPA: Know the Difference 💙

Not every mood change after birth is the same:

🔹 Baby Blues: Mild mood swings, tears, irritability; usually resolves within 2 weeks.
🔹 Postpartum Depression (PPD): Persistent sadness, hopelessness, low energy, loss of interest; can last months without treatment.
🔹 Postpartum Anxiety (PPA): Intense worry, racing thoughts, panic attacks; can interfere with daily life.

Recognizing the signs early is key to recovery. Mental Illness Awareness Week is the perfect time to learn, reach out, and support each other.

*️⃣ Perinatal mental health disorders also include OCD, Bipolar Mood Disorders, PTSD, and Psychosis. *️⃣

You are not alone. Get help now ⤵️
🔷 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
🔷 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔷 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔷 Download the Connect by PSI app in the App Store or Google Play Store
🔷 Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.

09/28/2025

The first 3 months after Baby is born, or the "fourth trimester", is an important time for familes. Here are tips and resources to help you navigate it!

09/22/2025

We see it all the time — unconventional (and sometimes unsafe) baby exercises going viral on social media. ⚠️

Even when they look helpful, the wrong move at the wrong time can cause harm. 🚫

Your baby deserves more than social media trends. 📈

Your baby deserves care from providers licensed to touch, treat, and individualize their approach. 💛

09/22/2025

Check out our website to answer frequently asked questions!

Infant Occupational Therapy and Lactation in Charleston, WV Making the connection between the body and feedingOccupational Therapy • Feeding Therapy • Lactation Is feeding your baby more difficult than you ever imagined? Let’s figure out WHY feedings aren’t going as planned and HOW you and y...

09/22/2025

09/18/2025

For the inaugural Deaf & Hard of Hearing Breastfeeding Week, we are thrilled to share an ASL Breastfeeding Education Video Series 🎉 !!!

The first of its kind, this breastfeeding series features education and information specifically targeted to engage Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. There is no spoken English used throughout the series, only ASL and closed captioning. The production company, Blue20, is owned by a Deaf person; more than 90% of the talent engaged and the production team is Deaf or Hard of Hearing.🤟🏽

The series includes:
1) Answers to Common Breastfeeding Concerns
2) The Gift That Lasts a Lifetime
3) Breastfeeding: In the Beginning; Returning to Work Advocacy

These three videos were produced by the D.C. Breastfeeding Coalition and Blue20 with love and care. We want to deeply thank the US Breastfeeding Committee for hosting these resources.

Link to access these free resources:
http://bit.ly/46wumBI

Image Description: Text on top reads “A DC Breastfeeding Coalition & Blue20 Production”. Three rectangular landscape shape video stills are on left. To the right of videos and titles is the larger title text that reads “ASL Breastfeeding Education Video Series” above the DC Breastfeeding Coalition logo of a breastfeeding mother and baby over the text for the Bitly link to access videos (in text above image description). 3 video stills on left stacked in descending order with titles listed above videos: 1)”Answers to Common Breastfeeding Concerns” with a couple and breastfeeding baby looking toward one another in a warmly lit room; 2)”The Gift That Lasts a Lifetime” with a couple in conversation with a lactation expert; 3)”Breastfeeding: In the Beginning; Returning to Work Advocacy” with a breastfeeding mother looking down at her resting baby who’s lying on her chest wrapped in bright green African traditional print.