Moving Toward Ease; bringing balance to mothers, babies and bodies

10/12/2025

Can the shape of your palate predict sleep apnea risk?

This compelling visual is from a recently published study that explored how palate width and palate height relate to the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults.

The researchers compared 50 non-obese adults with OSA (mild–severe) and 50 adults without OSA, using 3D digital dental scans alongside sleep studies.

It found:

✅ The wider the upper jaw, the fewer apneas.
✅ The higher and narrower the palate, the more apneas.

In non-obese adults (BMI < 30), these structural differences were significant - highlighting a need for greater integration between dentistry and sleep medicine to promote airway health.

Structure shapes function.
How the palate grows and develops may influence breathing and sleep across the lifespan.

Here's the link to read the full article:
Correlation Between Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Dental Arch Form in Adults
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/20/7183

10/03/2025

Our tongues provide a significant amount of our overall postural stability. Changing tongue placement from the roof to the floor of the mouth destabilizes us by 35%!

09/30/2025

Loving the annual Gold Lactation Tongue Tie Symposium. This year they are focusing on how to tell which kids actually need to be released versus those that can be helped through skillful lactation support and bodywork which is right up my alley. Also great info on how to be sure those babies that DO need releases are adequately prepared for release along with their families. This is a great learning opportunity for all breastfeeding professionals, peer supporters, doulas, midwives, pediatricians, dentists, ENTs, OTs, SLPs, and bodyworkers.

Every year, the GOLD Tongue-Tie Online Symposium invites hand-selected researchers and clinicians in the field of infant oral restrictions to present on current and emerging evidence-based education. We're proud to offer you a full spectrum of tongue-tie education.

08/23/2025

Monday client canceled. Anyone out there needing a session? Also possible this Sat.

07/21/2025

Class 1? Class 4? Let’s clear it up 👅

When we talk about tongue-tie classification, we’re talking about location — not severity.

👉 The classification system (like Coryllos or Kotlow) tells us where the frenulum inserts on the underside of the tongue.
• Class 1 inserts near the tip of the tongue
• Class 2 inserts just behind the tip
• Class 3–4 are farther back toward the base

📍 But this doesn’t tell us how tight, restrictive, or impactful the tie is.

💡 So how is severity actually determined?

✔️ Function.
✔️ Mobility.
✔️ Symptoms in the infant (and often the lactating parent).
✔️ Ability to lift, extend, cup, and lateralize the tongue.
✔️ How the baby feeds, swallows, and handles milk flow.

You can have a Class 2 tie that causes no feeding issues… and a Class 4 tie that severely restricts movement.

🔍 That’s why a full functional assessment is key — not just a visual glance.

Classification = location
Severity = function + impact

If you’re not sure what your baby’s tongue-tie means for feeding, speech, or oral development — connect with a skilled IBCLC, pediatric dentist, or bodyworker who understands both structure and function.

07/15/2025

One way to visualize whole body connections.

Dizziness? Vertigo? Spinning?

Found this image again. Nice map of structures and connections between them that are incredibly important. It may not just be crystals in your ear. I once saw a woman where dizziness was corrected by working her foot.

So, I would probably also include feet, but a quick list of structures to assess here:
-Temporal bones and TMJ
-C1
-Shoulder girdle, especially manubrium
- Pelvis, pubic bone and sits bones

Reflexes govern a lot of these connections, like Visual Righting or Labyrinthine.

How do you train reflexes??? What causes reflexes to diminish or disappear?