Jessica Leighton, DC, IBCLC, CPST

10/02/2025

🤍 The White Pumpkin 🤍

This is the story
Of a pumpkin of white
What is its place on this autumn night?
Amidst all the orange and colors of fall
It seems out of place; not belonging at all
But oh what a place, and oh what a story
You see, in its face lies the image of glory

Of babies so small, so incredibly tiny
Perfect in purpose, their souls shining brightly
No less a baby, a child just the same
As one who was held and called by their name
Was my baby a he?
Or was she a she?
What would my child have grown up to be?
Yet bigger than questions and what ifs and whys
Is the comfort they feel when they look to the skies
For their hope is the truth that they so tightly cling
“I’ll know all the answers, understand everything
on the day that God hands my child back to me”

This pumpkin is sweet baby boys and girls
Who never opened their eyes to this world
Never cried, never feared
Protected from pain
Touched by their innocence
We’re never the same
Lives perfect and pure
All things lovely and sweet
And we honor them here
‘Till heaven we meet

This pumpkin is all of the sweet little ones
Whose lives although short were covered in love
In kisses and snuggles, rocking and playing
Their parents not knowing they wouldn’t be staying
But the time that they had they would never trade
Even if they could be saved from the pain
Their cribs may be empty, but the promise remains
One day they’ll hold their babies again

This pumpkin is for all these sweet angel friends
Whose parents all know this isn’t the end
And how they are doing
Tonight up in heaven
Is better than anything we could imagine
Though we’re missing our children
And we’re still on this side
Our hearts will continue to swell with pride
At the special, the wondrous, the out of place things
Like this white pumpkin, and the joy that it brings
A reminder that our children are more than alive
They are perfectly whole, all things are made right

Angel parents, I know there’s still tears to be shed
But I hope that this pumpkin brings peace instead
Our babies are promised forever in heaven
And that’s the best gift we could ever be given

09/28/2025

One of the many reasons why I am so dedicated to supporting women as they navigate their pregnancies.

09/17/2025

Does your kiddo feel scared or like they are going to fall in while on the toilet! Check out this simple trick from Dr Lauren Keller, DC!!!

09/10/2025

Forgot to share this from almost a year ago! I completed the Low Milk Supply course with to better support mothers who are concerned about their milk volume.

09/01/2025

https://drjessicaleighton.com/protein-fats-and-carbohydrates-during-pregnancy/

Protein, Fats, and Carbohydrates During Pregnancy - When it comes to guidance regarding what we should be eating for a healthy pregnancy and optimal fetal development, we are left a bit lacking. It is

08/28/2025

Join us on September 10th for an incredible pelvic floor & core focused workshop, led by Dr. Cassie Ross, PT, DPT. 🤍

This is a FREE event for anyone who wants to attend, but registration is required! Find more information at the link in our bio. 🌱

07/25/2025

Did you know that your hormones can impact your TMJ pain and function?

❌ The Myth: Most people think TMJ disorders are purely mechanical joint problems that require invasive treatments or expensive appliances.

✅ The Reality: TMJ dysfunction is often a symptom of deeper orofacial muscle imbalances and breathing patterns!

What’s really happening with TMJ: Your jaw pain might actually stem from:

• Poor tongue posture creating muscle compensation patterns
• Chronic mouth breathing changing your jaw position
• Incorrect swallowing patterns causing daily muscle tension
• Sleep breathing issues leading to nighttime clenching
• Forward head posture from compromised airways

The traditional approach: Treat the joint, mask the symptoms.

The myofunctional approach: Address the root cause, retrain the system.

Here’s what many don’t realize: Your TMJ symptoms could improve significantly by simply retraining how you breathe, where your tongue rests, and how you swallow. When these foundational patterns work properly, your jaw often finds its natural, pain-free alignment.

This doesn’t mean surgery and night guards are never needed - but they shouldn’t be the ONLY options considered. Many people find lasting relief by addressing the muscle dysfunction and breathing patterns that created the problem in the first place.

07/16/2025

Come out on Saturday, 08/02, to get to know perinatal professionals of all kinds! Event is FREE and open to the public.
👉RSVP here: https://bit.ly/NILCAFamFair25

07/16/2025

The 10am session at our upcoming Family Fair is a HOT topic. Get some of your Pelvic Floor questions answered by Angela Fishman of My Pelvic Therapy, PLLC.
Reserve your seat! https://bit.ly/VillageWkshp10am

06/20/2025

☀️Your breastfed baby may ask to nurse more frequently during times of hot weather. Your milk is still all they need, especially if under 6 months age, because your milk composition will shift and adapt.

☀️Your milk is a perfectly balanced mix of nutrients and water. It’s a living fluid and constantly is changing to meet the needs of your baby, including extra fluid content to provide adequate hydration during hot weather.

☀️Your baby will want to “drink” more the same way we tend to in hot weather/conditions.

☀️Be sure to keep up your own hydration and electrolyte intake as well!

⛅️Also, 10/10 recommend nursing in a hammock in the shade 🥰 The post nursing co-nap is great.

☀️

06/16/2025

In the office, I am oftentimes asked how a chiropractic adjustment can help with a seemingly unrelated condition, such as asthma. Let’s discuss a VISCEROSOMATIC reflex.

In this case, the viscera in question is the lung/pulmonary system. Somatic refers to the skeletal structures, specifically of the thoracic spine.

A localized visceral stimulus (asthma trigger) produces a pattern of reflex response in the segmentally related somatic structures (upper back).

We almost always see upper thoracic spinal dysfunction in asthmatic kiddos and adults. This reflex activity can cause musculoskeletal pain caused by an underlying visceral disorder.

Because of the shared input pathways from the somatic and visceral structures to the brain, sometimes the input is misinterpreted by the brain. This is also the same reason why chiropractic adjustments to the upper thoracic spine not only alleviate the local muscular discomfort, but may also positively impact the intensity and frequency of asthma symptoms.

02/22/2025

This was a fun interview!

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Leighton. We