Align Myofunctional Therapy

22/08/2025

My story- this isn’t just profession for me- ITS PERSONAL.

02/08/2025

Happy National Breastfeeding Week 🥛! A tribute to the powerful bond and incredible journey of breastfeeding. We’re here to support, empower, and uplift every parent. Did you know a common, but often misunderstood, issue that can impact breastfeeding is a tongue tie? A tongue tie is a tight or short band of tissue under the tongue that restricts its movement. This can prevent a baby from creating a strong, deep latch, making it difficult to get enough milk. Recognizing the signs and seeking professional help from TOTS specialist can make all the difference. Let’s use this week to spread awareness and empower parents with the knowledge they need to advocate for themselves and their babies👶

16/05/2025

28mo of my favorite thing as a mom-breastfeeding.

I don’t share this post to brag but rather share some of the advice I recieved that helped me get through it all. If it helps one person then it’s worth the share! (Long post ahead but worth the read)

#1 give yourself 6 weeks to figure it out. That’s right. 6 whole weeks. Higher a IBCLC to help with latch. If after that it still hasn’t clicked then find a solution that works best for the family 😘
#2 Bodywork: chiropractic care for babies is pure gold. They go through so much during birth that releasing tension is key and having them be more comfortable nursing. This also helps with bowel movements and sleep! (Who doesn’t want that?)
#3 Smaller and pre- mature babies will struggle with latch/sleepiness. I went into labor at 38wks and 3days. She was 7lbs 3oz. She really struggled initially. She was tired-she had just gone through a traumatic birth. Nursing is a lot for them in the early days. Feel free to pump and bottle feed until baby has a bit more energy to keep working in the latch.
#4 Don’t make it a big deal. Do your best to not stress(I know easier said than done). But the more you just tell yourself “we got this” the more likely you are to figure it out together.
#5 TONGUE AND LIP TIES ARE AN ACTUALLY THING- regardless of what you have heard tongue and lip ties greatly affect tongue mobility and the ability of a baby to excrete milk from the breast. Most pediatricians and IBCLCS are not trained in TOTS(tethered oral tissue syndrome). Therefore, finding a privdier that knows what the heck they are talking about is key. If you have questions please reach out and I can help find a provider that aligns with your concerns.( PS don’t have it taken care of at the hospital)
#6 You can do both(most of the time) you can pump at work and BF at home. My daughter didn’t struggle with any ni**le confusion and coming home to BF was my favorite part of the day.
#7 Ni**le pain of any sort is not normal. You can always pump and feed from a bottle while continuing to work in latch.
#8 Pumping: fl**ge size matters and pumping is breastfeeding! You are strong and are providing liquid gold for your child. I bow to you for pumping! You are the real MVP.
#9 Breastfeeding into toddlerhood is normal! t is also very beneficial from a craniofacial development standpoint. The pressure of a strong tongue to express milk requires pressing the breast against the palate. In doing so this helps the palate grow wider and forward rather than narrow and up. Therefore the breast and strong, well trained tongues are natures best palatal expander! The mouth is the front of the airway and has a big impact on how we grow and thrive
#10 YOU ARE ENOUGH: wheather breastfeeding worked out or it didn’t you are enough! You nurtured and loved your baby through the long nights and now you get to watch them learn, run away from you when called, and never listen to a word that comes out of your mouth. (Ok maybe this is just my independent toddler) but for real you are a ROCKSTAR MOM!

If you read this whole post, thank you. If you are struggling please reach out! I can help answer questions, be a listening ear, and help find healthcare providers that best align with your needs.

Much love,
Kat
Owner of Align myofunctional therpay

04/07/2024

Happy 4th of July from Align Myofunctional Therapy!

26/06/2024

🔥Tongue posture is important! If it’s parked in the palate it isn’t in our airway.

Top picture is the start of my myo journey-July 2023. You can see here I am struggling to get the tongue all the way up and suctioned. By working on this exercise , along with others, I was able to strengthen and tone my tongue. A toned tongue will fit in the palate better.

The bottom picture shows how it easily fits into the palate now. Working on tongue posture has of course helped my airway but it has also helped my emotional regulation thanks to vagal nerve stimulation.

Are you ready to get your tongue up and have a healthy airway? Message me to get started with therapy!

24/04/2024

Let me help stop the cascade effect in its tracks.

Let’s talk preventative medicine .

That is what dental hygiene is and that is what Myofunctional therapy is when starting early. This a large part of why I became a Myofunctional therapist. As one patient said to me the other day, “ you are saving lives that’s truly what you are doing.” She’s right.

We see our doctor early to lower the chances of sickness and health concerns in the future.

We see our dentist to check our gum health and teeth so we don’t get gum disease and a mouth full of cavities.. or no teeth at all.

And we see our Myofunctional therapist to ensure proper craniofacial development, seek guidance to other trained healthcare members needed for airway health, rehabilitate weak muscles to ensure nasal breathing, correct oral rest posture, and proper swallowing.

Let’s not forget chiropractic maintenance. Because a body in line means all systems run smoother.

Have concerns? Let set up a free assessment to get started!

04/04/2024

I've just reached 200 followers! Thank you for continuing support. I could never have made it without each one of you. 🙏🤗🎉

24/02/2024

12/01/2024

Website is up and running! Great place to get a little information about Myofunctional Therapy and to schedule an appointment 📅

23/12/2023

Sleep disordered breathing can come in many forms. It may include hypopnea(decrease in O2 levels) , apneas(cessation of breathing) ,snoring, and, upper airway resistance syndrome.
When the body isn’t resting thoroughly the body doesn’t work the way it should. With a decrease in 02 levels the body is in stress. The acute stress hormones can irritate the bladder causing urination. The bladder muscles can also relax and lack the ability to hold urine in. Hormones are also affected by lack of 02. The antidiuretic hormone is normally produced during good QUALITY sleep. This hormones tells the body to slow the production of urine. If someone struggles to hit “deep sleep” cycles, that hormone is decreased which doesn’t slow urine production 👉🏽to bed wetting or frequent restroom visits.

Symptoms of sleep disordered breathing in children 👇🏽
* Snoring.
* Pauses in breathing.
* Restless sleep.
* Snoring , coughing or choking.
* Mouth breathing.
* Nighttime sweating.
* Bed-wetting.
* Night terrors

Catching symptoms early is key to a healthy life and continue growth for your child.

If your child struggles with prolonged bed wetting or any other symptoms listed above let’s schedule a free assessment and get to the root cause.

11/12/2023

👄 Mouths are the window to the rest of the body-I used to use this saying often when talking about inflammation in the mouth and periodontal disease(gum disease). As a hygienist I focus on the supporting structures of the teeth, so the bone and tissue. As a myofunctuonal therapist I look at the mouth completely differently now. It can tell a story and it can help guide us in asking more questions to advocate for our health and our children’s health. Becoming a Myofunctional therapist has broadened my understanding of the whole body. Just bridging the gap between dentistry and healthcare one client at a time! Check out more details below 👇🏽

👀 Look under the tongue to identify a potential physical barrier(tongue tie) that could be related to an array of other health concerns.
🥴Digestive concerns? Potential to be related to a tongue tie and therefore an incorrect swallowing pattern
👁️ Recession present- check bite and any tethered oral tissue
🫣Look at tonsil size- looking for a good open airway
😴 I ask about sleep concerns or sleep disordered breathing. Symptoms such as,open mouth breathing, snoring, choking, gasping, or a pause in breathing.
🧐When high blood pressure is listed on medical history- discuss with the patient to look at potential undiagnosed sleep apnea.
😬Attrition or grinding teeth-potential airway concern or imbalance of hips/jaw. “What happens at the hips happens at the lips”
🤯Malocclusion or crowed teeth: improper craniofacial development could lead to an airway concern

Message me if you’re ready to better Align your health with orofacial myofunctional therapy.