PREGNANCY & BIRTH SHOULD BE EMPOWERING.
Not Painful
PREGNANCY & BIRTH SHOULD BE EMPOWERING
NOT PAINFUL
BodyTalk Therapy is Stress Reduction Therapy. It helps you to get to the root cause and eliminate your pain, your fear, your anxiety, your worry.
It helps you heal. Body, Stress, Trauma, Dysfunctional patterns that hold you back.
It helps you to deeply connect to your personal power and intuition so that you can TRUST in your body, birth and your ability to parent (or let go- if adoption or surrogacy).
BodyTalk helps you to connect with and support your baby in the womb. Optimizing their development, their positioning and readiness for birth. BodyTalk Babies are ALWAYS easy and content. I even GUARANTEE it!
Pregnancy CAN be easy, pain-free and full of joy. I can help you to carry to full term without being overdue. Sleep better, feel better.
I can help you connect to your body, your baby, give you the support and the answers you need.
I am your guide, healer, educator and support throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond.
Hi, I am Joanne Fisher.
I help expectant and new families have the best experience possible throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond through consciousness based therapy, education, hands on support, coaching and more.
Specializing in fetal consciousness, fetal positioning, prenatal bonding, birth preparation, natural induction, birth support, generational healing and conscious parenting- I offer a whole new approach to prenatal care and birth support. Learn more about me.
Growing a baby can be a stressful experience. Full of uncertainty, worry, fear, anxiety, physical discomforts and pain.
And questions, so, so many questions.
Our culture has conditioned us to believe that pain and discomfort in pregnancy is normal.
IT IS NOT.
It is a sign of stress and dysfunction in your bodymind, and it can be resolved, quickly and easily.
The No Colic Guarantee
Colic is a dysregulated nervous system, a symptom of stress, fear and trauma. With a Prenatal Package your baby will feel seen, heard and supported making colic impossible. But if your baby has inconsolable crying I will give you FREE extra sessions until it is resolved.
The NO Induction Guarantee
With a Prenatal package, both you and baby will be so fully prepared, ready and excited for birth that I guarantee you will not go overdue. If you hit 41+0 weeks without going into labour spontaneously, I will give free extra sessions until you do. As well as extra support if there is medical need to induce early.
The No Colic Guarantee
Colic is a dysregulated nervous system, a symptom of stress, fear and trauma. With a Prenatal Package your baby will feel seen, heard and supported making colic impossible. But if your baby has inconsolable crying I will give you FREE extra sessions until it is resolved.
The NO Induction Guarantee
With a Prenatal package, both you and baby will be so fully prepared, ready and excited for birth that I guarantee you will not go overdue. If you hit 41+0 weeks without going into labour spontaneously, I will give free extra sessions until you do. As well as extra support if there is medical need to induce early.
My New book is now available on Amazon Kindle! With a paperback and audiobook version still to come.
Get your copy HERE.
Or ask me for PDF copy.
The No Colic Guarantee
The NO Induction Guarantee
How can we support you?
The Blog- News, Wisdom and Client Stories
Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational and Past-Life Trauma
The Power of Healing Trauma Preconception and During Pregnancy As a BodyTalk practitioner who specializes in fertility, pregnancy, and birth, I can’t stress enough how powerful healing intergenerational, karmic, and past-life trauma before conception or while pregnant can be—not just for you, but for your unborn child and future generations. The womb is often considered a sacred space where new life is created, but it also carries the energetic imprints of unresolved emotional, physical, and karmic patterns. By addressing and healing these traumas during preconception or pregnancy, you can break cycles of pain, enhance emotional well-being, and create a nurturing, harmonious environment for your baby’s growth. The Law of Rhythm, one of the foundational Hermetic principles, teaches us that life flows in cycles—rising and falling, moving forward and then retreating. Trauma, whether karmic, intergenerational, or epigenetic, follows this same rhythm. It is important to recognize that until trauma is healed, it continues to repeat, manifesting across generations and lifetimes. However, this cycle can be broken. Healing happens when you become conscious enough to step in and disrupt these patterns—which is the beauty of BodyTalk’s ability to pull up and bring the long-lost hidden factors back into awareness, so they can be healed through the simple yet powerful act of nurturing. The Mouse Study: How Nurture Disrupts Epigenetic Trauma A groundbreaking study in the field of epigenetics demonstrates just how powerful nurturing can be in breaking the transmission of trauma. In this study, male mice were conditioned to fear the smell of cherry blossoms (acetophenone) by associating it with mild electric shocks. Even when the shocks stopped, the male mice developed an instinctive fear of the scent, which they passed down to their offspring. Remarkably, the next FIVE generations of mice also showed an innate fear of the cherry blossom scent, even though they had never been shocked themselves. This study provided direct evidence of trauma being passed down through epigenetic changes. Epigenetic changes are like how a caterpillar and a butterfly have the same DNA, but look and behave completely differently. Their genes are the same, but certain genes are turned on or off at different stages of life, which leads to their transformation. The shock/smell trauma in the original mice created an altered nervous system response in their offspring. They developed hereditary gene expressions of the fear response in order to protect their pups from the harm they endured. However, the best part of the study was the discovery that when the baby mice were allowed to stay with their mothers, who provided nurturing care such as licking and grooming, the epigenetic transmission of fear and trauma stopped. The nurturing behaviour of the mother was able to rewire the trauma response, breaking the cycle that would have otherwise been passed down for generations. This profound discovery demonstrates how powerful nurturing is, not just emotionally but biologically. It underscores the importance of environments filled with care, safety, and love—where trauma can be healed instead of inherited. This is why I am such a huge supporter of the #NurtureRevolution and conscious parenting movements that support healthy brain and nervous system development and create a foundation for lifelong health. As an (expecting) parent, you have the power to break cycles of inherited pain and rewrite the future for your children! Prevention is much easier than treatment, but you can heal the old trauma. Love is always the answer. The Holocaust Study: Phobias Inherited Through Trauma The transmission of trauma across generations has also been observed in humans, most notably in descendants of Holocaust survivors. Research shows that children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors exhibit higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and PTSD-like symptoms. Even though they did not experience the Holocaust directly, the trauma of that horrific event was encoded in their genes through epigenetic changes. One striking example of this inherited trauma is the recurring phobia of showers in some descendants of Holocaust survivors. Many survivors were led to gas chambers disguised as shower rooms, and the terror of that experience left a lasting imprint on their genetic code. This encoded fear, passed down to future generations, manifests as an irrational but deeply rooted phobia of showers. Living in Saskatchewan and working with Indigenous peoples, I see the horrific residential school trauma being replayed in the bodies and minds of the survivors’ children and grandchildren I work with firsthand. As an expecting parent, you can help break this chain of pain. The trauma from the past can find expression in those who come after, but nurturing and conscious care can help to rewrite these patterns. By creating a safe, loving environment, you can reverse the effects of inherited trauma, just as in the mice. Why the #NurtureRevolution and Conscious Parenting Matter As you bring your baby into the world, you have the power to shape their emotional foundation. The #NurtureRevolution and conscious parenting movements are all about breaking cycles of trauma through nurturing, presence, and awareness. These movements are built on the idea that when you provide your child with an environment full of love, empathy, and emotional safety, you stop the transmission of inherited trauma. You pave the way for your child to be resilient, emotionally balanced, and free from the weight of past wounds. Conscious parenting is about more than just providing for your baby’s needs in a loving way—it’s about being fully present and aware of the deeper emotional patterns playing out within you. It’s recognizing that the fears, anxieties, or emotional wounds you carry might have roots that go far beyond your own experiences. They may stretch back through generations. Conscious parenting acknowledges that when you’re triggered by your child, it’s not your child causing the reaction—it’s how they activate old wounds within you. Your responsibility is to become aware of these patterns and break the cycle of reactivity. Your child doesn’t “make you mad”; the anger already exists within you. You may desire to be a
Highly sensitive Child?
Strengthen Their Wei Qi to Help Them Thrive in a Bright, Loud World Raising an autistic or sensory-sensitive child can feel like a balancing act. Our world is bright, loud, and often overstimulating—and for a child who experiences everything intensely, this can be overwhelming. But what if there was a way to help your child navigate this world with more ease and resilience? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Wei Qi—the body’s protective energy—is essential for shielding us from environmental and emotional stress. It plays a significant role in how we interact with the world and how well we adapt to its challenges. For children with autism or sensory sensitivities, this protective layer is often too thin, making them more vulnerable to the stimuli that can overwhelm them. In my practice, I frequently see the importance of addressing and strengthening Wei Qi to help these children feel more grounded, secure, and able to engage more comfortably with their surroundings. Understanding Wei Qi in Your Child Wei Qi is like an energetic shield that helps regulate what comes into the body, protecting against physical pathogens (like bacteria and viruses) as well as emotional stressors and sensory overload. When a child’s Wei Qi is strong and balanced, they can handle sensory input—like bright lights, loud noises, or even emotional stress—with more resilience. However, when their Wei Qi is too thin or compromised, they are more easily overwhelmed by external stimuli, resulting in meltdowns, fatigue, and emotional distress. How Does Wei Qi Affect Autistic and Sensory-Sensitive Children? Children with autism and sensory sensitivities often have heightened perceptions of the world. Their sensory processing systems tend to react more intensely to stimuli, and this can be incredibly draining when the Wei Qi isn’t strong enough to buffer those experiences. Here are some signs that your child’s Wei Qi may be weak or out of balance: How Can BodyTalk Strengthen Wei Qi? BodyTalk is a holistic, energy-based therapy that restores the body’s natural balance. By addressing the underlying imbalances in the energy systems—like Wei Qi—it helps children feel more grounded, calm, and better able to integrate with their surroundings. BodyTalk strengthens Wei Qi by enhancing the body’s communication with itself, helping it adapt to and better handle external stimuli. Here’s how BodyTalk can specifically help your child: 1. Regulating Sensory Processing BodyTalk can help rebalance the nervous system, enabling your child to process sensory input more smoothly. When their Wei Qi is strong, they will be less likely to experience sensory overload from bright lights, loud sounds, or new environments. This helps reduce meltdowns and increases their ability to engage more comfortably in everyday situations. 2. Reducing Emotional Sensitivity Children with weakened Wei Qi are often emotionally vulnerable, reacting intensely to even minor stressors. By strengthening Wei Qi, BodyTalk helps build a buffer between your child and the emotional ups and downs they encounter, leading to greater emotional stability. 3. Boosting Immune Function Because Wei Qi also governs the body’s immune system, a stronger Wei Qi means fewer illnesses and faster recovery. This is especially important for children who may have frequent colds, allergies, or sensitivities to environmental factors. 4. Encouraging Social Engagement When children are overwhelmed by their environment, they may withdraw socially. By strengthening their Wei Qi, BodyTalk gives them the energetic resilience to handle social interactions more comfortably. This leads to better integration into group settings like school, playdates, and other social environments. Practical Steps for Parents to Support Their Child’s Wei Qi In addition to BodyTalk sessions, there are several steps you can take at home to support and strengthen your child’s Wei Qi: 1. Create Safe, Low-Stimulation Environments Since sensory overload can weaken Wei Qi, having a calm, sensory-friendly space at home can help your child recharge and feel safe. Use soft lighting, minimize loud noises, and provide comforting textures or weighted blankets to help them self-regulate. 2. Practice Grounding Exercises Together Simple grounding techniques, like breathing exercises or spending time in nature, can help strengthen your child’s Wei Qi by connecting them more fully to their body and environment. Practicing deep breathing or tree breath exercises can help calm their nervous system. 3. Routine and Structure Children with sensory sensitivities thrive on routine. Establishing predictable daily patterns allows their Wei Qi to adapt and regulate to external environments with less effort, reducing the overwhelm they may feel from changes in routine. Emotional and Energetic Factors in Sensory Overwhelm It’s important to recognize that sensory overload is not just a physical experience; it also has an emotional and energetic component. Children often experience intense emotions during sensory overload, and if these emotions are not processed, they can become stored in the body, creating further stress and vulnerability. BodyTalk works on these emotional levels as well, helping to release unprocessed emotions and bring emotional balance to your child’s system. Using BodyTalk techniques such as cortices tapping, grounding practices, and emotional processing can help your child clear any emotional overwhelm that may contribute to their sensory sensitivity. How BodyTalk Transforms Your Child’s World By strengthening your child’s Wei Qi, you are equipping them with the energetic tools they need to feel more comfortable and confident in a world that can otherwise feel too overwhelming. Over time, you will notice that your child: Conclusion Helping your autistic or sensory-sensitive child thrive in our overstimulating world can feel like a monumental task. However, by addressing their Wei Qi and working to strengthen it through BodyTalk and other holistic practices, you can give them the tools they need to feel less vulnerable and more resilient. This journey will not only help them navigate the world with greater ease, but it will also foster a sense of confidence, safety, and balance that will serve them throughout their lives. If you’re interested in how BodyTalk can support your child’s unique needs and help strengthen their Wei Qi, reach out to learn more about how this powerful modality can make a difference in your family’s life.
Can Folic Acid Cause Postpartum Depression? Here’s What You Need to Know About MTHFR
If you’re pregnant or planning to conceive, you’ve probably heard how important folic acid is for your baby’s development. It helps prevent neural tube defects, but what if I told you the folic acid you’re taking could also increase your risk of postpartum depression (PPD)? Let’s explore the connection between folic acid, the MTHFR gene mutation, and how it all impacts your mental health, especially after birth. What Is the MTHFR Mutation and How Does It Affect You? MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, an enzyme. (and Yes! I remember its name as M*ther F*ckr!) The MTHFR gene mutation is more common than you might think—up to 40% of people have it. The mutation affects how well your body can process and convert (methylate) folic acid, which is critical for your brain’s ability to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for keeping your mood stable. In people with the MTHFR mutation, the enzyme that converts synthetic folic acid (found in many prenatal vitamins) into L-methylfolate (the active form your body can actually use) doesn’t work properly. This can leave you with lower levels of bioavailable folate, which is essential for cell repair, DNA synthesis, and neurotransmitter production. Without enough folate, your brain struggles to produce the chemicals that help regulate your mood—leading to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Without it you also have increased risks of bad complications including neural tube defects like spina bifida, pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, and placental problems. Making this a very important topic! The Folic Acid-Postpartum Depression Link If you have the MTHFR mutation, your body may not effectively absorb folic acid from typical prenatal vitamins. This can leave you deficient in folate, even if you’re taking supplements, and set you up for trouble for complications and postpartum mental health struggles. When your folate levels are low, your body also struggles to break down homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood. High homocysteine levels are linked to inflammation, cardiovascular problems (such as gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia), and mental health issues like depression. So, if you’re struggling with fatigue, mood swings, or feeling more anxious than usual during pregnancy—or even getting nauseous from your vitamins—it could be a sign that your body isn’t processing folic acid well and could more preventative support during pregnancy. Could You Have the MTHFR Mutation? Some signs that you might not be absorbing folic acid properly and could be at a higher risk for PPD and complications: – Fatigue or feeling overwhelmed during pregnancy – Mood swings or heightened anxiety – Family history of depression – Difficulty with concentration or more pronounced “pregnancy brain” – Nausea when taking prenatal vitamins If any of these sound familiar, it might be worth checking your MTHFR status. A simple blood test can determine if you have the mutation. Partner with prenatal BodyTalk to support you innate ability to heal and balance for a more holistic approach. How to Prevent Postpartum Depression If You Have the MTHFR Mutation The key is making sure you’re getting bioavailable folate, not just any folic acid. Here’s how to protect your mental health during and after pregnancy: 1. Switch to L-methylfolate: If you have the MTHFR mutation (or even if you don’t), switching to a prenatal vitamin that contains L-methylfolate can make a huge difference. This form of folate is already activated, so your body doesn’t have to convert it. 2. Focus on Folate-Rich Foods: Incorporate natural sources of folate into your diet, such as leafy greens, lentils, avocados, and citrus fruits. These are more easily absorbed by the body than synthetic folic acid. 3. Help Your Body Heal: Pregnancy and postpartum are intense emotional journeys. Take time to process emotions and seek support if needed. Practices like BodyTalk, somatic awareness, and grounding exercises can help release stored emotions and bring balance to your mind and body. 4. Get Tested: Ask your healthcare provider about testing for the MTHFR mutation if you suspect it. Knowing your status can help you make more informed choices about your health and supplementation. 5. Listen to Your Body: If you’re feeling more anxious, fatigued, or down than usual, don’t ignore it. It might be your body’s way of telling you that it needs more support—whether that’s through nutrition, supplements, or holistic care. Emotional and Energetic Factors of Postpartum Depression Beyond genetics and nutrition, it’s important to remember that postpartum depression can also stem from unprocessed emotions or stressful life experiences. Pregnancy and birth are profound emotional shifts. During this time, unresolved emotional trauma can surface, contributing to feelings of overwhelm or depression. As a BodyTalk Birthkeeper, I believe that anything happening physically is mirrored emotionally. From this perspective, postpartum depression may also be the result of stored emotions that haven’t been processed, and now need to be released. I can teach you mind-body practices like cortices tapping, grounding, and emotional processing techniques, you can support both your mental and physical well-being during this transition. Take Action to Support Your Mental Health I help provide you with the most up-to-date information so you can make informed decisions. But let’s face it, there’s still so much we don’t know—or even get wrong (remember when smoking during pregnancy was considered okay?). It can be overwhelming to think that something as common as taking the wrong prenatal vitamin might cause harm to you or your baby. I understand how scary it can be to navigate these unknowns. That’s why my process is all about helping you tune in, listen to your body and your baby, and develop a deep understanding of what you truly need and don’t need. Ultimately, you are the expert on your body—let’s trust in that wisdom and work together to make decisions that align with what feels right for you.
Understanding & Preventing Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs)
As parents and caregivers, we all want to give our children the best possible start in life. But what if I told you that the experiences your baby has before they are even born can shape their physical, emotional, and mental health for the rest of their lives? This is where the concept of Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs) comes into play—a concept pioneered by Dr. Veronique Mead, who I met through APPPAH. Her work shines a light on the often-overlooked impact of prenatal, birth, and early postnatal experiences on lifelong health. As a BodyTalk practitioner specializing in prenatal care, I’ve witnessed how powerful it can be to address and heal ABEs before a baby is even born. Prenatal BodyTalk offers a unique approach to preventing the effects of ABEs by working with both the birthing woman and the baby to create a balanced, nurturing environment, setting the foundation for a lifetime of well-being. What Are Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs)? ABEs refer to the stress, trauma, or challenging experiences that a baby may encounter before birth, during labour, or in the early postnatal months. These experiences can range from medical interventions during birth, prenatal stress experienced by the mother, lack of bonding immediately after birth, or even emotional trauma passed down through generations. While many are familiar with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which focus on trauma during childhood, ABEs take a step further back, acknowledging that trauma and stress during prenatal and perinatal periods can have equally profound, if not more profound, impacts on a child’s developing brain and body. The Impact of ABEs on Lifelong Health ABEs can affect a baby’s developing brain and nervous system, leading to long-term consequences such as: The key to preventing these negative outcomes is early intervention. If we can address these issues before they solidify, we can help babies develop resilience, emotional stability, and a strong foundation for lifelong health. How Prenatal BodyTalk Can Help Prevent ABEs As a BodyTalk practitioner, I work directly with both the mother and baby during pregnancy to reprogram and heal stress responses, release generational trauma, and clear emotional blockages that may negatively affect the baby’s development. Here’s how prenatal BodyTalk can help prevent ABEs: 1. Balancing Emotional Stress The emotional state of the mother has a direct impact on the developing baby. Stress, anxiety, fear, and unresolved trauma can all be transmitted energetically to the baby, shaping their stress response systems and emotional wiring. Through BodyTalk sessions, I help mothers clear emotional baggage and stress patterns, allowing them to create a calm, nurturing environment in which their baby can thrive. 2. Clearing Generational Trauma Many of the challenges we face as parents stem from unhealed wounds passed down through generations. Whether it’s the impact of trauma from our own childhoods or unresolved grief, fear, or shame, these emotions can be passed down to our children unless they are consciously addressed. Prenatal BodyTalk sessions focus on identifying and clearing inherited emotional trauma, ensuring that the baby is not burdened with unresolved issues from the past. 3. Supporting a Healthy Birth Experience The birth process itself can be a significant source of trauma for both mother and baby. BodyTalk helps prepare both for a smooth, safe, and empowered birth experience, reducing the likelihood of medical interventions that may create stress for the baby. Whether it’s helping to resolve birth trauma from previous pregnancies or aligning the body for a natural birth, prenatal BodyTalk sessions work to ensure that both mother (birthing person) and baby are energetically aligned for a peaceful birth process. 4. Nurturing the Bond Between Mother and Baby The bond between mother and baby begins in the womb. Through BodyTalk, I facilitate deeper connection and communication between the birthing woman and her baby. This not only nurtures the emotional bond but also helps the mother tune in to her baby’s needs, strengthening the baby’s sense of safety and security. This early nurturing is key in supporting the baby’s developing brain and nervous system, promoting emotional resilience and mental health. 5. Aligning the Energetic Environment for Healthy Development The body and mind are deeply connected, and the energetic environment of the womb plays a huge role in a baby’s development. Prenatal BodyTalk works to ensure that the energy surrounding the baby is balanced and healthy. By clearing any blockages in the endocrine system (which regulates stress hormones), nervous system, and energetic body, we help the baby develop in an environment of peace and balance, preventing the wiring of stress and dysfunction. Real-Life Transformation Through Prenatal BodyTalk I’ve had the privilege of working with many mothers and babies before birth, witnessing firsthand the incredible impact that BodyTalk can have on their journey. One such baby that I worked with from the womb has now turned three years old. I supported him through each step of his development—starting with prenatal BodyTalk, through birth, and with regular sessions throughout infancy. The results have been truly amazing. Not only has he thrived physically, but his emotional stability and resilience are remarkable. These babies, deeply nurtured from the start, are the ones who will grow up to change the world. By supporting their development from conception onward, we can prevent the effects of ABEs and give them the gift of lifelong health, happiness, and resilience. Join Me in Preventing ABEs: A Path to Lifelong Health The future health of our children starts long before birth. By addressing the potential effects of ABEs during pregnancy, we have the power to create a better, healthier future for our children. Through prenatal BodyTalk, we can release trauma, reduce stress, and create the emotional and energetic space for our babies to thrive. Are you ready to give your baby the gift of a healthy, balanced start to life? I invite you to join me in this journey and explore how prenatal BodyTalk can help you and your baby prevent the effects of ABEs. Together, we can nurture a generation of resilient, joyful, and healthy children. Reach out
Prevention is Better Than Treatment: How Nurturing in the Early Years Can Shape Lifelong Health
By Joanne Fisher, BodyTalk Birthkeeper “What if we had a way to gift our babies and the next generation with resilient brain systems to reduce the risk of anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic stress, and poor physical health? A gift that goes above and beyond that to provide lifelong thriving, connection, peace, confidence, joy, awe, and empathy.”– Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum As caregivers, we have an incredible opportunity to positively influence the health and development of our babies’ brains, starting from the womb. Brain growth is most rapid in the first three years of life, with 85% of its development happening in this crucial period. The experiences an infant has during this time literally shape their brain. Neurons that fire together, wire together, which means the repeated experiences a baby has determine the way their brain connections form. If those early experiences are stressful or unresponsive to their needs, their brain becomes wired for dysfunction. My work with babies begins even earlier than birth—while they are still in the womb. This pre-birth nurturing sets the foundation for the infant’s healthy brain development, going beyond what can be done once the baby is born. By addressing the earliest stages of life, we can prevent many of the issues that arise from stress and trauma later on. This work is highly influenced by my mentor, Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, a neuroscientist, doula, and mother, who is pioneering a new approach to caring for babies, both day and night. She’s leading what she calls the Nurture Revolution, an effort to reshape how we care for infants. By nurturing babies from the start, we can build resilient brains that are wired for thriving, not just surviving. The Last Hundred Years: Where We Went Wrong In the last hundred years, modern society has made the grave mistake of disregarding the first three years of a baby’s life. New parents are often left with little to no support, pushed to train their babies to be independent too early, forcing them to sleep alone, cry without comfort, and prematurely suppress emotions. This outdated approach ignores the essential needs of babies, and, as Dr. Kirshenbaum explains, it wires their brain in ways that make them more vulnerable to lifelong struggles with anxiety, depression, addiction, and chronic stress. This lack of nurturing also impacts their physical health. When we interfere with babies’ sleep or withhold emotional support, it can shape their body towards lifelong vulnerabilities to illness and chronic disease. The mental health crisis we see today can be traced back to these early missteps. By failing to nurture babies in their most formative years, we’ve created generations with brains wired for struggle. But we can turn this around. The future doesn’t have to follow the same path if we embrace what neuroscience tells us and provide the care our babies need. How Can We Make a Difference? Did you know that infancy lasts until age 3? During these early years, babies and toddlers need continual, loving support from attuned, regulated caregivers. I can speak from my own experience. When my first child was little, I found myself triggered by his big emotions and unable to hold space for him. It wasn’t until I addressed my own unresolved childhood experiences that I could truly be present and support him through his emotional outbursts. Most of us didn’t receive the deep nurturing and responsive care we needed growing up. But here’s the thing: our children show us what needs healing by triggering us. In this way, they help us find the missing pieces within ourselves that we need to work on. This is the essence of conscious parenting—healing our own wounds so that we can give our children what they truly need. From Womb to Three Years: A Lifelong Impact The work I do with babies doesn’t just start at birth—it starts in the womb, ideally even from conception. I have had the incredible privilege of working with one little boy from the time he was in the womb, through his birth, and every month of his life until he recently turned three. Watching him thrive has been such a gift, and I am so excited to see the kind of person he grows into. These babies—deeply nurtured and supported from the start—have the potential to change the world. They are the antidote to the “hurt people, hurt people” cycle. I truly believe that the healthy, happy babies I work with will go on to heal the world, creating ripple effects that will last for generations. In future blog posts, I will dive deeper into Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs) and their impact on long-term physical health, but for now, let’s focus on the good news: we have the power to make a difference. The Nurture Revolution is happening now, and by supporting our babies’ brain development from the earliest moments of life, we can lay the foundation for a healthier, more connected world. So, will you join me in the Nurture Revolution? Together, we can help babies thrive and build a better future for all.
Can we cure Allergies?
By Joanne Fisher, BodyTalk Birthkeeper Allergies in children can be incredibly disruptive, not only to their health but also to their overall well-being and quality of life. Conventional treatments often focus on symptom management—whether through antihistamines, avoidance strategies, or other medical interventions. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that the mind-body connection plays a crucial role in how allergic reactions manifest. This is where BodyTalk, a holistic health modality, can offer a new perspective and effective solutions by addressing the deeper causes of allergies through mind-body integration. Understanding Allergies as a Mind-Body Phenomenon At its core, an allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to substances that are typically harmless, such as pollen, food, or pet dander. From a physiological standpoint, the immune system mistakes these benign substances for threats, releasing histamines and other chemicals that cause inflammation, itching, sneezing, and other allergic symptoms. However, the immune system doesn’t function in isolation. It’s deeply interconnected with the nervous system and emotional states, meaning mental and emotional stressors can significantly influence how the immune system responds. For example, when a child is under emotional distress or dealing with unresolved trauma, their nervous system may stay in a heightened state of alert, which can exacerbate immune responses, causing the body to overreact to allergens. A well-documented case illustrates this mind-body connection perfectly: a child who, while eating grapes, witnessed his dog get hit by a car. The intense emotional trauma of witnessing this event, combined with the act of eating grapes, caused the child’s body to associate the grapes with the traumatic experience. From that point on, the child developed an anaphylactic allergy to grapes, even though grapes themselves were not inherently harmful. The immune system, influenced by the child’s emotional state during the traumatic event, began to perceive grapes as a threat. This demonstrates how external stressors, especially those linked to trauma or intense emotional experiences, can trigger the immune system to create a reaction to otherwise harmless substances. The immune system, responding to the brain’s heightened alertness during trauma, learns to overreact to triggers present at the time—often without conscious awareness. The Power of Consciousness: Healing Allergies from the Inside Out In BodyTalk, it is understood that consciousness is all that is needed to heal. When the body becomes aware of the root cause of an allergic reaction—whether it stems from a traumatic event, emotional stress, or a miscommunication within the body systems—the immune system can recognize that its overreaction is unnecessary. The simple act of bringing awareness to why the body developed the allergic response in the first place often allows the body to “realize” that it is reacting unnecessarily. This concept highlights the innate wisdom of the body. When consciousness is brought to the forefront, the body can understand that its immune response to an allergen, like grapes or pollen, was “silly” or misplaced. With this realization, the body often naturally stops overreacting to the allergen. The key is awareness: once the body understands the true reason for the immune response, healing can occur. This is why many people find that once they consciously process a past trauma or emotional event linked to their allergy, the allergy itself begins to dissipate. Stress in Utero: The Foundation for Allergies The mind-body connection also extends to the prenatal period, where a baby is highly attuned to the mother’s physical and emotional state. If a pregnant woman is stressed, anxious, or experiences emotional turbulence, it can affect her unborn child, creating long-term health implications. The baby, sharing the mother’s biological and emotional environment, absorbs these stress signals, and the developing nervous system can become wired for heightened sensitivity or reactivity. For example, if a pregnant woman experiences stress while eating certain foods, the baby’s immune system may imprint that particular food as a potential threat. This can manifest after birth as an allergy or food sensitivity, despite no inherent danger in the food itself. Essentially, the immune system becomes programmed to react defensively based on the mother’s experiences, setting the stage for allergies later in life. How BodyTalk Works with the Mind-Body Connection to Address Allergies BodyTalk is a system of healthcare that taps into the body’s innate wisdom to identify areas of stress, imbalance, and miscommunication between different bodily systems. It uses a combination of biofeedback, light tapping, and techniques to improve communication between the mind, body, and emotions, promoting holistic healing. When it comes to treating allergies in children, BodyTalk looks beyond the physical symptoms and asks, “What is the body trying to communicate?” For instance, is the child’s immune system overreacting due to unresolved emotional issues, such as anxiety or feelings of vulnerability? Or perhaps the body has learned to be in a constant state of fight-or-flight due to past trauma, leading to immune dysregulation. Here’s how BodyTalk addresses these issues: A Case Study: Lactose Intolerance I was treating an adult client and was brought to address an active memory of grief. She just started bawling, crying so hard. I asked her “who did you lose?” her answer — “I don’t know!” Continuing with BodyTalk I found she had lost a twin at 13 weeks gestation, that there wasn’t enough nutrition to sustain them both. She informed me she had been a small, frail baby. She returned a week later to announce she was no longer lactose intolerant. We can only assume the reactivity was caused by her guilt for taking in the nourishment of milk that her sibling didn’t survive to receive. BodyTalk provided a lasting solution by getting to the root cause of why the reactivity was occurring in the first place. I seen unknown twin losses as a root cause of many issues, including pre-term births. Which makes sense, the grieving fetus wants support and in conventional pregnancies does not get it. So they come early to get the attention they need. Prenatal bonding work has been shown to dramatically reduce preterm birth rates. Conclusion: BodyTalk offers a unique and effective approach