Jessica Peterson - Occupational Therapist

About Jessica

Jessica Peterson is a mother of 2 and has been an occupational therapist for 12 years. She is the founder of Milk Stories, a mobile private practice that specializes in maternal and perinatal health and wellness. She is passionate about working with mothers and families, particularly in lactation and co-regulation. Jessica is a Certified Lactation Counselor, Perinatal Mental Health Professional and Infant Massage Educator. She recently completed her post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy from Boston University focusing on building resources and education for occupational therapy practitioners to better serve parents with disabilities.

Occupational Therapist services

Jessica specializes in maternal and perinatal health and works with families to: · Increase mental and physical support by a health professional immediately postpartum and beyond the traditional 6-week visit with their birth provider. · Address the mother within the context of her family & community to support baby's health, development & well-being including feeding, lactation, play and milestones. · Provide education about & access to other maternal health and support providers who can support the mother's health & well-being. · Reduce the discrepancy between expectations & realities of pregnancy and postpartum providing support and education prenatally and helping to secure plans and systems to increase success of the first weeks of motherhood and beyond.

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Certifications, training, and specialties

Certification and training

Certified Instructor in Infant Massage (CEIM) (2008)
Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) (2023)
Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) (2023)

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2005)
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (2011)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (2023)

Memberships and affiliations

American Occupational Therapy Association
Texas Occupational Therapy Association
National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy

Languages

English

Credentials

BS MS OTR/L PMH-C CLC

Specialties

Anxiety and Depression Birth and Lactation Breastfeeding Assistance and Support Cesarean, Episiotomy and Scar Pain Childbirth Education Childhood Growth and Development Chronic Pain Early Parenting Educator Evidence-Based Care Evidence-Based Therapy Exclusive Pumping/Bottle Feeding Fathers' Issues Grief and Loss Identity Development Infant Care In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) LGBTQ+ Mental Health Mindfulness Mood Disorders Newborn Care Newborn Prep Nipple and Breast Pain Pain Management Parenting Support Pelvic Floor Therapy Pelvic Pain Perinatal and Infant Loss Perinatal Mood Disorders Postpartum Adjustment Postpartum Care Preconception Relaxation Techniques Returning to work (pumping, breastmilk storage, etc) Safety Self-Compassion Sexual Health Strengths-Based Therapy Well-Woman Care

Frequently asked questions

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a health profession that helps people achieve independence and participation in the occupations (activities) of everyday life. Often you'll find occupational therapists (OTs) at the forefront of illness, injury or developmental milestones. OTs trained in perinatal and maternal health and wellness support people at the forefront of motherhood. Occupational therapy during the prenatal and postpartum period focuses on everyday function when preparing to become and as a mother or parent. What also makes maternal and perinatal health OTs unique is that they work with the mother and baby as a dyad, and center support around the family unit.

What is matrescence?

The definition of matrescence encompasses the physical, emotion, psychological, spiritual and even political and cultural transition to motherhood. These transitions not only happen the first time one becomes a mother, but every time. Though based in the word “maternal”, matrescence does not refer to a gender, but to an identity. Like the period of adolescence, matrescence is a developmental period of life that comes with huge changes in who someone is as a person and how they live their life.

What makes OTs unique as prenatal and postpartum professionals?

OTs who specialize in maternal and perinatal health view motherhood as a developmental milestone and work with families to: · Increase support by a health professional immediately postpartum and beyond the traditional 6-week visit with their birth provider. · Address the mother within the context of her family & community to support baby's health, development & well-being. · Provide education about & access to other maternal health and support providers who can support the mother's health & well-being. · Reduce the discrepancy between expectations & realities of pregnancy and postpartum providing support and education prenatally and helping to secure plans and systems to increase success of the first weeks of motherhood and beyond.

What training and education do you have?

Jessica holds a Doctorate degree in occupational therapy. She is a licensed and registered occupational therapist in Texas. She has specialized training and education in maternal mental health, child development, pregnancy, lactation, postpartum care, infant feeding and other topics specific to working with mothers.

Why would mothers need occupational therapy?

Occupational therapists help you with challenges and goals around every day life. For mothers, this looks different at different stages. During the prenatal period, we offer education about physical and mental changes of pregnancy and birth. We focus on ways to improve your well-being and participation in daily activities during pregnancy. We will also work with you to prepare for motherhood (or the addition of a new sibling) by looking at how your environment and social support can support you once baby is here. Postpartum, we offer individualized support that will meet your and your baby’s needs. We work not only with you as a mom and as an individual, but tailor our treatment based on what you and baby need to do together (we call this a dyad), and how we can help support your family’s routines and well-being. As healthcare providers, we are able to screen for postpartum anxiety and depression, evaluate baby’s development, provide support through milestones, and assess and support you in your own physical, mental health, and wellness. A few broad areas occupational therapists can help with are: mental and emotional health, mother and infant sleep, physical health and ergonomics, transition to return to work, infant feeding, recovery from c-section or vaginal birth and sensory regulation.