Why Sleep, Feeding & Airway Are All Connected
In this segment Hallie Bulkin emphasizes that sleep, feeding, and airway issues in newborns are deeply interrelated and that clinicians must help families see these connections. She illustrates how parents often arrive with a single concern—such as feeding or speech—yet the underlying sleep or airway factors are relevant, and families are usually unaware of these links because they have never been taught. Bulkin argues that the lack of comprehensive education in hospital-required birthing classes leaves parents uninformed about breastfeeding, airway management, and sleep health. She calls for expanding these curricula to better prepare families for the challenges of the fourth trimester, reducing the surprise and stress that arise when multiple, interconnected issues emerge.
