You're standing in the ER with your child. Medical staff are moving fast. Someone's asking you to make a decision—now. Your heart is racing, your brain is foggy, and you're supposed to know what's best. But do you?

In this raw and personal episode of Motherhood Aligned and Assigned, Dr. Serena Coffman shares the story of her son Duke's emergency hospital visit while she was traveling in Denmark. What started as a suspected choking incident led to a high-risk bronchoscopy under anesthesia—only to discover it was croup, not choking. Through her story, Dr. Serena and Dr. Veronica Schiltz reveal the lessons every parent needs about advocating in medical emergencies, even when you're overwhelmed and out of your depth.

Discover why most of us weren't raised to question medical advice, how to recognize when you're being rushed into unnecessary procedures, and the power of simply asking "How much time do we have?" Learn practical language to use with providers, why you're the expert on your child (even when they're the expert on emergencies), and how a regulated nervous system gives you the clarity to make better decisions under pressure.

If you've ever felt unheard, dismissed, or bulldozed in a medical setting—or if you want to be prepared before it happens—this episode will give you the tools and confidence to trust your voice again.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:54 A Personal Story: Navigating a Medical Emergency

05:04 The Importance of Asking Questions

09:36 Reflecting on the Experience

12:42 Advocating for Your Child's Health

06:58 Trusting Pediatric Experts

15:20 Parental Expertise and Advocacy

16:51 The Dance of Collaboration

17:27 Co-Regulation in Emergencies

18:36 The Role of Chiropractic Care

23:49 Practical Tips for Advocacy

27:27 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

Connect with Veronica:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Serena:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

You're taking the vitamins, going to every prenatal appointment, checking every box on your pregnancy app. But here's the question nobody's asking: Who's checking on YOU—not just physically, but neurologically?

In this episode of Motherhood Aligned and Assigned, Dr. Serena Coffman and Dr. Veronica Schiltz reveal the one test every pregnant mama deserves but rarely gets: a nervous system scan. While your OB checks blood pressure, glucose, and baby's measurements, nobody's checking the system that controls all the others—your nervous system.

Discover how your stress doesn't just affect you—it programs your baby's nervous system for life through the umbilical cord. Learn why conditions like preeclampsia aren't just "bad luck" but often rooted in oxidative stress and nervous system dysfunction. The doctors break down the three scans they use (HRV, EMG, and thermography), what they reveal about your adaptability to stress, and how addressing nervous system tension can prevent newborn struggles like colic, latching issues, and sleep problems.

If you're pregnant or planning to be, this episode offers a missing piece in prenatal care that could change everything for you and your baby.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why your nervous system controls hormones, immunity, and labor success
• How maternal stress signals transfer through the umbilical cord to baby
• The link between preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and nervous system dysfunction
• Why anxiety doesn't run in families—it's mirrored through nervous systems, not genetics
• Three non-invasive scans that reveal your stress adaptability and nervous system health
• What HRV (heart rate variability) reveals about hypervigilance and chronic stress
• How EMG shows where your body holds tension (and steals energy from baby)
• What thermography patterns reveal about old injuries vs. acute stress responses
• Timeline of healing: comfort first, then organ function, then mood and anxiety relief
• How supporting your nervous system during pregnancy prevents newborn colic and latching struggles

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:26 The Importance of Checking on Moms

01:14 Understanding the Nervous System's Role in Pregnancy

04:02 The Impact of Stress on Pregnancy

11:44 Scans and Tests for Nervous System Health

20:11 What to Expect from Nervous System Care

25:27 A Message of Encouragement for Moms

Connect with Veronica:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Serena:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

You've been told your baby will just grow out of the colic. But what if colic doesn't disappear—it just evolves into chronic ear infections, speech delays, sensory issues, and behavioral problems?

In this episode of Motherhood Aligned and Assigned, Dr. Serena Coffman and Dr. Veronica Schiltz, nervous system specialists, discuss how a stressed-out nervous system impacts infants, causing issues like colic, reflux, and sleep disturbances. Through the real-life case of Baby Titus, they reveal how birth trauma—even from natural births—can overwhelm the vagus nerve, disrupting digestion, sleep, and emotional regulation.

Discover why "waiting it out" steals precious bonding time and how neurologically focused scans and gentle chiropractic adjustments release nervous system stress, leading to better sleep, digestion, and overall happiness for babies and families. They emphasize the importance of early intervention for lasting health benefits and offer a compassionate prayer for mothers navigating these challenging beginnings.

00:25 Introduction

01:24 Case Study: Baby Titus

10:45 The Role of the Vagus Nerve

12:52 Healing Through Chiropractic Care

14:48 A Prayer for Mothers

Connect with Veronica:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Serena:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook