Anatomy & Physiology of Pregnancy & Birth Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Anatomy & Physiology of Pregnancy & Birth for PREGNANCY, LABOUR & CHILDBIRTH professional training. These Anatomy & Physiology of Pregnancy & Birth online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Anatomy & Physiology of Pregnancy & Birth education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Grace Abruzzo PT, DPT, CAPP-OB, CD(DONA), PYT-C, (she/they) is a licensed physical therapist and trauma healer specializing in pelvic health. A certified specialist in obstetric and pelvic physical therapy, Dr. Grace uses an integrative approach to treating people in preparation and recovery from childbirth, conception, menstruation and menopause. Dr. Grace also spends time in birthing spaces, supporting mamas during labor and birth.
Dr. Grace utilizes an integrative approach to wellness, which includes interventions like education; manual therapeutic techniques, including visceral, myofascial, and internal pelvic mobilizations; yoga therapy; meditation practice; Compassionate Inquiry TM, and Somatic Experiencing TM.
Having a strong understanding of pelvic and vulvovaginal anatomy and physiology is crucial to help prepare the birthing body for childbirth. Whether preparing for homebirth, birthing center, or hospital setting, prevention of injury of the birthing person supports a healing and positive birthing and post-partum experience. Deepen your knowledge of the fascia, pelvic joints, muscles and nerves in the pelvis and learn what the latest research tells us about positioning for labour and birth, spontaneous pushing and perineal preparation and common myths.
Susan Winograd, PT, owns and operates a private Pelvic Health and
Wellness practice in Boca Raton, Florida called Pelvicore Rehab LLC.
She specializes in Woman's Health, Men’s Health issues, and
Pre and Postnatal Care.
She has earned a Scar Release therapy Certification from Acumed
and is certified in the Wurn Technique and Clear Passage Approach.
Susan earned a masters degree from the College of Staten Island in
1998. In her 22 years of clinical experience she has gained extensive
knowledge in the treatment of various populations such as orthopedics,
manual therapy, geriatrics, pediatrics and men/women's pelvic dysfunction,
and prenatal/postpartum care.
She has continued her post graduate educate through seminars with
The Herman and Wallace Institute, MPS Scar Release Therapy, Myofascial
Release, The institute for Birth Healing, Clear Passage Therapies, and is pursuing education in Cranial Sacral therapy with the Upledger Institute
and Total Body Balancing with the D’Ambrogio Institute.
Susan enjoys teaching workshops throughout South Florida on pelvic
health and wellness related topics.
Her hands-on treatment approach of treating the whole person has
often led her to discover the primary or contributing cause of pain,
dysfunction, or imbalance was pelvic floor related.
Her passion and commitment now is treating, healing, and educating
her patients and healthcare providers with pelvic floor dysfunction using a
whole body approach to relieve pain, restore optimal function, and
improve quality of life.
She is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized
that care that every patient deserves.
Topic: The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Healing and Recovery - [View Abstract]
Topic: The Pelvic Floor and the Core; A Dynamic Duo - [View Abstract]
Pregnancy is one of the most magnificent things that a woman can experience. The ability of our bodies to accommodate and nurture a growing baby inside the womb is fascinating and beautiful, however, it does cause significant changes in our body that can cause moms to experience aches, pains and leaks. A Pelvic health physical therapist can help moms enjoy pregnancy by helping them stay fit, healthy, and pain free as their body, hormones, and posture changes throughout pregnancy. Maintaining musculoskeletal, postural, and pelvic balance will allow moms to stay comfortable and supported during pregnancy and facilitate the quickest and most efficient recovery post partum. A midwife can be instrumental in encouraging their clients to maintain pelvic health and wellness throughout pregnancy.
Physiology Leads the Way – Supporting Medically Complex Pregnancy and Birth with Physiology
Nikki is originally from South Dakota in the United States. Prior to working in birth, she traveled through Europe and spent a decade living and working in France. She then returned to the US to become a nurse and found her passion of working with families at all points in their perinatal journeys. She currently lives in Seattle and works as a Labor & Birth nurse.
Nikki has been a Spinning Babies® Approved Trainer since 2019, teaching Spinning Babies workshops throughout North America and Europe. She loves all sides of learning and enjoys participating in the development of birth professionals at all levels. She is especially interested in finding ways to support physiological birth and bonding in complex medical situations with evidence-based practice.
When pregnancy is medically complex, the focus of care generally becomes the pathology of the complication. But the physiology of labor remains the same. By supporting the normal physiology of labor and birth, even when medical surveillance and intervention are indicated, care providers can support autonomy, reduce trauma, provide for healthy bonding, and improve outcomes.
This presentation will look at specific examples and case planning to highlight the opportunities for building physiological birth care into the medically complex birth scenario.
Fiona has been a midwife for 32 years. She is also a registered nurse and maternal & child health nurse, a birth educator and bodyworker. She has worked in Melbourne public and private birthing hospitals and has supported many families with the birth of their babies at home and in hospital. Interwoven throughout her midwifery practice has been an involvement in midwifery education and the teaching of Birthwork Workshops. The focus of all birth related teaching is on the dynamic pelvis and how to make space for the baby. Fiona is also a Spinning Babies® Approved Trainer. When not teaching workshops, Fiona offers bodywork sessions to women in a 1:1 capacity, with particular emphasis on internal pelvic release work. She has been instrumental in establishing the Internal Pelvic Release Work Mentoring Program in Australia. Fiona’s drive to teach is fuelled by a desire to see childbearing women hold birth knowledge, learn to honour their pelvic treasures and work with their innate power and in so doing, eradicate birth trauma. Fiona lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Topic: The Issues in the Pelvic Tissues and Some Possible Solutions - [View Abstract]
So much emphasis has been placed on the bones of the pelvis – the space they can create for birth and the problems they cause. Cephalo Pelvic Disproportion (CPD) seems to be a term all too readily used to justify yet another woman having her baby born by caesarean section. It seems strange that nature has created so many mother/baby mismatches!
Commonly, the pelvic soft tissues don't come into consideration when a mother’s pelvis is deemed too small for her baby’s head. And yet bones don’t move on their own. Bones provide structure and form and bony movements are driven by soft connective tissues. If the connective tissues are holding tension of known or unknown origin, it stands to reason that when that tension is addressed and released, the connective tissues may ‘sigh’ and greater movement of the bony frame could occur.
The presentation will explore what connective tissues influence pelvic space and movement, why connective tissues can hold tension and creative considerations to work with them.
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Susan Winograd, PT, owns and operates a private Pelvic Health and
Wellness practice in Boca Raton, Florida called Pelvicore Rehab LLC.
She specializes in Woman's Health, Men’s Health issues, and
Pre and Postnatal Care.
She has earned a Scar Release therapy Certification from Acumed
and is certified in the Wurn Technique and Clear Passage Approach.
Susan earned a masters degree from the College of Staten Island in
1998. In her 22 years of clinical experience she has gained extensive
knowledge in the treatment of various populations such as orthopedics,
manual therapy, geriatrics, pediatrics and men/women's pelvic dysfunction,
and prenatal/postpartum care.
She has continued her post graduate educate through seminars with
The Herman and Wallace Institute, MPS Scar Release Therapy, Myofascial
Release, The institute for Birth Healing, Clear Passage Therapies, and is pursuing education in Cranial Sacral therapy with the Upledger Institute
and Total Body Balancing with the D’Ambrogio Institute.
Susan enjoys teaching workshops throughout South Florida on pelvic
health and wellness related topics.
Her hands-on treatment approach of treating the whole person has
often led her to discover the primary or contributing cause of pain,
dysfunction, or imbalance was pelvic floor related.
Her passion and commitment now is treating, healing, and educating
her patients and healthcare providers with pelvic floor dysfunction using a
whole body approach to relieve pain, restore optimal function, and
improve quality of life.
She is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized
that care that every patient deserves.
Topic: The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Healing and Recovery - [View Abstract]
Topic: The Pelvic Floor and the Core; A Dynamic Duo - [View Abstract]
The third trimester is an exciting time for moms. There is much attention placed on her with the excitement and preparation of an upcoming birth. In the fourth trimester, the 12 weeks that follow birth, we often see this attention transition to focus on the newborns' needs by healthcare practitioners, family, friends, and of course by the mom. It is important to recognize that this is a critical time for mothers. They are struggling with sleeplessness, adapting emotionally and are in the active recovery phase of healing physically. In France, Sweden and other parts of the world, the healthcare system pays much closer attention to mom’s well being after birth. In many of these countries being assessed and treated by a pelvic health physical therapist is the standard of care. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recently came out with recommendations for improved focus on maternal health. This includes emotional well-being, health maintenance, sexuality, and physical therapy as the standard of care and practice. We are still behind many other countries in maternal postpartum care but we are slowly making improvements. Midwives have the important opportunity to spread the awareness that every mom should get the postpartum care they deserve.
Susan Winograd, PT, owns and operates a private Pelvic Health and
Wellness practice in Boca Raton, Florida called Pelvicore Rehab LLC.
She specializes in Woman's Health, Men’s Health issues, and
Pre and Postnatal Care.
She has earned a Scar Release therapy Certification from Acumed
and is certified in the Wurn Technique and Clear Passage Approach.
Susan earned a masters degree from the College of Staten Island in
1998. In her 22 years of clinical experience she has gained extensive
knowledge in the treatment of various populations such as orthopedics,
manual therapy, geriatrics, pediatrics and men/women's pelvic dysfunction,
and prenatal/postpartum care.
She has continued her post graduate educate through seminars with
The Herman and Wallace Institute, MPS Scar Release Therapy, Myofascial
Release, The institute for Birth Healing, Clear Passage Therapies, and is pursuing education in Cranial Sacral therapy with the Upledger Institute
and Total Body Balancing with the D’Ambrogio Institute.
Susan enjoys teaching workshops throughout South Florida on pelvic
health and wellness related topics.
Her hands-on treatment approach of treating the whole person has
often led her to discover the primary or contributing cause of pain,
dysfunction, or imbalance was pelvic floor related.
Her passion and commitment now is treating, healing, and educating
her patients and healthcare providers with pelvic floor dysfunction using a
whole body approach to relieve pain, restore optimal function, and
improve quality of life.
She is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized
that care that every patient deserves.
Topic: The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Healing and Recovery - [View Abstract]
Topic: The Pelvic Floor and the Core; A Dynamic Duo - [View Abstract]
The pelvic floor is a fascinating structure that is responsible for so many basic but critical functions essential to our survival. This group of muscles is directly impacted during pregnancy, birth and in the postpartum healing period. Midwives are amazing advocates for women. In my practice, it has become obvious that midwives that are knowledgeable in pelvic health and wellness play a critical role in recognizing when this system is not functioning optimally and are then able to advocate and provide support to their clients that go far beyond the birthing process. In this presentation, I will present information about the pelvic floor that will give midwives a deeper understanding of pelvic floor functions and how it is intimately related to the core system in our body. This will give midwives the knowledge to support their clients and advocate for them in the most holistic way of facilitating women to have easier pregnancies and births and the most efficient postpartum healing. "
