Physiological Birth Online Course(s) & Continuing Education

Megan Aucutt is the Program Director at Healthy Birth Day, Inc., the nonprofit behind the evidence-based stillbirth prevention initiative, Count the Kicks. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit and governmental sectors, she specializes in grant writing, coalition building, and public health education. Megan earned her degree in history with a focus on Global Health from the University of Northern Iowa and contributed to public health efforts in Ghana through the Jimmy Carter Center.

At Healthy Birth Day, Inc., she led efforts to secure the organization’s first million-dollar grant, helped gain national Best Practice recognition for Count the Kicks, and co-authored published research in AJOG. She has presented at national conferences including AWHONN and the National Rural Health Association, and co-led a study with AWHONN on clinical responses to changes in fetal movement. Megan also manages the Count the Kicks app, which has over 400,000 users in 140 countries.

A passionate advocate for maternal and child health, Megan used the app during her own pregnancies and is a proud mom of three. Her work is grounded in the belief that knowledge saves lives.

Alisha Parker BSN, RNC-OB, APBT is an Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer, Official Peanut Ball Ambassador and the Director of Authorized Peanut Ball Trainers for Premier Birth Tools. She is a consultant for Premier Birth Tools, a website that has resources for peanut balls and its mission is to get peanut balls in every hospital in the United States with resources for everyone in the world, and to teach how to use it correctly.

Alisha teaches basic and advanced peanut ball workshops. She, in collaboration with other trainers, recently taught an 8-hour peanut ball workshop at her hospital, Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, AR, for many of the nurses on staff. Her hospital is the only hospital in the world that has 5 Authorized Peanut Ball Trainers on staff and 11 Peanut Ball Ambassadors on staff. She is currently a peanut ball expert known to be called on to help position patients in labor with advanced techniques using the peanut ball. She, along with the other trainers at her hospital, produced an informative Peanut Ball Training video. This video can be found on Premier Birth Tools website under resources and videos or her hospital website.

Alisha is a nurse who provides excellent care for patients in labor and delivery, high-risk obstetric patients and is cross trained on High Risk Antenatal, and Mother-Baby-Postpartum. Her certifications include basic, intermediate, advanced fetal monitoring, breastfeeding initiative, neonatal resuscitation program, high-risk obstetrics, S.T.A.B.L.E, Newborn course, perinatal bereavement, preceptor course, OB ACLS, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, AORN Go Clear, Maternal Fetal Triage Index, Obstetric Patient Safety, Peanut Ball Ambassador, Authorized Peanut Ball Trainer, and Inpatient Obstetric Nurse National Certification. She is a preceptor for many new nurses to her unit.

She was Award Winner Labor and Delivery High Performer for going above and beyond. She was nominated and runner-up for DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses thirteen times. She has been a childbirth educator and has attended a Spinning Babies course. She has spoken many times including at the Perinatal & Neonatal Care Conference speaking on the topic: Making Room for Baby. Alisha has been a Labor & Delivery Residency Instructor: Labor Management: Promoting Physiological Labor Progress & Maternal Comfort.

Alisha is an experienced and dedicated RN with a strong passion for the dynamic and rewarding field of Labor and Delivery. Committed to providing safe and compassionate healthcare, promoting positive birth experiences, and ensuring the wellbeing of both mothers and infants. Deeply passionate about this specialized area of nursing and constantly striving to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in her care. Alisha's passion is teaching, speaking about how to use the peanut ball correctly—especially that one size peanut ball does not fit all clients.

Nell received her certificate in Midwifery from State University of New York (SUNY Downstate) and her MS in Midwifery from Philadelphia University. A Certified Nurse-Midwife since 1986, Nell has been actively involved in women’s health care as a labor and birth nurse, a nurse-midwife, a midwifery educator and author, and a maternal child health consultant in public health. Nell is committed improving the pelvic health of all birthing people by building midwives assessment and suture skills. Nell has taught suturing and perineal repair to midwives since 1994 and has developed clinical competencies to guide learners in developing and refining their perineal repair knowledge and skills.

 Her passion is bridging the gap between clinical practice and emerging evidence. With a focus on improving health care, Nell believes we must first acknowledge the harmful effects of systemic racism and bias, and then actively work to create communities and health care systems where people can thrive.
Nell is currently adjunct faculty at Rutgers University and is lead editor and the original author of the award-winning text Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery & Women’s Health.

I studied Biology at the University of York (UK) before training as a midwife in Norwich (University of East Anglia, UK) I have been a stay at home parent for the past few years but continue to read on the physiology of birth which is my passion and have written for MIDIRS midwifery magazine. I am a member of AIMS (Association for the Improvements in the Maternity Services) UK and an Associate member of the Royal College of Midwives.

Childbirth is a profound physical, psychological and emotional event in a woman’s or birthing-person’s life. It is a time of new beginnings but also significant change when awareness and support of perinatal mental health is paramount. Carefully listening to and, where possible, realizing a person’s birth preferences is key in promoting perinatal well being.

Women and birthing people often choose to use music during childbirth, yet the health benefits arising from this non-pharmacological intervention are less well known. This presentation will provide an overview of the various roles and outcomes of music-listening in childbirth.

It will also feature discussion of two case vignettes to illustrate the use of this practice in a public maternity hospital context. To conclude, key considerations and practical recommendations will be shared for healthcare practitioners about the utilization of music-listening to support the childbirth experience.

Karen H. Strange is a Certified Professional Midwife (1996), American Academy of Pediatrics/Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor (1992).

She is founder of the Integrative Resuscitation of the Newborn workshop, which includes the physiology of newborn transition. She teaches the “when, why and how” of helping newborns that are either not breathing or not breathing well, with incredible clarity. She helps the provider have a sense of what the baby is experiencing which leads to a more appropriate response to newborns in need. Karen has done over 1,000 hours of debrief/case reviews regarding resuscitation. She is an international speaker and has taught over 14,000 people worldwide. There are many neonatal resuscitation instructors but Karen teaches practical neonatal resuscitation, regardless of the place of birth. And her teachings instill a strong sense of confidence and competence in providers, so they can respond in the least traumatic way.