Physiological Birth Online Course(s) & Continuing Education
Access the latest clinical skills and research for Physiological Birth for PREGNANCY, LABOUR & CHILDBIRTH professional training. These Physiological Birth online courses provide practice-changing skills and valuable perspectives from leading global experts. This Physiological Birth education has been accredited for a variety of CEUs / CERPs and can be accessed on-demand, at your own pace.
Dr Evita Fernandez, an obstetrician with three decades of experience, a Fellow of the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is presently the Chairperson of the Fernandez
Foundation under whose banner, the 72 year old Fernandez Hospital is managed. She strongly
believes in empowering women to make choices, about issues surrounding birth. She is a
strong supporter of respectful maternity care and in 2011 launched the Professional
Midwifery Education and Training Programme which initiated the campaign PROMISE
(PROfessional MIdwifery SErvices) – committed to creating a national cadre of professional
midwives, vital to the care and delivery of low-risk pregnant women.
Fernandez Hospital is now recognized as a national training institute for midwifery educators.
With her keen interest in academics, Fernandez Hospital with 10,000 births a year has evolved
into a teaching hospital. A prolific speaker, Dr Evita has received several awards for her efforts
in enhancing quality care to women of all age groups.
When a woman enjoys a physiological birth (spontaneous onset of labour without medical interventions) she experiences a deep sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and empowerment. Pregnant women if given the right evidence based information on the normal physiology of labour and birth; enlightened on the options of comfort measures to help cope with the pain of labour will feel more confident to a birth without unnecessary interventions.
The ACOG Committee Opinion No. 76, February 2017, suggested evidence based strategies for low-risk pregnant women. Delaying admission until active phase (> 6cm cervical dilatation), monitoring the fetal heart intermittent auscultation with a hand-held Doppler for monitoring the fetal heart; remaining mobile and upright; ensuring adequate intake of oral liquids and /or food, the presence of a supportive birth companion, the avoidance of unnecessary IV oxytocin infusion, leaving the bag of membranes to break spontaneously, to birth in the position of choice, to hold the baby skin to skin and initiate early breastfeeding are effective steps towards a natural birth. All of this can be offered by a professional midwife trained to meet global standards of competence as outlined by WHO/ICM.
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Nell Tharpe, CNM, CRNFA, MS, FACNM began her journey to midwifery after the birth of her first child. She attended births as a nurse and with home birth midwives, and then obtained her Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from the State University of New York in 1986. She began active clinical practice in Maine, offering women holistic health care, attending births in small community hospitals, and working in the operating room as a surgical first assistant which is where she honed her suturing skills.
A committed life-long learner, Nell received her Master of Science degree in Midwifery from Philadelphia University in 2003. Nell’s passion is bridging the gap between clinical practice and emerging evidence. Her focus is on teaching midwifery skills to foster excellence in midwifery and women’s health care in every practice setting.
Nell is the original author of the widely used midwifery text Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery and Women’s Health, now in its 5th edition, and sold in over 24 counties. She is an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia and provides workshops as an independent Perinatal and Women’s Health Consultant.
Topic: Suturing Skills for Midwifery Practice - [View Abstract]
Topic: Suturing Skills For Midwifery Practice - [View Abstract]
Birth has evolved over millennia to support the continuation of the species. In this talk we'll explore how the physiology of birth can contribute to reciprocal social connection, development of a dynamic intestinal biome, and nurturing parenting. These factors can affect short and long term physical and social health, and contribute to resilience in the face of disease, conflict, and trauma. Birth and perinatal professionals are uniquely positioned to support families during pregnancy and birth in ways that can have a positive effect on future parenting, child health, and lifelong health outcomes. We'll address how to build a culture of caring and implement current evidence and best practice recommendations using quality improvement methodology.
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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.
Labour and birth cause huge changes in the neurophysiology, involving multiple hormonal and neurological systems. These will be discussed in detail and how this knowledge can be used in midwifery practice. The recent concept of "birthing consciousness" describes changes in maternal consciousness during labour (Dahan et al, 2020). The physiology of attachment and effects of parent-neonate separation will also be discussed, especially surrounding neonatal care.
