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.

Bridging Community Connections through Count the Kicks: Enhancing Prenatal Care with Digital Health Solutions

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.
Fetal movement monitoring is a critical aspect of prenatal care, offering early indications of fetal distress. Count the Kicks, a digital health solution, provides expectant mothers with an accessible and user-friendly tool for tracking fetal movements. This presentation explores how Count the Kicks not only enhances prenatal care but also bridges gaps within the community by fostering connections among healthcare providers, expectant mothers, and community organizations. AWHONN released a practice brief in 2024 addressing decreased fetal movement which highlighted the impact that teaching expectant parents to recognize a change in movement can have on both maternal and fetal outcomes.
Count the Kicks is more than a digital tool; it is a catalyst for community building and enhanced prenatal care. By empowering expectant mothers with the ability to monitor fetal movements and fostering a collaborative environment among stakeholders, Count the Kicks bridges critical gaps in prenatal healthcare. This presentation underscores the importance of integrating digital health solutions into community health practices and highlights the potential for similar initiatives to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes globally.

Not One Size Fits All: Mastering Peanut Ball Use in Labour


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.

This session offers hands-on guidance for the effective use of the peanut ball in labour. Learn correct positioning techniques for each phase of labour— including inlet, midpelvis, outlet, and pushing—as well as how to choose the appropriate ball size. With a focus on evidence-based practice, attendees will explore how this low-cost, non-invasive tool can support fetal descent, improve alignment, and enhance outcomes, particularly for clients with epidurals or limited mobility.


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.
Topic: Physiologic Birth and Social Determinants of Health - [View Abstract]
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.

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The Rhythm of Birth: Using Music to Support Mind and Body During Labour

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.
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.
Topic: The Remarkable Transition From Liquid to Air at Birth: The Implications for Neonatal Resuscitation - [View Abstract]
Topic: When You Know Better, Do Better - [View Abstract]
Topic: When, Why and How to Breathe for Baby at Birth: More than Neonatal Resuscitation and the Failures in Resuscitation - [View Abstract]
This hour is about honoring midwifery within the history of how birth changed through standard obstetrical practices. Acknowledging and reframing what normal is through the lens of instinctual behaviors. We look at the embryological blueprint of birth (mammalian birth) as a template for normal and how one can support normal/instinctual in all birthing environments.
Beginning from the position that “knowing normal” is baseline, critical and foundational to midwifery care. It is imperative to also know what “not normal” or pathology is in order to provide safe, life saving care when needed.
We investigate how fear often feeds unnecessary interventions regardless of where birth occurs. Techniques are given for how to work with and regulate the fear one might experience.
This GOLD inspired presentation is filled with storytelling, historical perspective and the captivating journey of birth. Karen delivers a paradigm shifting, dynamic lecture to expand our midwifery and birth mindset.