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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The Psychological Experience of Physiological Childbirth
Ibone Olza, MD, PhD, is a Child and Perinatal Psychiatrist, researcher, writer and mother of three. She is a co-founder of El Parto Es Nuestro (“Birth is Ours,”) and ApoyoCesareas (“Cesarean Support”) as well as a 20+ year member of Via Lactea, Spain ́s oldest breastfeeding support group. For 19 years Dr. Olza worked as a Child psychiatrist in the Spanish public healthcare system, and in 2009 she started the first perinatal psychiatry program in Madrid and became a member of Marcé Society. In 2014 Dr. Olza began to develop the Perinatal Mental Health Online Training Program at Terra Mater, which in 2017 transformed into the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health. Dr. Olza is currently working as an associate professor at Alcalá University Faculty of Medicine and directing the Institute. In 2017, she published her fifth book, the ground-breakingParir (“Birth”). Other book titles include “Lactivista”, “Nacer por cesárea” and “Hermanos de leche”, a children´s book about extended breastfeeding and human milk banks. She is an activist for mother´s and babies human rights in childbirth and breastfeeding.
Childbirth is a profound psychological experience that has a physical, psychological, social and existential impact in both the short and longer term. It leaves lifelong vivid memories for women. The effects of a birth experience can be positive and empowering, or negative and traumatizing. Neurobiologically, childbirth is directed by hormones produced both by the maternal and the fetal brain. During childbirth and immediately after delivery both brains are immersed in a very specific neurohormonal scenario, impossible to reproduce artificially. The psychology of childbirth is likely to be mediated by these neuro hormones, as well as by particular cultural and personal issues. The peaks of endogenous oxytocin during labour, together with the progressive release of endorphins in the maternal brain, are likely to cause the altered state of consciousness most typical of unmedicated labour that midwives and mothers easily recognise or describe as “labour land” but that has received little attention from neuropsychology. Our research showed that giving birth physiologically is an intense and transformative psychological experience that generates a sense of empowerment. The benefits of this process can be maximised through physical, emotional and social support for women, enhancing their belief in their ability to birth and not disturbing physiology unless it is necessary.
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