Assessing Pregnancy
Join Terra Nicolle (MOMSc, RMT, PFT) and me in this well-organized and detailed course. It is bursting with great video and images to level-up your skillset. There is also a fun quiz!
How do you best assess why Mum is having back pain, swelling, poor balance, headaches, carpal tunnel symptoms, heartburn, pubic pain, and more...
This course uses great tools like: photos of pregnant bellies, pelvic models, and videos to help you learn exactly what happens at each pregnancy stage.Ā Learn how to assess the pelvic structures that are on-and-off tension, what structures should be addressed, and which positions are best to use.
2 hours of continuing education
Course Outline and Objectives:
The First Trimester -
- Myths regarding treatment, contraindications, common complaints, goals, and principles of treatment
- Assessment: What to assess at this point in the pregnancy and why
The Second Trimester -
- weight gain
- increased forces on the spine/shift in CoG
- ligamentous and muscular decompensation
- diaphragm changes
- blood volume and blood pressure changes
- hormonal influences on all tissues and fluid systems
- breast development
- digestive irritations
- headaches and body pains
The Third Trimester -
- the "congestive phase" of pregnancy. Lymphatic and venous flow is poor as the pelvic bowl is occupied by an ever-growing fetus
- understanding what the uterine ligaments are doing, and what they need to be doing, is key for optimal delivery
Anatomical & Physiological Highlights
Kyphosis, head and cervical spine considerations
Carotid sheath effects, baroreceptor changes, and vagal irritations
Relationships between the diaphragms are explained
Progesterone and relaxin changes in connective tissues (ligaments and fascia)
Muscle spindle fibers are affected through fascial changes, leading to discord in NM function
Joint and uterine ligaments are allowed to stretch a lot, causing pain and soreness in a classical pattern
Assessing the Uterus - Learn which tissues should be addressed and which ones to leave alone
The Pelvic Bowl - Borders are defined for the pelvic bowl and muscle attachments are briefly reviewed
The Fetal Head in the Pelvic Bowl - The fetal head position in the pelvic bowl is described. The obturator internus muscle is the “driver” that rotates the fetal head during birth
Restrictions of the Uterus - Learn which tissues are to blame for loss of uterine mobility
So Many Ligaments!
Coccyx Assessment - Prone and side-lying palpation is used to confirm your visual assessment.
The Uterine Ligaments - How the round, broad, and uterosacral ligaments work together.
The Round Ligaments - Origins, insertions, and pathways of the round ligaments.
Round Ligament Assessment - How to assess the round ligament tensions in sidelying.
The Broad Ligaments - The broad ligaments drive the uterine position laterally. Figuring out which one is restricted is the key!
Broad Ligament Assessment - Visual assessment and palpatory expectations.
The Uterosacral Ligaments - These ligaments suspend the uterus from the cervix.
Uterosacral Ligament Assessment - Sidelying assessment.
Reciprocal Ligament Stability - Reciprocity in balanced tensions is needed for uterine symmetry and freedom of motion.
Special Considerations, Visual Assessments & More!
Scoliosis - How it affects the pregnancy, the uterine lie, baby’s birth position, and the growth/development of the fetus
Right Obliquity - "Right Obliquity" introduces a slight preference for uterine positioning and "fetal lie"
Spinal and Cord Circulation - Understand why a pregnant mother suffers from the symptoms she does!
Diaphragm Movement Reciprocity (video) - The 3 stages of pregnancy and their associated diaphragm movements
Fetal Presentation and Fetal Lie - How to palpate and visually assess the fetal lie
Standing Visual Assessments - Various well-labeled photos show the tissue tensions and uterine/fetal orientations
Stabilizing the Treatment - How to accomplish the most stabilization possible in pregnancy
Treatment Scheduling - Advice on when to treat/how often, depending on pregnancy stage
What should I do after taking this course?
Take the quiz at the end to earn a discount code for the second part, the course titled Treating Pregnancy
Sign up now!
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking this course to improve your understanding of how the uterus grows and affects the body of the mother-to-be to help her optimize her chances of a smooth delivery!
Register here