Birth Preparation for
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

What You'll Learn

• Understanding Labour and Birth

  • Pelvic and birth-related anatomy

  • The stages of labour

  • The cardinal movements of the baby during birth

  • Different fetal starting positions and the evidence surrounding their impact on labour outcomes

• Preparing the Pelvic Floor for Birth

  • Learn the latest evidence and clinical approaches relating to:

    • Pelvic floor assessment during pregnancy

    • Transperineal ultrasound (TPRTUS) assessment

    • Perineal massage

    • The Epino device

    • Optimising pelvic floor function for birth

• Develop confidence discussing:

  • What contractions are and what they can tell us about labour progression

  • Why labour is painful

  • How to explain labour physiology in a way that reduces fear and improves understanding

  • Birth positions, how to tweak them and how they may influence labour progression

  • Practical strategies to facilitate movement and position changes during labour

• Understanding Birth Interventions:

  • Explore the latest research surrounding:

    • Induction of labour

    • Epidural analgesia

    • Instrumental birth

    • Caesarean birth

    • The cascade of interventions

  • How these interventions may influence birth outcomes and postpartum recovery

• Pain Management Strategies

  • Learn how to guide women through both extrinsic and intrinsic pain management options, including:

    • Distraction techniques and coping techniques

    • TENS

    • Massage

    • Acupressure

    • Heat

    • Water 

    • Morphine

    • Nitrous oxide (gas)

    • Epidural analgesia

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Practical Skills Training

Choose either the face-to-face practical workshop or access the practical skills through pre-recorded demonstrations.

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By the end of the practical component, you will be able to:

• Perform a whole-body external assessment and understand its relationship to pelvic floor function

• Identify when pelvic floor assessment and treatment may be appropriate during pregnancy

• Understand when release techniques may be indicated—and when they may not be

• Assess GH + PB measurements at rest and during bearing down

• Assess and rate bearing down technique

• Provide effective cueing to optimise pushing strategies

• Perform perineal massage and release techniques

• Teach practical distraction and coping strategies for labour

• Use transperineal ultrasound (TPRTUS) to assess and provide biofeedback for pushing technique​​

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The goal of this course is not simply to provide information.

It is to give you the knowledge, assessment skills, and practical tools needed to confidently support women preparing for birth and navigating labour.

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You'll leave with evidence-based knowledge, practical clinical skills, and strategies that can be implemented immediately in practice.