Virtual Birth + Baby Course: Third-trimester care, labor and delivery prep, and pediatric milestones

by Bethany Peterson

Welcome to the Well + Core Virtual Birth + Baby Course! If you’re looking for a course that helps care for your body throughout pregnancy and beyond, you’re in the right place. 

We don’t believe that having a baby means you have to fully sacrifice your body, health, or personal happiness to take care of your new addition. In fact, we think women who are empowered to prioritize their own health are able to show up even better for their baby. 

It’s not an either/or situation. It’s about finding balance to care for yourself as you step into your new role with your baby. 

Back in 2021, my pediatric physical therapist friend, Dr. Merritt Sizemore-Rawitch, DPT, and I were commiserating over the lack of physical therapist-led pregnancy and postpartum information out there after both of us went through our first pregnancies.

After I became a pelvic floor physical therapist, I was determined to change that. Enter: The Birth + Baby Course.

 

How is Birth + Baby Different than other birthing courses

In a world full of birthing resources, this one was missing.

There is no shortage of birthing prep courses and “mom-to-be” materials out there. But it seems like so many resources neglect to care for mom AND baby at the same time. You have a lot on your hands. How are you supposed to have time to take care of your own body and your own healing, while also caring for the baby?

You deserve to prioritize your own body, pain relief, and healing, without sacrificing your time, attention, or energy spent on your infant.

In this course, we empower you to:

  • Understand the changes your body is going through
  • Train your pelvic floor muscles for labor
  • Minimize tearing and pelvic floor trauma
  • Be confident in your birth plan and have backup plans
  • Have options for delivery positions and pain management
  • Retain your own health and strength during pregnancy
  • Heal faster once baby has arrived
  • Know what milestones to look for in their newborn once they're here
  • Return to activities they love on a schedule that fits with having a newborn 

What does pediatric physical therapy have to do with it?

Once baby makes their debut, tracking the milestones begins immediately. A lot parents don't realize they have more control over the growth and development of their baby's muscular system than they know!

There are a lot of things you can do in the first 12 weeks of baby's life to make sure they...

  • Are visually tracking on time
  • Build strength in all their muscles
  • Don't develop a head turn preference or torticollis
  • Have proper head shaping and avoid helmets later
  • Progress through all the normal milestones

Pediatric physical therapy is something most parents won't learn about until their pediatrician sees that there is a developmental problem that already requires treatment.

Prevention and early detection is everything!

The pediatric portion of our course is designed to help you prevent the need for physical therapy intervention and detect signs early if there is a problem. And, we teach this all in a way that allows you to work on your own postpartum rehab at the same time you're working with your infant!

Which is better, a virtual course or in-person appointments?

I've had a lot of people ask me this question, and the answer is, it depends. This virtual course was designed to empower you with information that would transform your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience. There is A LOT of information here, and I believe most expecting moms will find it extremely helpful.

That said, this course is meant to be foundational and general.

The beauty of in-person appointments is the ability to customize your spent with a physical therapist to you. If you want to ask specific questions, work through unique concerns, or practice some of the techniques explained in the course, that's what in-person appointments are for.

I have moms taking this course without ever seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. I also have moms taking this course who see me on a regular basis. The choice is truly yours to make!

 

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me at bethany.peterson@wellcorept.com or contact me here and I will get back to you as quickly as I can!

 

Best,

Dr. B

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