Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live and/or watch the recorded sessions later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 2-week period after the course/each session. This allows participants who may not be able to attend the live sessions to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won't be attending live.

Course Description:

Cesarean births make up approximately one third of childbirth deliveries in Canada. However, there remains limited and often conflicting post-operative guidance for patients which can leave them feeling unsure of how to navigate their recovery following a Cesarean section. Insufficient guidance on when and how to return to exercise as well as appropriate exercise progression can be overwhelming and often result in patients (or practitioners!) doing too much too soon OR avoiding exercise unnecessarily. Physiotherapists and rehab professionals have much to offer in supporting individuals through this journey and help bridge the gap in current care practices.

This course will provide the practitioner with a practical overview of the Cesarean birth experience as well as evidence-informed tools & approaches to help patients optimize recovery. We will also explore a wide variety of exercise ideas through all stages of recovery.

Objectives:

• learn what a Cesarean birth is (and is not!)
• review post-operative restrictions & red flags
• review evidence-informed recommendations for enhancing recovery after surgery
• learn early post-op pain management techniques & protective strategies
• exposure to evidence-informed use of modalities in cesarean recovery
• understand differences in post-operative complications &  dysfunction between modes of delivery (vaginal & cesarean)
• explore a variety of exercise ideas (including for runners and weight lifters) throughout all stages of recovery
  • 0-6 weeks postpartum
  • 6 week ‘clearance’ and beyond
• be exposed to medical considerations for future births (e.g. VBAC)
• explore the role physiotherapy can play in preparing patients for Cesarean birth or VBAC
• explore prevalent biopsychosocial impacts:
  • impact of C-Section on breastfeeding
  • emotional & psychological impacts; birth trauma
• explore barriers to recovery and advantages of implementing Telehealth in this population

Practical review and demonstration of:

• cesarean scar management, mobility and de-sensitization techniques.
• breastfeeding positions after a Cesarean birth
• protective strategies in the first 6 weeks postpartum
• “exercise” ideas for the first 6 weeks after birth
• exercise at 6 weeks and beyond
• case example for the telehealth platform

Audience: Open to all healthcare and wellness professionals.

Prerequisites: None