Prenatal Physiotherapy Through the Trimesters

Overview

Physiotherapists are well positioned to support pregnant patients with pelvic floor function, pain, and preparation for birth. Yet clear guidance on when and how to involve physiotherapy during pregnancy is still limited. In this course, Dr. Jessica Bergervin, a physiotherapist, will guide you through the basics of optimal prenatal and postpartum care. 

Dr. Bergevin shares the five-phase framework she uses to organize care from the initial prenatal assessment through birth preparation, postpartum follow-up, and ongoing support. You will learn how to screen for pregnancy-specific concerns, structure each visit, prioritize when patients can only attend a few appointments, design group prenatal classes, prescribe safe and evidence-informed exercises, prepare patients for labour and delivery, and communicate clearly with referral sources. 

Dr. Bergevin includes an extensive handout and modifiable clinical templates, so you can bring this structure straight into your practice.

Learning Objectives:

In this online course, we will:

1. Organize prenatal and postpartum physiotherapy care using a five-phase framework aligned with the trimesters and postpartum recovery. 

2. Select and prescribe evidence-informed treatment techniques, including exercise, manual therapy, and pelvic floor training, for pregnant patients. 

3. Apply pregnancy-specific screening to individualize assessment and treatment plans. 

4. Prepare patients for labour and delivery using positioning, pushing, and pelvic floor relaxation strategies that support personal control during birth. 

5. Plan postpartum follow-up care, including gentle movement assessment, scar mobilization, gradual return to activity and early telehealth check-ins before the six-week visit. 

6. Strengthen referral pathways and communication with physicians, midwives, doulas, and other members of the prenatal care team.

Why this Course Matters:

Demand for prenatal physiotherapy is growing, yet guidance on when and how physiotherapy fits into routine prenatal care remains inconsistent across provinces, regions, and practice settings. That gap means many patients arrive late, or not at all, and practitioners are left building their own systems from scratch. 

A structured, phased approach helps you prioritize the visits that matter most when patients can only attend a few appointments. It also gives you a clear way to explain your role to referring providers, so more patients reach you at the right time. The result is care that is consistent, individualized, and grounded in evidence, leaving patients feeling prepared and confident for birth and better supported through postpartum recovery.

Audience:

This course is intended for pelvic health physiotherapists who currently work with prenatal and postpartum patients, and for physiotherapists who want to confidently expand their practice into this area. Orthopaedic physiotherapists who see pregnant patients for musculoskeletal complaints will also find practical tools for assessment and exercise prescription. Physiotherapy students, physiotherapist assistants, and allied health professionals who support pregnant individuals are welcome to attend. No prior prenatal experience is required to benefit from the framework and resources.