Application opens October 1st for Spring 2025 Cohort!
Perinatal Health
Specialist Certification
We train professionals to optimize maternal and infant care in the hospital and home with Occupational and Physical Therapy
Certified Perinatal Health Specialist Training (PHS)
PHS Certification: 2 Steps
- Step 1: Complete the 30-hour PHS Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ (ERAD) certificate training
- Step 2: Take the PHS Certification exam with a minimum passing score of 80%
Certified Perinatal Health Specialist Training: Two Cohorts Per Year
SPRING 2025: Live classes start in January!
application oPENs october 1st!
Sign up for the Pelvic Health Network Member Discount: HERE
Full Registration
- Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ Certificate Training for Non-Members: $1997
- Includes PHS Certification Exam Fee
- *Pelvic Health Network Member Discount
Payment Plan
- Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ Plan for Non-Members: 2 Payments of $1097
- Includes PHS Certification Exam Fee
- *Pelvic Health Network Member Discount
To review the training agreement, click here.
Sign up for the Pelvic Health Network Member Discount: HERE
Enhanced Recovery and Wellness, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Activity approval ID# 08145. The DL-Interactive activity is offered at 3 CEUs, intermediate level, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Grow an OB Rehab Program in the Hospital and Home after Birth
30-hour self-paced and hybrid training prepares clinicians to enhance maternal outcomes before and after birth and to successfully meet the requirements for the Perinatal Health Specialist certification exam
Live sessions and Q/A to accelerate your practice in the hospital and home
SPRING 2025: Live sessions start in January!
APPLICATION OPENS OCTOBER 1ST!
Current Sessions in Progress:
Perinatal Health Specialist Training Objectives
Professionals will be able to:
- Create interventions for an extended hospital length of stay to address physical and mental health concerns in the high-risk pregnancy population
- Reduce postpartum risk factors associated with cardiovascular impairments, pelvic floor dysfunction, cesarean wound complications, and hospital readmissions
- Empower patients and clients to manage their recovery to avoid unnecessary complications after vaginal delivery, cesarean section, or hysterectomy at the time of birth
- Leverage communication to improve awareness of early rehab during pregnancy and after birth to optimize 4th trimester recovery and return to activity
- Develop a system where every person is offered a rehab evaluation within 24-48 hours of their birth or pelvic surgery to improve infant bonding, sleep health, mental health, and physical recovery
- Enhance patient autonomy and early function in the hospital and home with interventions for pelvic girdle and back pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction, diastasis recti, and cesarean wound healing
- Collaborate with clients on optimal newborn feeding positions, body mechanics for newborn care, energy conservation, and modifications to ADLs to enhance postpartum function with activity
- Successfully support families with trauma-informed care following birth complications, NICU admission, perinatal loss, and risk factors associated with social determinants of health
Sign up for the Pelvic Health Network Member Discount: HERE
2 Steps to become a Certified Perinatal Health Specialist (PHS)
Step 1: Complete the 30-hour Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ Certificate Training
REQUIREMENTS:
- Current CPR/AED certification
- Health professional licensure: e.g. OT, PT, COTA, PTA, DC, RD, RN, NP, CM, DO, MD
Step 2: Take the Perinatal Health Specialist Exam with a passing score of 80% or higher
REQUIREMENTS:
- Case study on rehab interventions and care collaboration during high-risk pregnancy or within 0 – 6 weeks after birth
To view CEU information, CLICK HERE
Perinatal Health Specialist Certification Training
Live Q/A and 1:1 meeting with an instructor to grow your maternal rehab program-
30-hour CEU training for the Perinatal Health Specialist certification is divided into 3 high-demand practice areas:
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1. High-Risk Perinatal Rehab, Hospital and Home: Perinatal anatomy and physiology, fetal conditions, maternal morbidity and health education, Obstetrics ED and ICU management, OB rehab evaluation and interventions, and collaboration with the maternal-fetal care team
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2. Postpartum Rehab, Hospital Admission: Acute rehab eval and treatment within 24-48 hours of vaginal and cesarean delivery; management of immediate postpartum complications e.g. hemorrhage, perineal and abdominal wounds, pelvic girdle pain, hypertensive disorders, and pelvic health concerns
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3. Postpartum Rehab 0-6 Weeks, Home and Virtual: Postpartum home and virtual care interventions, collaboration with birth professionals and coordination of external resources, multidisciplinary management of breastfeeding support, perinatal mental health concerns, and business/practice growth strategies
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1:1 consultation with an instructor and group sessions to review course assignments, Case Study, and to prep for certification exam: Case discussions and Q/A assist clinicians with the Perinatal Health Case Study and with navigating unique challenges when developing an acute OB rehab or virtual practice in the hospital, home, or community
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PHS certification exam at the end of each cohort is offered remotely: Case study submission is due prior to sitting for the exam and a passing score of 80% or greater is required to receive your certification and use the designation, Perinatal Health Specialist (PHS) to distinguish practice with acute, high-risk pregnant and postpartum popultations
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Participants will be prepared to evaluate and treat individuals and their families in the hospital and home during:
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High-risk pregnancy including safe activities and exercises to enhance function
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Within 24 - 48 hours after vaginal delivery including preeclampsia risk reduction
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Immediately after cesarean section and cesarean hysterectomy
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Following perinatal loss, obstetrics emergency, obstetrics ICU admission
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During NICU admission and early infant care management
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Following perineal tears, cesarean wound events, symphysis pubis dysfunction, pelvic girdle dysfunction, and more
The Experience
Recertification: 2-Year Cycle
Complete 10 continuing education hours of Pelvic Health Network training related to maternal and/or infant health every two years OR an approved equivalent training activity.
Application opens October 1st
Spring 2025 Cohort: January - June
Fall 2025 Cohort: July - December
2-Year Recertification Requirements
- Complete 10 continuing education hours of Pelvic Health Network training related to maternal and/or infant health every 2 years OR one of the following equivalent training activities:
- Option 1: Submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal pertaining to maternal and/or infant health
- Option 2: Present on a maternal and/or infant health topic at a professional conference
- Option 3: Teach a webinar or short course on a maternal and/or infant health topic through the Pelvic Health Network
Benefits of a Perinatal Health Certification
What You Get
The knowledge to improve perineal and cesarean wound healing and reduce hospital readmissions
The confidence to create a system that reduces risk factors immediately after cesarean section, hysterectomy, and more
The skills to enhance pulmonary and cardiac function in the high-risk pregnancy and postpartum populations
The ability to shorten the recovery process and increase joy in clients who typically wait weeks to months for supportive care
The techniques to spot concerns earlier and be the point of contact on a person's care team to connect them with resources throughout their first year of recovery
Meet Our Team
Our Founders
Dr. Rebeca Segraves, PT, DPT, WCS
Clinical Director
Dr. Jenna Segraves, PT, DPT, NCS
Director of Education
Our Instructors
Dr. Jessica LeJeune, PT, DPT
Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L
Lara Desrosiers, Msc. OT Reg. (Ont)
Financial Disclosures
Dr. Rebeca Segraves owns the Pelvic Health Network which hosts the educational platform for Enhanced Recovery After Delivery.
Dr. Juan Michelle Martin, PT, DPT is the co-founder of Pelvic PT Doulas.
Dr. Ann Croghan, PT, DPT, CLC is an instructor for Alcove Education.
Alexis Brooks, MS, RD is the owner of Alexis Brooks Nutrition.
Dr. Katherine Sylvester, PT, DPT is the founder of Operation M.I.S.T.
Dr. Amanda Heritage, PT, DPT is the owner of Breathe Life PT.
Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L is the founder of The Functional Pelvis and co-founder of the Trauma-Informed Certification in Pelvic Health.
Lara Desrosiers, Msc. OT Reg. (Ont) is the founder of Pelvic Resilience and the co-founder of the Trauma-Informed Certification in Pelvic Health.
The Experience
Testimonials
Like you, we believe that preventative care should not wait.
Do you believe that individuals after birth should be informed on how to enhance their function immediately after delivery without having to wait and figure out things on their own?
Are hospitals in your community offering OT and PT DAILY after elective surgery (knee and hip replacements) yet not offering therapy ONCE to patients after cesarean section?
Are you a leader in your field, advocating to improve maternal function now to avoid unwanted symptoms later?
You can establish a new standard for care globally by optimizing function after birth and pelvic surgery directly in hospitals, birth centers, and at home where recovery begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ (ERAD) is an evidenced-informed pathway that was developed to expand access to rehab services for families during pregnancy and immediately after birth. We believe that every delivery is unique and that no one can predict how a mother will mentally and physically function after childbirth.
We expedite access to an obstetrics rehab evaluation during every pregnancy and for any birth experience, yet especially in the following instances:
1) during a high-risk pregnancy hospital admission
2) after an unexpected or repeat cesarean section
3) after postpartum hemorrhage following any delivery
4) after an injury to the pelvis or nerves that affect walking
5) after a traumatic perineal tear
6) after a perinatal loss
Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ provides a pathway for offering mothers an obstetrics rehab evaluation during their high-risk pregnancy hospital admission and within the first 24-48 hours after birth prior to hospital discharge. The goal of ERAD™ is to maximize pregnancy and postpartum outcomes with occupational and physical therapy before and immediately after childbirth in the hospital and home.
Click HERE to learn how we adapt this training for hospital teams and University health degree programs.
We offer two hybrid programs a year to complete the Perinatal Health Specialist certification training: 1) January to June and 2) July to December. You can study at your own pace during this period, yet are provided with 1:1 consultations with an instructor and group sessions within your cohort that specifically pertain to your practice i.e. hospital program development or specialized services in your small business. Learning within a cohort provides the most accommodations for participants who require time flexibility to self-pace their individualized training, yet who also benefit from peer and advisor support.
You have access to PHS training materials for 12 months from the date of your enrollment.
The PHS certification exam is routinely updated with training materials as labor and delivery medicine continues to evolve. For this reason, you are encouraged to take the exam at the end of your cohort, yet we understand the specific circumstances that arise which prevent this. You can defer the certification exam until the end of the next cohort after your initial enrollment if you do not feel ready to test during your original exam window.
You will be offered an opportunity to apply to re-take the PHS exam.
The Perinatal Health Specialist certification training is appropriate for health professionals who have experience working with pregnant and immediate postpartum populations in the hospital, home, and community. During the program, your 1:1 consultation with an instructor will help you identify an appropriate patient that you have demonstrated clinical expertise with for your case study submission. Your case study is required prior to taking the PHS certification exam. If you are not currently treating the perinatal population during pregnancy or within the first 6 weeks of postpartum recovery, you are encouraged to defer the exam until you have gained experience in this area of practice and prior to obtaining the designation of a Certified Perinatal Health Specialist to treat this unique patient population.
Enhanced Recovery After Delivery™ offers The Trauma-Informed Maternal Health Scholarship, sponsored by Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L, founder of The Functional Pelvis. The scholarship is designed to reduce the financial burden of the program for eligible applicants who are making a powerful impact in maternal health. Creatively expressing your unique value is a must. For more information, click HERE.
Additional questions? Email us at info@pelvichealthnetwork.org