105. Understanding pain and using mindfulness for birth preparation with Dr. Sinéad Dufour

The Pelvic Floor Project

In this episode I discuss with fellow physiotherapist, Dr. Sinéad Dufour:

• Reasons we may be seeing more instrumented births and cesareans despite the goal for a physiological birth
• International clinical guidelines favour limited use of routine medical interventions BUT most labour and birth practices don’t align with this
• Impacts that stress, anxiety and fear have on birth outcomes
• New research: Brain training using strategies like mindfulness and providing pain education can help with birth outcomes, birth satisfaction and increase chance of physiological birth

Dr. Sinéad Dufour is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Health Science at McMaster University. She teaches and conducts research in both the Schools of Medicine and Rehabilitation Science. She completed her MScPT at McMaster University (2003), her PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science at Western (2011), and returned to McMaster to complete a post-doctoral fellowship (2013). Her current research interests include: conservative approaches to manage pelvic floor dysfunction, pregnancy-related pelvic-girdle pain, and interprofessional collaborative practice models of service provision to enhance pelvic health. Additionally, Sinéad has undergone training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine and is currently completing a full certificate program with Dr. Aviva Romm. Sinéad stays current clinically through her work as the Director of Pelvic Health Services at The World of my Baby (the WOMB) a family of perinatal care centers in Ontario, Canada. In addition to managing her own very busy caseload, she mentors novice pelvic health physiotherapists and is a clinical preceptor for family medicine residents and midwifery students from McMaster University. Sinéad in an invited member on several committees for various organizations including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and the International Continence Society. She is also serving as the Guest Editor for the upcoming special issue: Optimizing the Fourth Trimester, for the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Journal. Her passion for optimizing perinatal care and associated upstream health promotion for women and children stemmed from her own experience becoming a mother of twins. She is an advocate for women’s pelvic health and a regular invited speaker at conferences around the world.

HOW TO CONTACT Sinéad:
Instagram
www.thewomb.ca

PAPERS REFERENCED:
Pain Neuroscience Education to Support Birth: A Feasibility Study

Brain Training to Facilitate Labor and Birth: Impact of a Mobile Health Application
(Contact me for full article)

ADDITIONAL EPISODES ON THE TOPIC OF BIRTH PREPARATION:
40. Preparing the mind for birth with doula, Elise Ruel
45. Pelvic floor education before birth with Kimberley Johnson

THANK YOU TO THE EPISODE SPONSORS
SRC Health: discount code and website: https://srchealth.com/?ref=Sto_l3PawmnH4. Discount Code: THEPELVICFLOORPROJECT

Thanks for joining me!
Here is where you can find out how to work with me: www.pelvicfloorprojectspace.com/

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