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The Fourth Trimester: How Occupational Therapy Can Transform Postpartum Care

Instructor

Melissa O’Neal
OTR/L

  • CE Hours: 0.1
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Format: On-Demand (Asynchronous)
  • Price: $30.00
$30.00
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ReadySetConnect is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID #12463. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at 0.1 CEUs, introductory OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

Course Description

The postpartum period, often called the “fourth trimester,” is a crucial yet frequently overlooked phase of maternal recovery and family adjustment. Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to support mothers and families during this time, addressing challenges related to sleep, feeding, mental health, role transitions, and infant development. This webinar explores how postpartum care aligns with OT’s scope of practice according to the OTPF-4 framework, providing evidence-based strategies to enhance maternal and family well-being. Participants will gain practical knowledge to understand and address the functional needs of postpartum families.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Define the fourth trimester and explain how OT principles align with the needs of postpartum mothers and families.
Analyze common postpartum challenges (sleep, feeding, mental health, role transitions) and their impact on daily occupations.
Apply OT-based, function-centered interventions to support postpartum recovery and family routines.
Explain how environmental modifications and sensory strategies enhance postpartum care.
Explain how environmental modifications and sensory strategies enhance postpartum care.

Completion requirements

Participants have to:

  • Watching the full course to earn credit-attendance for the entire session is required.
  • Complete a formal assessment after watching the entire course:
  • Consisting of 5 questions
  • 80% pass rate
  • Maximum 3 attempts
  • Submit your feedback (available after the course)
  • No partial credits - you must meet all requirements to receive your completion certificate and AOTA CEUs “if applicable”
  • Submission unlocks only after watching the entire course.

Who is this for

  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants

Time Ordered Agenda:

  • 00:00 – 05:36

Introduction

  • 05:36 – 11:42

The Fourth Trimester & OT’s Role

  • 11:43 – 24:22

Postpartum Challenges Through an OT Lens

  • 24:23 – 34:57

OT’s Scope of Practice in Postpartum Care

  • 34:58 – 47:56

Evidence-Based OT interventions for Postpartum Care

  • 47:56 – 50:12

How can OT Reshape Postpartum Care

Meet The Speaker

Melissa O’Neal

OTR/L
Meet Melissa O’Neal, OTR/L, a postpartum advocate whose mission was born from personal experience. After her son’s birth 15 years ago, she felt the stark contrast between abundant pregnancy care and the void that followed. This gap revealed a perfect opportunity for occupational therapy to make a meaningful difference.
With over a decade of hands-on experience working with families, Melissa is passionate about highlighting how postpartum support naturally aligns with OT’s scope of practice. From ADLs and routines to mental health and physical recovery, she demonstrates how OTs are uniquely positioned to address the complex needs of new parents.
Join Melissa for a session filled with practical wisdom and heartfelt insights from someone who’s been there. She’s equipping fellow practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to step into this vital practice area—creating the postpartum support system every new family deserves and that fits perfectly within our professional calling.

A Word from the Speaker

“Hey there, I’m Melissa, an OT with over 10 years of postpartum magic up my sleeve, all sparked by my phenomenal 15-year-old son. I’m here to light up your passion for supporting new moms! Full scoop: I still work hands-on with moms and babies – both in-person and virtually – because nothing beats that connection. “

“Professional Affiliations and Previous Presentations”

  • Completed specialized training in — Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Postpartum Support International 2020 Mom Maternal Mental Health, Certified Sleep and Wellbeing Specialist, PCES and additional pelvic floor education.

Disclosures

Financial

  • Speaker receives compensation from ReadySetConnect for this engagement
  • Melissa is the founder and CEO of The Postpartum OT, that offers a variety of free and paid resources which may be referenced in this presentation

Non-Financial

  • Melissa O’Neal, OTR/L, has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

No prerequisites required for this course.

This course was launched in April 2025. Upon purchase, access to all course materials is granted for five (5) years from the launch date. Course content will remain accessible through your profile while logged in, until April 2030.

Refund policy

  • Once payment is made, refunds are not available if you decide not to attend the course
  • Full refund or the option for crediting your account will be available should the course be cancelled by ReadySetConnect/speaker for any unforeseen reason

Special Requests

Special accommodations may be requested.

Please email education@readysetconnect.com indicating your special needs and accommodation requests.

Compliance Policy

For any compliance concerns or complaints, please reach out to diana@readysetconnect.com. All submissions will be reviewed and addressed, within two working days. Records will be retained in accordance with our policy.

FAQs

Yes — accredited by AOTA for 0.1 CEUs.

This is a premium course priced at $30

Yes. All courses work on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Complete the course content and assessment. Your certificate is generated instantly and available for download.

See What Participants Are Saying

4.6
Total 7 Ratings
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MK
Marshall Kristy
1 year ago
Excellent, great overview of how well OT skills are a perfect fit for postpartum care.
EA
Elizabeth Adams
1 year ago
A very engaging course that combines empathy with evidence. I walked away with functional strategies and new confidence in helping moms adjust after birth. It’s clear OT has an important role in supporting this population.
LH
Linda Hall
1 year ago
This webinar offers a strong framework for applying OT to the postpartum period. I especially loved the sections on sensory strategies and environmental modifications. It was validating to see our profession positioned as essential in maternal care.
PT
Patricia Taylor
1 year ago
The connection to the OTPF-4 was very helpful in grounding this course within our scope of practice. It opened my eyes to how vital our role can be in postpartum care. Highly recommend for any OT working with families.
AC
Amanda Carter
1 year ago
I appreciated the focus on functional, OT-based interventions for postpartum recovery. The breakdown of real-world challenges—like sleep and feeding—was excellent. This course gave me tools I can use right away to better support new moms.
MT
Mary Thompson
1 year ago
This webinar beautifully highlighted the overlooked importance of postpartum care. I now feel more confident addressing the unique needs of new mothers and families. It truly showed how OT can support mental health, role transitions, and daily function during this critical period.
SH
Spreeman Hailey
1 year ago
Was not the best match. I thought that I would learn more about postpartum interventions, etc in this webinar but it was relatively self explanatory, and contained most information that i already knew due to my specialization in sensory integration and pediatric practice.

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Contact: education@readysetconnect.com

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