How do we determine the risk factors of birth injuries? What can we do as practitioners to educate and prepare our clients for a safer birth?

In today’s podcast Lynn talks with Dr. Mariana Masteling, a biomechanics engineer focusing on the prevention of childbirth-related injuries and Dr. Jenny LaCross, a women’s health physical therapist about the research they published on factors influencing birth injuries. 

In this conversation, Lynn, Jenny and Mariana talk about the complexities of childbirth and the challenges of measuring and predicting birth injuries as there are so many factors that can influence a birth. The pelvic bone shape, ligamentous laxity, urogenital hiatus length, viscoelastic properties of the pelvic floor muscles and tissues, and the baby’s size in comparison to the mother’s pelvic size can all play a factor in potential birth injuries - just to name a few.

Listen in to learn what you can do as a practitioner to help your clients navigate the risks, so they can stay empowered in the process of their baby’s birth.

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To learn more visit: InstituteforBirthHealing.com

About Today’s Speakers

Dr. Mariana Masteling is a Research Fellow at the University of Michigan Biomechanics Research Lab and Pelvic Floor Research Group. She is passionate about biomechanics, data science and the intersect between engineering and women's health.

Dr. Jenny LaCross is a board-certified clinical specialist in women’s health physical therapy. She has over a decade of clinical experience working in women’s pelvic health. She is a current post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor’s Pelvic Floor Research. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the DPT program at South College-Knoxville.

Link to their research: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-024-05912-2

Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE