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This is NOT a typical course in Pregnancy Massage!

If You are Interested in Expanding your Massage Therapy Practice with a focus on using advanced Manual Therapy Techniques & Manual Therapy Treatment Protocols for Every Trimester, for Online Course is for you!

 Each stage of Pregnancy creates its own challenges within the body of the future Birthmother.  Learning what these adaptive changes are from a Biomechanical as well as Physiological perspective, knowing what to expect, and how to treat them successfully is the key.  You can learn to accompany your client throughout each trimester of her pregnancy to help minimize uncomfortable symptoms and help her progress into an easier, safer delivery.  By learning to work with your future Birthmother throughout her pregnancy, instead of waiting until after the Delivery to "fix" her is what a holistic approach to Manual Therapy is all about.  


About the Course:

This is an eight week course with a full twelve months access.  Desktop (read-only) version of Workbook included. You will have immediate access to the Course Introduction and Workbook when you enroll.  Course begins with one chapter being release each week for eight weeks.  Five full training videos for each trimester of pregnancy as well as individual videos of each technique that you can watch as many times as you need!  Complete access to the course and videos for a full year  from course start to review the training videos.  25 CDPs/CEUs and Certificate of Completion upon successful submission of all homework assignments. 

(Accredited by MTAS for 15 primary credits.  Please email us at [email protected] or visit our website to read more about how your association or governing body accredits this course.)

 

This course contains five full length videos demonstrating complete treatment protocols for your pregnant patients from conception to post partum!  It includes over thirty videos of individual techniques that you can watch as many times as you like during your six month access to the course. Interviews with pregnant and post partum patients, explanation of the various unique changes that take place within the body of a woman as she advances throughout her pregnant and what your treatment approaches should be ... all this is explained and demonstrated in our updated online course! You can download copies of the treatment protocols for your homework and to use in your clinic too.

Eligibility to Enroll as an RMT:

This course is for  Registered Massage Therapists with sufficient training and experience in related modalities of massage therapy including myofascial release, active mobilizations, & visceral palpation.

 You are also required to have and  a solid foundation in  a biomechanical approach to cranial manual therapy .  

Please click here or scroll to the bottom of this page for information about how to fulfilling this pre-requisite if you are not already trained in a Biomechanical Approach.  Energetic approaches such as Upledger are not sufficient to fulfill the pre-requisite is a biomechanical approach to cranial manual therapy.


The Workbook:

The read only (desktop) version of the Workbook that accompanies the live courses is included in the price of the course and offered to online students as a useful take-away after their six month access to the course is over.  Virtually all of the material that is  in the online course is found within the Workbook that accompanies the live course.  You will find information on how to request access the Workbook in the Introductory chapter.


Course Duration:

You have full access to the online course for a full twelve months.  Ideally your homework assignments should be submitted within a month following the release of the last chapter.   


Submit a Question:

Students at times submit questions about their own cases or about theory taught throughout the course.  All question should be submitted through your student dashboard.  Answers from our Instructor, Maureen Maher, that are of interest to all students are posted on our Facebook page ICEO Online Courses.   We recommend you visit and follow this Facebook page to be kept up to date on any interesting questions other students are posting.  You can also go back and read past questions and discussions from previous students.


Homework Assignments:

 Homework Practice Sheets, Assessment Forms, and Step-by-Step Treatment Protocols for you to practice at your clinic or home are provided to you to download at the end of each chapter.  All homework assignments are required to be submitted in order to receive your Certificate of Completion.  Ideally you should practice your homework assignments for each chapter before moving onto the next chapter.  At the end of the eight weeks, we allow for an additional four weeks to submit all of your homework assignments.   Students who are unable to find or practice on appropriate models and need additional time to submit their assignments can apply for extensions.


Practicing your Homework:

Or course we understand that not everyone will have access to pregnant clients within a specific Trimester to practice on.  Just as in a classroom setting, when the ideal model is not available, we practice on whoever is willing to volunteer.  This stepping stone is actually more comfortable for some Practitioners.

Have a questions?  Email the Instructor or Registration Coordinator at

[email protected]


from Australia:

"I have thoroughly enjoyed your course, and found lots of different tips, techniques useful in my everyday practice."

From Ontario Canada:

"As for the course material, you really are amazing at what you do and making the complicated material, not so complicated and really understandable.  I thoroughly enjoyed this course!"

From Mauritius:

"Hello Maureen,

It’s going great, and more and more women have heard that I work with women’s health issues providing amazing results. It has become a passion of mine, as it has a huge effect on women’s lives and also their relationship with their partners.  

I absolutely love your courses and I’m looking forward to doing more!"


Hi Maureen,
I am thoroughly enjoying the obstetrics course (started April 15th) and can not thank you enough for the time you've put into the content!"

Jessica

Cranial Manual Therapy / Osteopathy Options

Some of the protocols in this course naturally a biomechanical approach when using some Cranial Manual Therapy / Osteopathy.  We understand that training in Cranial Osteopathy as part of a Practitioner's basic DO or DOMP or MOT diploma might not include this important aspect of osteopathic practice.  CMMOTA members do not have a complete training in a biomechanical approach to Cranial Manual Therapy.  For this reason, unless you have fulfilled this training requirement outside of your CMMOTA training, you must fulfil this pre-requisite:    

We have two options for you:

1) Request a  course bundle that includes both this course  AND the course in the Fundamentals of Cranial Manual Therapy.  You can progress through both courses concurrently, or in series. Please email us at [email protected] if you want this option.

2) You can enroll in the Fundamentals of Cranial Manual Therapy course which has been set for you to work at your own accelerated rate, or at our own self-paced rate.  

If you are undecided what option is best for you, please email our Educational Director at [email protected] to discuss.

In-Person Group Practice Days or Optional Video Submission

Section 2 Homework Requirements

In- Person Group Practice Days are offered in Toronto, Ontario several times throughout the year.  

In order to be eligible to receive your final Certificate of Completion, you must either attend at least one Practice Day within one calendar year of enrolling in this course, or submit a Video of you performing a complete assessment and treatment on a model.

We feel this multi-modality approach, where you can learn remotely online at your discretion, watch the training videos, do some hands-on practice on volunteers within your clinic, then join an In-Person Group Practice class provides you with flexible, and yet rich learning opportunities, as well as helping you fulfill multiple categories of your continuing education requirements as set out by your association or governing body.

The fee to participate in an In-Person Practice Day ranges from $195 USD to $225 USD depending on the location of the class.  Details can be found within the Introduction section of this course and dates/locations are announced periodically throughout the year in our Monthly Newsletters.  

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction from the Author Maureen Hannah Maher Educational Director

    • Introducing the online course - How this course works and what you get

    • What to do if you are NOT fully trained in Biomechanical Cranial Osteopathy or Cranial Manual Therapy (not CranioSacral)

    • Questions regarding course content for the Instructor

    • Homework Section 1: Submitting your Hands-On Practice Homework Assignments

    • Homework Section 2: In Person Group Practice Sessions or Video Submission

    • A Pregnant Client calls your clinic ....

    • downloadable desktop copy of Workbook
  • 2

    Chapter 1. Understanding the Osteopathic Changes within the Body of Your Pregnant Client

    • Osteopathic Changes within the Body during Pregnancy

    • Common Complaints During Pregnancy that go beyond the muscolo-skeletal

    • Overview of Physical Symptoms during Pregnancy

    • Are you ready to take the quiz?

    • QUIZ: Understanding Your Pregnant Client from a Biomechanical Perspective

  • 3

    Chapter 2: The 1st Trimester "The Initial Stage "

    • Overview of the 1st Trimester "The Initial Stage" of Pregnancy

    • Funny and Sad Case Story to Start this Chapter

    • The Benefits of Receiving Manual Therapy Treatment During the 1st Trimester

    • Why Recommend a Manual Therapy Assessment to your 1st Trimester Patient ?

    • Clues to Look for When Performing a Manual Therapy Assessment

    • Are you ready to take your second quiz?

    • QUIZ: Chapter 2 1st Trimester "The Initial Phase"

    • 1st Trimester Manual Therapy Assessment - STEP 1

    • 1st Trimester Manual Therapy Assessment - STEP 2

    • 1st Trimester Manual Therapy Assessment - STEP 3

    • 1st Trimester - Osteopathic Assessment - STEP 4

    • 1st Trimester - Manual Therapy Assessment - STEP 5

    • 1st Trimester - Manual Therapy Assessment - STEP 6

    • How to listen to and watch the training videos

    • VIDEO: ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL for 1ST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

    • Discussion with your Instructor prior to watching 1st trimester video

    • 1st trimester step 1

    • 1st trimester step 2

    • 1st trimester step 3

    • 1st trimester step 4

    • 1st trimester step 5

    • REPEAT VIDEO Full Assessment Protocol 1st Trimester

    • Practicing 1st Trimester Assessment Protocol in your Clinic

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD: Assessment Protocol Clinic Practice Sheet

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • DOWNLOAD: Practice Sheet - Assessing the Sacrum in its Four Quadrants

    • 1ST TRIMESTER ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL FULL VIDEO

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR HOMEWORK AND CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 4

    Chapter 3. Contra-Indications, Scoliosis, and Postural Assessment

    • Case Study of a Pregnant Client who Receives Manual Therapy Treatment

    • Reducing Sympathetic Overactivation of the Cardiovascular System

    • Will Pregnancy make Scoliosis worse?

    • Incorporating your Postural Assessment Chart into your Pregnant Client Assessment

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • DOWNLOAD - Postural Assessment Chart - Front & Side Views

    • DOWNLOAD - Postural Assessment Chart - Frontal View

    • DOWNLOAD - Postural Assessment Form - Side View

    • HOMEWORK: Postural Assessment on a Spinal Deviation or Postural Imbalanced (Pregnant) Patient

    • QUIZ Chapter 3 Contra-Indications, Scoliosis & Postural Assessment

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 5

    Chapter 4. 2nd Trimester "The Structural Stage" 12 – 28 weeks

    • Chapter 4. 2nd Trimester INTRODUCTION

    • The Structural Stage of Pregnancy from a Biomechanical Perspective

    • Structural Changes of the Thoracic Spine

    • The Structural Changes of the Head and Cervical Spine

    • Structural Changes of the Lumbar Spine

    • Hormonal Factors causing Structural Changes

    • Classic Pain Patterns you will find during the 2nd Trimester of Pregnancy

    • Patterns of Myofascial De-Compensation During the 2nd Trimester of Pregnancy

    • Example of a Healthy Myofascial Cross Compensation Pattern

    • STEP 2 - 2nd Trimester Osteopathic Treatment Protocol

    • 2nd Trimester Osteopathic Treatment Protocol STEP 3

    • 2nd Trimester Osteopathic Treatment Protocol STEP 4

    • 2nd trimester Step 1. Mobilization of the Thoracic Spine_1

    • Example of Un-Healthy Myofascial Cross Compensation Pattern

    • How to listen to and watch the training videos

    • Discussion with your Instructor prior to watching 2nd trimester video

    • Full Video 2nd Trimester Treatment Protocol

    • 2nd trimester Step 2. Anterior Thoracic & Cervical Fascia Release

    • 2nd trimester Step 3. Axila Myofascia Stretch

    • 2nd trimester Step 4. Release Restrictions of the Sacrum

    • REPEAT VIDEO - Full Treatment Protocol for 2nd Trimester

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD - Osteopathic Treatment Protocol 2nd Trimester

    • 2nd Trimester Osteopathic Treatment Protocol STEP 1

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 6

    Chapter 5. Physiological & Lymphatic Changes during the 3rd & 4th Trimesters

    • Physiological Changes to the Female Lymphatic System during the 3rd Trimester

    • Functional Anatomy of the Female Pelvis

    • Female Pelvis in a Pregnant State

    • Pressures on the Pelvis from the Top Side

    • Pressures on the Pelvis from the Bottom Side

    • Pressures on the Pelvis from the Back Side

    • Pressures on the Pelvis from Front Side

    • What are Osteopathic Diaphragms and what function do they have ?

    • What factors contribute to dysfunction of these diaphragms in a Pregnant Client?

    • The Role of the Sympathetic System in Lymph Congestion during the 3rd Trimester

    • Dysfunctions Resulting from Increased Lymph Congestion during the 3rd Trimester

    • How Structural Changes during Pregnancy Affect the Venous & Lymphatic Function of the Pelvic Area

    • What is the Secret to Treating Congested Lymph ?

    • Clinical Intake Checklist - symptoms of Lymph Congestion

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD: 3rd & 4th Trimester Symptom Checklist

    • QUIZ: Physiological & Lymphatic Changes during the 3rd & 4th Trimesters

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 7

    Chapter 6: 3rd Trimester "The Congestive Stage" Osteopathic Treatment Protocol

    • Treatment Goals for 3rd Trimester Protocol

    • 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 1

    • 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 2

    • 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 3

    • 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 4

    • 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 5

    • How to listen to and watch the training videos

    • Discussion with your Instructor Prior to Watching 3rd Trimester Treatment Protocol

    • VIDEO 3rd Trimester Complete Treatment Protocol

    • 3rd trimester Step. 1 Release the Abdominal Diaphragm

    • 3rd Trimester Step 2. Correct any Dysfunctions in Thoracic Inlet

    • 3rd Trimester Step 3. Treat Thoraco-Lumbar Junction

    • 3rd Trimester Step 4. Release any Compression of Sacro-Illiac

    • 3rd Trimester Step 5. Balance Thoraco-Lumbar Junction inRelation to Sacrum

    • REPEAT VIDEO Full Treatment Protocol 3rd Trimester

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 8

    Chapter 7. 4th Trimester "The Preparatory Stage"

    • Overview of the 4th Trimester - Preparatory Stage of Pregnancy

    • Why recommend additional follow up sessions during the Final trimester?

    • Cranial treatment to promote an easy and natural delivery

    • Maintaining good structural balance to support lymphatic flow

    • Using Cranial Manual Therapy as a Natural Way to Help Induce Labour

    • Assessment Chart of the Cranio-Sacral System

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 1

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 2

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol STEP 3

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 4

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 5

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 6

    • 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol Step 7

    • How to listen to and watch the training videos

    • Discussion with your Instructor Prior to Watching 4th Trimester Treatment Protocol

    • VIDEO 4th Trimester Complete Treatment Protocol

    • 4th Trimester Step 1. Assess the Cranial Mechanism

    • 4th Trimester Step 2. Perform Sub-Occipital Decompaction

    • 4th Trimester Step 3. Perform CV4 to Faciliate Venous & CSF Flow

    • 4th Trimester Step 4. Facilitate Cranial Drainage into Thoracic Inlet

    • 4th Trimester Step 5. Balance Cranio-Sacral Mechanism

    • 4th Trimester Step 6. Reduce Anteversion of Pelvis via the Illiac

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • QUIZ: 4th Trimester

    • REPEAT OF VIDEO - Complete Treatment Protocol 4th Trimester

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 9

    Chapter 8: Post-Partum Stage

    • Intro & Case Study - Post Partum Stage of Pregnancy

    • Overview : Post Partum Stage of Pregnancy - Delivery to 6 weeks

    • Symptoms found within the Post Partum Client

    • Congestion of the Upper Quadrant / Breast Engorgement

    • Causes of Pelvic Visceral Dysfunction & Ongoing Congestion

    • Pelvic Laxity

    • Increased Lumbar Lordosis and Anteverted Cervix / Uterus / Bladder

    • Sacrum Dysfunction Following Delivery

    • Post Partum Pelvic Congestion Symptoms

    • Post Partum Treatment Goals

    • Step 1 - Post Partum Treatment Protocol

    • Step 2 - Post Partum Treatment Protocol

    • STEP 3A - Post Partum Treatment Protocol

    • STEP 3B - Post Partum Osteopathic treatment Protocol

    • STEP 4 - Post Partum Treatment Protocol

    • STEP 5 - Post Partum Treatment Protocol

    • How to listen to and watch the training videos

    • Discussion with your Instructor Prior to Watching Postpartum Treatment Protocol

    • VIDEO Postpartum Full Treatment Protocol

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 1. Treat Breast Engorgement via Lymphatics

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 2. Treat Lymph Congestion via 1st Rib

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 3. Treat Pelvic Viscera

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 4. Pump Pelvic Viscera

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 5. Restore Vascular Flow to Pelvis via Sacrum

    • Postpartum Trimester Step 6. Augment Extension of Sacrum

    • REPEAT VIDEO Full Treatment Protocol PostPartum Trimester

    • Instructions for Completing your Homework

    • HOMEWORK & DOWNLOAD

    • Have you completed the homework assignment for this chapter?
  • 10

    Concluding Remarks from your Instructor and Farewell!

    • Conclusion and Farewell

    • HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Enrollment, Awarding of Certificates & Non-Refund Policy

Enrollment in all ICEO courses are non- refundable. If unforseeable valid personal or medical reasons are provided (with written proof), a student may apply to enroll in the same course the next time it is offered.  An administration fee of $100 CDN applies to all re-enrollments in addition to any outstanding applicable enrollment fees.  

Any student who falls behind in the online course without submitting any or an adequate number of  homework submissions must apply to be enrolled in a future dated course, according to the discretion of our Educational Director and the Instructor for this course, Maureen N. Maher.  Extensions are not granted to students who have forfeited a majority of the course or have not submitted homework assignments.  Extensions to submit homework assignments are granted only for brief delays and will exceed no more than one month past the final due date for all homework assignments.  

The awarding of Certificates of Completion depends upon the successful submission of homework assignments according to due dates, and must clearly demonstrate the understanding and ability to apply knowledge gained in this course and is according to the discretion of the Instructor.  

Professional ethical conduct is expected of all students who enroll in ICEO courses, including email communication, telephone contact, or in-person classes.  

Your Certificate of Completion

The Centre for Continuing Education of Osteopathy was founded by Maureen Hannah Maher, Internationally Accredited Osteopath, in order to address the shortage of Osteopathy Continuing Education courses. Maureen Hannah Maher has over fifteen years of clinical experience in the fields of Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics.

Educational Director & Instructor

Maureen Hannah Maher

Since Maureen began teaching, she found that not only does she have a natural gift for it (her parents were both teachers, so let hear it for genetics!), she found that she also holds a great desire to give back to the community and a profession that has been so fulfilling to her, and share over twenty years of acquired experience and knowledge.   Maureen brings extensive knowledge in Osteopathy  to her educational seminars.  Throughout her career which began in Montreal in 2003, Maureen has been an accredited member in good standing in several provinces across Canada, including the CPMDQ (Quebec), OsteopathyBC (British Columbia), OFOP (Ontario) and SCMMAC (Quebec). Like many classically trained Manual Osteopaths in Canada, Maureen wrote a thesis as part of her Osteopathy training. Hers was within the field of Cranial Osteopathy, on the Prevalence of Muscle and Myofascial Chain Link Dysfunctions and the Temporal Bone. Maureen was also an Associate Overseas member of the Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) from 2008 to 2011.  After undergoing accreditation evaluation for foreign trained Osteopaths in Perth, Western Australia, Maureen was offered a position in one of Singapore's leading Osteopathic Clinics, giving her the distinction of having been the first Canadian trained Osteopath to be approved to practice  in South East Asia.   Right before the worldwide economic collapse in 2010, Maureen was offered a position in Shanghai China, which required accreditation with the GOSC, UK, which she began, but as prevailing economic conditions worsened, the position was put on hold, and Maureen decided instead to settled in Toronto, Canada, where after reluctantly accepting a poorly paid teaching contract, her students began asking her to design courses in more specialized subjects within Osteopathy, including Women's Health and Pediatrics.  It was not long after that Maureen founded the Center for Continuing Education of Osteopathy & Manual Therapy where she continued to innovate every day! Today, Maureen still teaches continuing education courses in specialized fields of Osteopathic Manual Therapy. Her students say that Maureen's teaching style is animated, engaging, but most importantly, informative.  Her gift lies in communicating complex theories in simple terms and analogies.  Her students come away with a clear grasp of Osteopathic concepts for treatment, and practical knowledge of how to apply them.  In more recent years, Maureen has created online versions of some of her most popular courses, and it is thanks to this new era of online learning that Osteopaths throughout Canada and throughout the world have been able to use Maureen's teachings and treatment protocols to help women, infants, and the general public find relief from the bodily dysfunctions that are so amenable to osteopathic manual treatments. Practitioners who enroll in any of our continuing education courses can contact Maureen at any time by email or pre-arranged phone call with clinical questions.  As a result, many Osteopaths worldwide still consult with her today regarding challenging Osteopathy cases.  

Below are courses that are specifically designed for CMMOTA members:

(including pre-requisites)

  • $395.00

    $395.00The Fundamentals of Cranial Manual Therapy: Part 1 A Biomechanical Approach (CMMOTA APPROVED FOR 24 CECs)

    this course is a pre-requisite for our Pregnancy course
    Buy Now