We Can't Wait 6 Weeks: Rehab Early Postpartum Series

Distinguish your practice in every postpartum setting, including the hospital, and collaborate with other members of the maternal care team.

Training 1 Objectives 

• Analyze early postpartum clinical findings, including vital signs, head-to-toe physical assessment, activity tolerance, and ADL/IADL performance, to inform safe intervention planning

• Apply a structured, week-by-week clinical framework to differentiate assessment priorities and intervention strategies across Weeks 0–6 postpartum

• Design client-centered treatment plans that support participation in ADLs, caregiving tasks, and daily life demands during early postpartum recovery

Enhanced Recovery and Wellness, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development for the first training in the series, We Can't Wait 6 Weeks: Rehab Early Postpartum. Activity approval ID# 15226. The 1.5 contact hour live, blended/hybrid, distance learning-interactive, and distance learning-independent activity is offered at 0.15 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.

 Training 2 Objectives 

• Analyze early postpartum clinical presentations following 3rd and 4th degree perineal tears and levator ani injuries to differentiate normal healing processes from red flags requiring medical referral.
• Evaluate and select appropriate assessment and intervention strategies for acute management of severe perineal tears and levator ani injuries, integrating bowel protection principles, tissue healing timelines, pelvic floor muscle considerations, and functional mobility.
• Synthesize early rehabilitation principles across acute care, home health, outpatient, and telehealth settings to develop setting-specific plans that promote safe functional recovery and occupational performance following complex obstetric trauma.

Why The 'Rehab Early' Series Matters for Clinical Leaders

These trainings were designed for clinicians who are responsible not only for patient care, but also for shaping how soon postpartum rehabilitation is delivered within their organizations. Participants gain a practical framework they can use to standardize early postpartum OT and PT services, reduce variation in care, and support safer, more consistent clinical decision-making during the first six weeks after birth.

Clinical leaders will leave with tools to justify early intervention, align rehabilitation services with medical teams, and guide staff in delivering occupation- and function-based care across hospital, home, outpatient, and virtual settings. The week-by-week roadmap supports program development, onboarding, and mentorship of newer clinicians while reinforcing best practices in patient safety, documentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This training supports leaders who are working to expand access to early postpartum rehabilitation, improve continuity of care, and position OT and PT as essential contributors to recovery during a critical transition period.

Meet Kelsey Mathias, OTR/L, PRPC 

Kelsey Mathias, OTR/L, PRPC is an occupational therapist and clinical educator with over a decade of experience in maternal, perinatal, and pelvic health. She has spent her career building and scaling education and care programs that support pregnant and postpartum individuals across military, civilian, and private practice settings. Kelsey co-led the interdisciplinary redesign of the Army’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Performance Training (P3T) Program, training over 1,000 Army leaders and impacting more than 10,000 Soldiers annually. Her work has included consultation with professionals across all branches of the military as well as NASA, helping advance evidence-based maternal health initiatives in high-performance environments.

In addition to her national education and program development work, Kelsey owns and operates a private occupational therapy practice providing in-home care for pregnant and postpartum individuals as well as sex counseling. She is the co-founder of the annual OTs in Pelvic Health Summit and played a key role in developing the Certified Functional Pelvic Health Therapist certification. Kelsey is committed to advancing interdisciplinary education, supporting clinicians, and improving maternal health outcomes through practical, functional, and equitable care. Her guiding motto is: Together we are capable. Together we are strong. Together there is hope.

Meet Dr. Addy Javes, PT, DPT 

Addy Javes, PT, DPT is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Doctor of Physical Therapy program and has over eight years of experience in acute care. She currently serves as the lead emergency department and obstetric physical therapist at her hospital, where she helped implement both emergency department and obstetric physical therapy programs.

Addy is passionate about providing care to patients who are often overlooked or mismanaged in traditional care pathways, particularly those with vestibular conditions and patients recovering from childbirth. She believes that early and easy access to physical therapy can reduce healthcare utilization while improving both physical and mental health outcomes.

Her clinical work focuses on helping patients manage acute pain, restore functional mobility, and return to daily activities that allow them to care for themselves and their families. Addy emphasizes patient education, nervous system regulation, and practical strategies that reduce fear of movement while supporting safe recovery.

As a clinical instructor, she enjoys mentoring students and exposing them to less conventional areas of physical therapy practice, including emergency department and obstetric rehabilitation.

Addy believes strongly that when a patient is in pain, the best time to intervene is immediately. Early physical therapy can prevent problems from becoming chronic and provide patients with a clear recovery plan at a time when access to outpatient care may be delayed.