You Can’t Treat the Infant Without the Mother: Advancing OT’s Role in Perinatal Care

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Course Description

The perinatal period is a significant life transition that influences caregiver health, routines, roles, and participation in meaningful occupations (Little et al., 2025). Maternal health during this time is multifaceted, encompassing emotional well-being, physical recovery, and the developing caregiver–infant relationship. These domains are deeply interconnected, and challenges during this transition can create meaningful opportunities for growth, adaptation, and connection. Maternal mental health plays a critical role in both caregiver and infant outcomes, influencing feeding, sleep, bonding, and overall occupational performance within the dyad (Waqas et al., 2022). Additionally, physical concerns such as pelvic floor dysfunction and musculoskeletal impairments can limit occupational engagement and contribute to increased emotional distress during this time (Burkhart et al., 2021).

Despite occupational therapy’s holistic foundation, many practitioners feel underprepared to address the full scope of perinatal needs (Khan, 2023). This session presents a unified, occupation-based approach to integrating maternal mental health into perinatal OT practice. Drawing from two capstone projects, it highlights how practitioners can adapt services, enhance support, and advance holistic care through both a systems-level model for embedding maternal mental health into practice and a structured perinatal program spanning from pregnancy to postpartum.

Together, these approaches provide a comprehensive framework that includes screening, coaching, collaboration, and education across the perinatal continuum. Participants will engage in case-based learning and interactive activities to apply screening tools, develop therapeutic communication strategies, and identify appropriate interventions. Emphasis will be placed on practical implementation, including workflow integration, documentation, and referral pathways, with strategies for immediate clinical use.

Speakers

Kelly Gelske, OTD, OTR/L – Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Gelske has clinical expertise in the area of early childhood and school-based practice. She also has interest in home health and community-based practice areas. She is the Coordinator of Fieldwork and Professional Development in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program which involves scheduling fieldwork placements for students throughout the program, monitoring their involvement during fieldwork experiences, and providing mentorship. Dr. Gelske also serves as the Interim Doctoral Capstone Coordinator. Her teaching responsibilities include courses focused on fieldwork, professional development, communication, ethics, clinical documentation, foundational aspects of occupational therapy, and child and youth practice.

Aubrey Aloi, OTD, OTR/L, School-Based Occupational Therapist is a recent graduate of the University of Toledo and currently works as a school-based occupational therapist with Sylvania Schools. Her clinical practice focuses on supporting students’ participation, independence, and success within the school environment. She has an interest in pediatric occupational therapy and helping children develop the skills needed to engage in academic, social, and daily activities.

Rachel Williams, OTD, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with extensive experience working with children across a variety of settings. Dr. Williams works at Mini Mitten Pediatric Therapy in Monroe, Michigan. She specializes in pediatric feeding, with particular expertise and interest in infant feeding, including breast and bottle feeding, oral-motor development, oral sensory challenges, and transitions to solids. Rachel is passionate about providing individualized, family-centered care and supporting positive feeding experiences for children and their families.

Content Level

Introductory: This level assumes the audience has little or no information regarding the content area.

Practice Areas

Emerging Practice Area; Health and Wellness; Mental Health