Level 3 Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Perinatal

Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Perinatal

What the YMCA Level 3 Award in Supporting Participation in Physical Activity: Perinatal enables instructors to do:

• Support antenatal and postnatal participants: Apply evidence-based guidelines to safely plan and deliver exercise for women during and after pregnancy.

• Screen participants: Use screening tools like the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy (GAQ-P) to identify contraindications, deferrals, and referrals.

• Design tailored exercise programmes: Create safe, effective, and inclusive workout plans suited to various stages of pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

• Adapt sessions: Modify exercises to suit the changing needs of pregnant and postnatal clients, considering factors like type of birth, pelvic floor health, and mental wellbeing.

• Manage risks: Identify warning signs during sessions (e.g., dizziness, pain, shortness of breath) and know when to stop activity or refer to healthcare professionals.

• Work within professional boundaries: Recognise when a participant's needs fall outside of their scope of practice and refer them to specialists like women’s health physiotherapists or midwives.

• Promote physical and mental health benefits: Educate clients on how physical activity can aid weight management, mood improvement, and postpartum recovery.

• Engage in CPD: Stay updated with new research, guidelines, and industry developments, ensuring professional competency.

• Collaborate with healthcare providers: Understand the maternity care pathway and communicate effectively with GPs, midwives, and other health professionals.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites to enrol on this qualification.

Payment Plan

To make your qualification more affordable, we offer a payment plan where you pay a non-refundable £125 deposit and choose to repay the balance, interest-free over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.

Qualification Structure

The qualification is made up of three units designed to give learners a comprehensive understanding of supporting antenatal and postnatal participants in physical activity:

1. Supporting Perinatal Physical Activity, Exercise, Health, and Wellbeing

   This unit covers:

   • Anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical changes during pregnancy and postpartum.

   • The benefits and risks of physical activity for antenatal and postnatal participants.

   • Evidence-based guidelines for perinatal exercise.

   • Identifying and managing contraindications and warning signs during exercise.

   • The importance of nutrition, hydration, and weight management in pregnancy.

2. Programming Exercise and Physical Activity for Perinatal Participants

   This unit focuses on:

   • Pre-activity screening processes for antenatal and postnatal participants.

   • Goal setting and motivational strategies tailored to perinatal clients.

   • Planning safe, inclusive, and effective exercise programmes.

   • Adapting exercise to meet individual needs and recovery stages.

   • Managing risk dynamically during physical activity sessions.

3. Delivering Exercise for Perinatal Participants

   This practical unit involves:

   • Delivering tailored exercise sessions for antenatal and postnatal participants.

   • Using effective communication and instructional skills.

   • Monitoring participants’ wellbeing and adjusting sessions accordingly.

   • Reviewing session effectiveness and making ongoing adaptations.

   • Building professional relationships and signposting to specialist services where needed.

Each unit builds on the last, ensuring learners develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to confidently support and guide antenatal and postnatal clients through safe and effective physical activity programmes.

What topics are covered on this course?

• Understanding the perinatal period:

  • Definitions: antenatal, postnatal, perinatal

  • Uncomplicated vs. complicated pregnancies

  • Stages of pregnancy (trimesters, postpartum)

• Anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical changes:

  • Cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and metabolic changes

  • Impact of relaxin on joint stability

  • Types of birth and their effect on recovery (e.g., caesarean, assisted births)

• Screening and risk management:

  • Pre-activity screening (GAQ-P)

  • Identifying contraindications (absolute and relative)

  • Recognising warning signs during exercise

• Exercise programming and delivery:

  • Safe, effective, and inclusive exercises

  • Modifications for each trimester and postpartum stage

  • Core stability and pelvic floor re-education

  • Functional movements for pregnancy and motherhood

• Nutrition and hydration:

  • Nutritional requirements during pregnancy and postpartum

  • Foods and drinks to consume and avoid

  • Importance of hydration and its impact on pregnancy health

• Mental health and wellbeing:

  • Identifying mental health issues (e.g., postnatal depression)

  • Encouraging participation despite mental and physical barriers

  • Working with mental health support services

• Working with healthcare professionals:

  • Understanding the maternity care pathway

  • Referral processes for specialist advice

  • Importance of professional boundaries and insurance

• Promoting participation:

  • Overcoming barriers to physical activity

  • Dispelling common pregnancy-related exercise myths

  • Building supportive, inclusive exercise environments

Study and Assessment Options

This is a DISTANCE LEARNING course, which involves study from home.

Once enrolled, you will be sent a course manual in the post and you can start studying straight away.

What course materials and support are provided for this course?

• Course manual (hard copy).

• Learner assessment record (assessment paperwork) available to download.

• Access to a personal tutor who can be contacted via email or phone.