2026 Cooperative Caregiving: Maternal & Newborn Essentials Conference

2026 Cooperative Caregiving:

Maternal & Newborn Essentials Conference

September 22, 2026

Location

Iowa Methodist Medical Center

Education & Research Center (ERC)

Virginia Thompson Auditorium

1415 Woodland Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50309

*If you are using GPS, make sure you choose Des Moines and not West Des Moines

*The ERC is located on Level 1 of the Iowa Methodist Medical Center parking garage on the west side of the campus

*Park in parking garage and take southeast elevators to Level 1

*Traffic can be very busy in the mornings in this area, so we suggest leaving early/giving yourself plenty of time to reach the conference venue.

*Conference center is large and temperature control can be difficult. We recommend dressing in layers or bringing a sweater/jacket for your comfort.

Intended Audience

Nurses and other interested healthcare professionals in perinatology- obstetrics, neonatal care, pediatrics and family practice.

Purpose

To enable the learner to apply evidence-based information to the care of the perinatal family.

Agenda

Agenda

7:45 – 8:00 | Welcome & Announcements 

Amy Groen, DO, MHA, FAAP, Medical Director of Pediatric and Women’s Services | Blank Children’s Hospital | UnityPoint Health – Des Moines 

8:00 – 9:00 | Family Planning and Parental Mental Health 

Claire Mraz, State Family Planning Program Consultant - Division of Public Health | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services & Brittney Haskins, CPST, Childbirth Education Coordinator | Blank Children’s Hospital | UPH - Des Moines, Postpartum Support International Iowa Chapter Chair 

9:00 – 10:00 | Ready, Set, Resuscitate: Mastering the NRP 9th Edition Updates 

Lisa Glantz, DNP, RNC-NIC, ARNP, NNP-BC, CPNP-BC, Neonatal and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner 

Neonatal and Pediatric Outreach Educator | Blank Children's Hospital | UPH - Des Moines 

10:00 – 10:30 | Break 

10:30 – 11:45 | Postpartum Hemorrhage: From Recognition to Response - Thompson Auditorium 

Erin Lehman, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology | UnityPoint Clinic - Lakeview 

10:30 – 11:45 | Neonatal Sepsis - Kelley Conference Room 

Joel Waddell, DO - Pediatric Infectious Disease | Blank Children’s Hospital | UPH - Des Moines 

11:45 – 12:45 | Lunch Break 

12:45 – 1:45 | K is for Clotting: Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in Neonates 

Nick Fustino, MD, MBA, CPXP, Medical Director of Blank Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center | UPH - Des Moines & Amy Ferguson, MD, Pediatric Hospitalist | Blank Children’s Hospital | UPH - Des Moines 

2:00 – 3:00 | Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section - Thompson Auditorium 

Karl Meierding, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology | UnityPoint Clinic - Lakeview  

2:00 – 3:00 | Navigating Neonatal Hypoglycemia - Kelley Conference Room 

Shilpi Relan, MD - Pediatric Endocrinology | Blank Children’s Hospital | UPH - Des Moines 

3:00 – 3:15 | Break 

3:15 – 4:15 | From Home to Hospital: Creating Smooth, Safe, and Collaborative Home Birth Transfers 

Caitlin M. Hainley, DNP, ARNP, CNM, PMHNP-BC, IBCLC | Des Moines Midwife Collective &  

Michelle Wiedmann, BSN, CCE, CLC, Doula | Nightingale Doula Services 

4:15 – 4:30 | Closing Remarks | Adjourn  

Continuing Education

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, awards 6.25 nursing contact hours for full attendance. Full attendance is required to be eligible for CEUs.



UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is accredited by the Iowa Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Photos

Your registration gives us consent to take photos at the conference. Photos may be used on our website or at future conferences.

Questions

Please contact Talia Greve at talia.greve@unitypoint.org with any questions or concerns.