In July of 2025, Hayley and Jessica traveled to Guatemala for the first maternal and infant medical mission trip with Hearts in Motion, a volunteer-based organization providing medical care and social programs throughout the U.S., Central, and South America. This unique mission trip gathered maternal and infant healthcare providers and volunteers to support mothers, infants, and maternal health providers in Guatemala.
This trip included visits to local health clinics, community centers, and municipal organizations, creating opportunities to meet and collaborate with local midwives, community members and leaders, mothers, and children. Through mutual teaching, learning, and sharing, Hayley and Jessica gained invaluable insights from Guatemalan providers and mothers.
In this presentation, Hayley and Jessica will share topics they taught, powerful lessons they learned, and meaningful reflections on maternal health across cultures.
About The Speakers:
Jessica Peterson, OTD, OTR, IBCLC, PMH-C, CEIM is an infant and maternal health occupational therapist and a board-certified Lactation Counselor on a mission to redefine the way we support new parents. Jessica obtained her Master's in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in 2011 and completed a post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Boston University in 2023. Her doctoral capstone project focused on the lived experiences of parents with physical disabilities and culminated in a comprehensive website of resources for occupational therapy practitioners and others supporting parents with disabilities.
After launching her private maternal health practice in 2022, Jessica further pursued her passion in the occupation of feeding, particularly focusing on the unique experiences of mothers and infants. She became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2025. Jessica now owns Milk Stories, a private practice located in Austin, Texas, specializing in infant feeding, development, and maternal health. As a proud mom of two, Jessica deeply understands the complexities and joys of parenthood, dedicating her career to empowering parents to confidently navigate their transformative journey into motherhood and beyond.
Hayley Chrzastowski, OTD, OTR/L, CEIM obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kentucky Wesleyan College and her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She completed her research studying the benefits of breastmilk for premature infants at WashU under the mentorship of Dr. Bobbi Pineda, PhD, OTR/L, CNT. As part of her doctoral degree, she created a model of occupational therapy for maternal and infant healthcare to bridge the gap between the medicalized method of prenatal/postpartum care and more holistic practices. In 2015 she worked in Nairobi, Kenya creating NICU programs/policies for a new children’s hospital. She has also worked in various cities/villages in Guatemala providing occupational therapy services to those in need. Hayley is deeply invested in integrating her international experiences with her everyday practice to bring a global perspective to caring for a diverse population. She settled in Fredericksburg, VA in 2016 and has been working since then to identify the maternal and infant healthcare needs within the community. She created her private practice, WILD OT, to enhance the care women and infants receive, educate and provide resources, and empower women to be active participants in the care they desperately deserve.
Hayley and Jessica are two out of 4 co-founders of The Maternal Health OT Network, an online community dedicated to connection, collaboration, and support for occupational therapy practitioners and students invested in maternal and perinatal health and wellness.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key maternal and infant health practices shared by Mayan providers and mothers during the Hearts in Motion medical mission trip.
Describe effective methods for cross-cultural collaboration and exchange between healthcare providers and local communities.
Reflect on how global maternal health perspectives can inform and enhance maternal and infant healthcare practices within participants’ own communities.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs): According to the 2024 NBCOT Activities Chart, this seminar may qualify for 1.25 continuing education units towards your NBCOT renewal. In order to qualify, you must complete the designated post test which will be emailed to all participants who attend the guest lecture. Once the post-test is completed, a link will be sent with a certificate for you to download for your personal CEU records. As each state and regional licensing board differs, please check your state licensing regulations to confirm if it qualifies toward renewal of state professional licenses.
The fee for this live webinar is $20.
It takes place via zoom on Monday, August 25th at 7pm CT/8pm ET
A recording will be sent to those who register and will be made available for 30 days.
This event is free of charge for Members of The Network. Already a Member? RSVP in Heartbeat HERE