MONIKA COSTA

Monika is a Registered Nurse who spent most of her career working with laboring and postpartum mothers and their newborns. Monika is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Saint Joseph, CT. She still maintains her clinical practice as a lactation consultant at Hartford Hospital and teaches childbirth and breastfeeding classes for expectant parents.

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Monika is passionate about women's health, maternal newborn health, nutrition, and exercise science. She has been practicing mat Pilates since she was 13 years old to manage her scoliosis.  After four pregnancies and a physically demanding job as a labor and delivery nurse, Monika needed more serious rehabilitation. She tried multiple exercise programs in addition to physical therapy. She finally discovered Pilates Reformer classes and immediately fell in love.  Monika is completing her Instructor Pilates training and apprentice teaching at Centered Body Pilates. She is planning on getting certified in prenatal and postnatal Pilates to enhance the physical and mental well-being of expecting and postpartum mothers. 

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• Doctorate in Nursing Education from Southern Connecticut State University

• Master's degree in Nursing Education from Sacred Heart University

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science from Sacred Heart University

• Associate degree in Nursing from Gateway Community College

• International Board Lactation Consultant Certification

• Certified Childbirth Educator Certification

• Inpatient Obstetric Nursing Certification

• Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructor

• Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Member

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