Name: 1st World Congress on How is THIS Fetus
Start: 2026-11-05
End: 2026-11-07
Location: Auditori L’Illa

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Barcelona will host the 1st World Congress on How is THIS Fetus from 5 to 7 November 2026, an international meeting focused on fetal surveillance and on caring for the fetus “from diagnosis to birth” (Transforming fetal care from diagnosis to birth). The venue is Auditori L’Illa, Av. Diagonal 547.

The organising committee is made up of Dr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira and Dr. Anna Gràcia. Below we share the full preliminary programme, expanded day by day, and you can download the original PDF at the end.

Key facts

Dates: 5, 6 and 7 November 2026
Venue: Auditori L’Illa · Av. Diagonal 547, Barcelona
Organising committee: Dr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira, Dr. Anna Gràcia
Pre-congress courses: Thursday 5 November (not included in the congress registration)
Rooms: Main auditorium and Room 2 (midwifery track)

What each day covers

Thursday 5: placental function and fetal wellbeing: gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, late-onset placental insufficiency and IUGR, reading the CTG and oxytocin from the fetal perspective.
Friday 6 (morning): physiological breech, maternal age and high body mass index, maternal exercise and chorioamnionitis, with a keynote by Prof. Roberto Romero by remote connection and a panel discussion.
Friday 6 (afternoon): in the main auditorium, Doppler in labour, ultrasound and CTG in operative deliveries, CTG in the preterm fetus, fetal ECG (STAN) and abstract presentations; in Room 2, workshops on biomechanics and the rebozo technique, intermittent auscultation, water birth and hypnobirthing.
Saturday 7: obstetric emergencies, anaesthesia, the perineum, remote digital care at home (PregnaDigit), artificial intelligence in labour monitoring, an interactive CTG session with your own cases and the congress conclusions.

Pre-congress activities

Pre-congress online sessions

Three online sessions were scheduled on 14, 21 and 28 October 2026, led by the organising committee (Dr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira, Dr. Anna Gràcia) to review key concepts and build a shared foundation before the in-person meeting. Start at 20:00 Spanish time: 19:00 United Kingdom · 15:00 Argentina and Uruguay · 14:00 Chile · 14:00 Colombia, Peru and Mexico (CDMX).

Course 1 · Fetal Surveillance Bootcamp for Intrapartum Lifeguards

Chair: Edwin Chandraharan · Thursday 5 November · from 10:00 to 12:30 · Advanced level

Advanced interactive course based on case discussion: how is THIS fetus, how will it respond to the clinical context, and how to make the right decision at the right time.

Not included in the congress registration.

Course 2 · Intrapartum Physiological Simulation Course

Chairs: Susana Pereira, Anna Gràcia and team · Thursday 5 November · 11:00

Hands-on course built around a simulated clinical case. Participants move through a circuit of stations, making the decisions and performing the techniques the case requires at each step. The stations include CTG interpretation, vacuum-assisted birth and the new OdonAssist.

Please note: Spanish simultaneous interpretation will not be available for this pre-congress course.
Not included in the congress registration.

Preliminary programme

Download the programme (PDF)

Thursday 5 November

12:00

Registration

14:30–15:00

PresentationDr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira, Dr. Anna Gràcia

15:00–15:20

Keynote lecture Defining best time to deliver at termProf. Kypros Nicolaides. UK

15:20–15:35

Gestational Diabetes, the impact on the placental function and fetal wellbeingDr. Federico Migliorelli. Spain

15:35–15:50

Preeclampsia and Gestational diabetes: what do we expect to see on the CTG trace. What do we have to bear in mind during labour?Dr. Edwin Chandraharan. UAE

15:50–16:15

Panel discussionProf. Kypros Nicolaides, Dr. Federico Migliorelli, Dr. Edwin Chandraharan.Moderator: Dr. Anna Gràcia. Spain.

16:15–16:45

Coffee break

16:45–17:10

Late onset of placental insufficiency and IUGRDr. Francesc Figueras. Spain

17:10–17:30

What do we expect to see on the CTG trace. The chronic hypoxia and RUPI spectrumDr. Susana Pereira. UK

17:30–17:45

Understanding oxytocin beyond the uterus: a fetal perspectiveDr. Anna Gràcia. Spain

17:45–18:15

Panel discussion and Q&ADr. Francesc Figueras, Dr. Susana Pereira, Dr. Anna Gràcia, Dr. Elisa Llurba.Moderator: Dr. Edwin Chandraharan. UAE

18:15–18:27

Abstract elevated to presentation 1TBC

18:27–18:40

Abstract elevated to presentation 2Changes in intrapartum management following implementation of physiological cardiotocography interpretation.Dr Sophia Andres, Germany

18:40–18:50

Take-home messages of the day. Key ideasDr. Anna Gràcia. Spain

Friday 6 November · Morning

08:00–08:30

Registration

08:30–09:00

Physiological Breech: head last, physiology first!Katrin Löser, Denmark

09:00–09:15

How is this fetus when the mother is over 35 years old and/or has a high body mass index? A practical approachProf. Ilenia Mappa. Italy

09:15–09:30

Fetal adaptation to maternal exercise: heart rate, placental haemodynamics and clinical translationDr. Rubén Barakat. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Spain

09:30–09:42

Abstract elevated to presentation 3Reducing hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy from CTG misinterpretation through physiology-based education and technology: a before–after study.Dr. Lucius Baltoaica.

09:42–10:00

Q&AModerator: Dr. Marta Rial. Spain

10:00–10:20

What are the current challenges in managing chorioamnionitis to frontline clinicians?Prof. Tullio Ghi. Italy

10:20–10:35

Role of infection and preterm labourDr. Teresa Cobo. Spain

10:35–10:55

3 big risk factors to introduce bacteria into the cavityDr. Anna Gràcia. Spain, Dr. Edwin Chandraharan. UAE

10:55–11:12

Abstract elevated to presentation 4Early Cardiotocographic Changes Preceding Maternal Fever in Histologically Confirmed Chorioamnionitis.Dr. Joana Rodrigues

11:12–11:45

Coffee break

11:45–12:05

Fetal inflammation modifies physiological adaptation to intrapartum hypoxia in term fetusMikko Tarvonen, Midwife, Finland.

12:05–12:25

What do we expect to see on the CTG trace and bear in mind during labour?Dr. Edwin Chandraharan. UAE

12:25–12:45

Input from the other side: management of neonatal encephalopathyProf. Divyen Shah, neonatologist. UK

12:45–13:15

Keynote on ChorioamnionitisProf. Roberto Romero. US. Remote connection

13:15–14:00

Panel discussion and Q&AProf. Roberto Romero, Dr. Teresa Cobo, Dr. Edwin Chandraharan, Prof. Tullio Ghi, Prof. Divyen Shah, Prof. Christophe Vayssière, Mikko Tarvonen.Moderator: Dr. Susana PereiraRecognition: CTG features of chorioamnionitis. Definition of subclinical and clinical chorioamnionitis. Optimising the management after diagnosis. Role of intrapartum antibiotics and fluids. Induction and augmentation of labour versus operative birth. Neonatal management implications of diagnosing subclinical chorioamnionitis

Friday 6 November · Afternoon

Main auditorium

15:00–15:15

Using Doppler in labour: clinical scenarios and limitationsDr. Mónica Cruz-Lemini. Spain

15:15–15:30

Changes of CTG and role of ultrasound in operative deliveriesProf. Tullio Ghi. Italy

15:30–15:45

CTG in the preterm fetus: current evidence and knowledge gapsDr. Federico Migliorelli. Spain

15:45–16:00

Fetal ECG (STAN) as a second-line toolProf. Christophe Vayssière. France

16:00–16:30

Break

16:30–16:45

Fetal tachycardia, pyrexia and drugs on the CTG: avoiding overreaction and missed deteriorationDr. Mareike Bolten. Germany

16:45–17:00

Q&AModerator: Prof. Tullio Ghi. Italy

17:00–17:12

Abstract elevated to presentation 5Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Growth Restriction and Neonatal Outcomes in Newborns Below the 10th Birthweight Percentile.Dr. Joana Cunha

17:12–18:15

How is THIS Abstract? The 7 best oral communicationsLive audience voting. Presenting authors of the top-ranked abstracts

18:15–18:20

Take-home messages of the day. Key ideasDr. Anna Gràcia. Spain

18:30–18:50

Satellite symposiumLa obstetricia de los pequeños detalles.Dr. Maria Carmen Medina, SpainSponsored by ZAMBON

Room 2 · Midwifery track

15:00–15:15

Practical tips to make your birth room more physiological: experience from a midwife-led unit in Spain's public health systemChiara Capece and Alba Alija García, midwives. Spain

15:15–16:15

Workshop on biomechanics during labourNazareth Olivera, midwife. Spain

16:15–16:30

Intelligent (and Intermittent) Auscultation: listening to the fetus with physiology in mindIrene de la Blanca Martínez. Specialist midwife. UK

16:30–16:50

Break

16:50–17:30

Workshop on the rebozo techniqueAlina Valdivia, midwife. Chile

17:30–17:55

Symposium on water birth: physiological approach and fetal surveillanceChiara Capece, midwife. Spain

17:55–18:15

Born in calm: the science behind hypnobirthingCarmen Moreno. Spain

18:15–18:50

Panel discussion and Q&A. The midwife as guardian of physiology: where do we stand today?Chiara Capece, Alba Alija García, Nazareth Olivera, Alina Valdivia.Moderator: Irene de la Blanca, UK.

20:00–22:00

Casual networking dinner

Saturday 7 November

08:00–08:30

Registration

08:30–09:15

Symposium on obstetric emergencies and risk management considering physiologyDr. Edwin Chandraharan. UAE

09:15–09:35

Anaesthesia for obstetricians and midwives: impact of epidural and general anaesthesia on fetal wellbeingDr. Andrew Tan, Obstetric anaesthetist, UK

09:35–09:55

Beyond the fetus: the perineum we leave behindMalene Hegenberger, midwife. Denmark

09:55–10:15

PregnaDigit: remote digital care at home for pregnancy complications replacing admission to hospitalProf Arie Franx, Netherlands

10:15–10:35

How AI can support clinical decisions in labour monitoringProf. Antoniya Georgieva. University of Oxford, Oxford Labour Monitoring Group. UK

10:35–10:45

Can AI recognise different types of Fetal hypoxic stress and abnormal patterns?Dr. Luka Velemir, France

10:45–11:15

Coffee break and Official Congress Photo

11:30–12:40

Put the faculty on the spot! Interactive CTG discussion including bring your own casesDr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana PereiraPlenary session. No parallel track.

12:40–13:00

Moving from Silence to Sharing. What to do when things go wrongDr Rebecca (Becs) Winterborn. Vascular surgeon, Clinical director and coach. UK

13:00–13:40

Challenges, and solutions, of implementing physiological CTG interpretationDr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira

13:40–14:00

Conclusions: how is the fetus? What we know, what we don't, and what's nextDr. Edwin Chandraharan, Dr. Susana Pereira, Dr. Anna Gràcia

Access to sessions depends on registration type

Partial registration: access to Room 2 only from 12:45 on Day 2 (Friday 6), with dedicated sessions or live streaming of plenary hall sessions. Full and resident registration: full access.

Preliminary programme, subject to change. For registration, fees and any last-minute changes, please check directly with the congress organisers.

Source: Preliminary congress programme (PDF)