I want to be a Childbirth Educator: ALACE, Birth Works, other? - Page 2

[courtenay_e]

You know, as a doula, I team teach a CBE class with a friend of mine who is a Bradley instructor. She HAS to attend one birth a year and is soo glad to have me there with her to keep her and her students up to date on whatever the new "catch phrases" are in the hospital (you know...stuff like, "oh, sqatting is FINE, once the baby is UNDER the pubic bone, otherwise, it just slows things down...why don't you just climb up on the bed till the baby is under the pubic bone...we'll show you the RIGHT way to push until then!" which we hear all the time at one particular hospital in the area).

My point being? GO TO SOME BIRTHS whether they require it or not. And continue to, if you have the time available in your schedule. It's good to know what's going on in the birth culture in your area. It's one thing to know what is statistically best for a client...it's another thing to come up with a way to help them GET that. And it's hard to do that if you don't know what's going on, to be able to prevent problems before they happen.

Does that make sense? I'm tired...

[SDDoula]

Another vote for ALACE

I took the ALACE workshop and plan on also getting certified as a CBE, and I would say call the office and ask for Gina. She is sooo helpful. By the way they are in the process of updating their website too, thank goodness.

Also if you wanted to attend a birth, I bet you could find someone who could really use some support, and doesn't have a lot of money. Find another Doula in your area and offer to help her with a birth.

Oh yeah and go ahead and write that book report. You will always have it for reference, and writing it out will help you remember it. I write thorough notes on all the books I read and it really helps me to refer back to those with clients. We are even starting a book group, maybe you could do the same where you are?

[amcdonnell]

A vote for Birth Works

I am in training to become a childbirth educator with Birth Works. When I was deciding, I looked at several different programs, CAPPA, ALACE, and Birth Works. What drew me to Birth Works was that there was a strong emphasis on the emotional aspect of birthing and an entire class devoted to grieving and working through past emotional issues. Also another entire class devoted to nutrition which I felt was very important. I'm not sure if the other programs offer that now, but they didn't at the time I was looking. I also like the non-method approach to birthing because I feel that birth is instinctual. I also liked the fact that it is encouraged for people to take the classes as early as possible and even before conception if possible so there is time to process the emotions and physical changes. I love the pelvic bodywork that is taught. I even had the pink kit and when I went to the workshop I learned so much new things. Also, the board of advisors for Birth Works has some world reknown people like Michel Odent, Ina May Gaskin,
Bethany Hayes, Barbara Harper, Marshal Klaus, Marsden Wagner, Jean Sutton, Henci Goer, Suzanne Arms, Nancy Wainer Cohen, and more.

I hope that helps.

Audrey McDonnell
CCE in training Birth Works International (BWI)