Natural Birth Education Training

[OMama]

Hello all! This is my first post in this area and I'm looking for some advice or suggestions. I am interested in heading in a new *career* direction. I have two graduate degrees and a few years experience working in non-profits, but since having my children I have become very passionate about natural birth. I am currently a SAHM. I've had one great hospital birth and one great homebirth. I would love to be able to share this wonderful knowledge with others and help them experience what I have. So, I am interested in finding out about what it takes to be a birth instructor or educator. I took a HypnoBirthing class during my first pregnancy and did find what I had learned helpful in labor. During my second birth I did use some of those techniques but I also just really went with what *worked* at the time. I was calm and confident in my abilities and had such a beautiful birth. I have also read two Bradley books and have used some of those techniques as well. And I read Birthing from Within.

Anyway, does anyone have suggestions as to what I could do to get involved in becoming an educator or instructor? And what type of instruction I should pursue. What are my options? Hypnobirthing, Bradley, what else? I am willing to create my own business or work for or with someone else. I live in the greater Seattle area and natural birth is relatively common around here. TIA!

[nimblemama]

The main certifying programs for childbirth educators are: ALACE, Bradley, Hypnobirthing, Lamaze (Passion for Birth), Birth Arts, CAPPA, ICEA, CBI.

It's good that you live in the Seattle area because I know natural birth is more popular. I think there is even a midwife school in the area. The market may be a bit saturated though. I would research local CBE's and doula's in your area and see what there is out there and maybe some would be willing to help and work with you.

[OMama]

Thanks niblemama for your response. I am attempting to figure out what all these different certifications are that you listed. Thanks for helping to get me started! I have no background in the medical field at all so something that would apply to someone who is already trained certified nurse, for example, would not work for me. I suppose that narrows things down.

Any other suggestions or recommendations, especially when it comes to researching my options? What books, websites, periodicals, etc. can I look at to find out more? TIA!

[nimblemama]

All the CBE programs are open to anyone and have websites. The ones I know are listed below:

www.alace.org (I am a CBE-in-training with them)
www.childbirthinternational.com (they have a CBE program comparison chart)
www.birtharts.com
www.cappa.net
www.passionforbirth.com

The others I would just do a google or yahoo search for. Look around the mothering forums for birth professionals and you should find some past discussions on these programs as well.

[Veritaserum]

You need to decide if you want to teach a method or if you want to teach your own eclectic classes. You may find that it's easier to find students if you teach a method unless you are teaching through an institution that is funneling students into your classes.

I have taken CBE training through CAPPA, HypnoBirthing, and Hypnobabies. I certified with HypnoBirthing and taught it for two years before certifying in Hypnobabies which I now teach. I vastly prefer Hypnobabies because it teaches consumer info and info on optimal positioning as well as deeper, more effective hypno-anesthesia techniques. We also cover traditional "pain-coping" techniques but frame them in a hypno-way (things to increase mom's comfort).

http://www.hypnobabies.com

Birthing from Within also trains and certifies mentors if you feel yourself pulled that direction.

http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

[OMama]

This is all wonderful information! Exactly what I was looking for to get started. Thank you both so much.

[amcdonnell]

Birth Works

Birth Works is another certification program for childbirth educators.

http://www.birthworks.org

You can sign up for the childbirth educator workshop before joining the program to decide if you like it too. They have a very well known Board of Advisors too.

Audrey McDonnell
childbirth educator in training with Birth Works International (BWI)

[Sarahfina]

Don't forget Birthing From Within www.birthingfromwithin.com As another option. They offer excellent training and support along your path to certification and the classes they give to parents are really amazing and very holistic. I've had the pleasure to sit in on a class and it was delightful. The parents were honnored, empowered and encouraged without judgment- this approach is a non-outcome focused approach and is very embrasive to all aspects of the experience of birth. I imagine it is more encompasing than more single-focused approaches like the Bradly Method or some of the hypnosis technique classes. I would highly recommend this route.

Sarahfina

[KathyHubbard]

Lots to consider...

This is my first post on this board; I look a lot, but felt compelled to try to connect with you... It looks like you have a lot to consider in your path to empowering birthing women! I have been a childbirth educator for the past 9 years and have certified twice to find the right fit. I am a huge fan on unmedicated birth, but have learned that not all women can or will have the same experience I had (3 unmedicated births). Always remember in your journey to be true to your feelings so you are as fulfilled by teaching as your students will be by learning. I can't tell you how many women I have deep connections with who have come through my classes. It is a magical thing when you teach what you love in an atomsphere where non-judgemental, evidence based learning is allowed, and women are able to openly face their fears. My only tip would be to sit in on a few different classes to really experience the philosophy; but remember the educator has more to do with the class sometimes than the "method".

I taught Bradley for years and when one of the couples in my class lost their baby at 38 weeks I found they were unprepared for the medicated experience, and I was hurt more profoundly than I ever imagined I could be. I abandoned Bradley (which I loved dearly) in search of a more emotion based, less black and white philosophy, which I found in Birth Works. I have found it is a good mix of mind, body, spirit. Not too much fluff (some birthing couples are not ready for a lot of touchy/feely non-medical based stuff) and not at all rigid in expectations, but loaded with evidence based information. I hope I have not added to your decision - go by feel... but also know the women you are trying to reach; what will they be comfortable with?

Kathy

[Stephanie L.]

Originally Posted by Sarahfina

Don't forget Birthing From Within www.birthingfromwithin.com As another option. They offer excellent training and support along your path to certification and the classes they give to parents are really amazing and very holistic. I've had the pleasure to sit in on a class and it was delightful. The parents were honnored, empowered and encouraged without judgment- this approach is a non-outcome focused approach and is very embrasive to all aspects of the experience of birth. I imagine it is more encompasing than more single-focused approaches like the Bradly Method or some of the hypnosis technique classes. I would highly recommend this route.

Sarahfina

I was going to suggest it, too. You can train and teach this ever-growing in popularity, sought-out class. It's so great because it is non-judgemental and receptive to the interventions that CAN (and often do, unfortunately) interfere with the natural birthing process. This tells a laboring mama that she is still doing her best and is supported. She can learn to pain-cope and avoid the interventions. And IF any interventions are deemed necessary, then she can know that she's not a failure and will be okay.

Natural childbirth is wonderful, I am all for it!! But I think it's important to educate all around, including what the birth-by-cesarean would be like, should that be necessary, too. Most classes don't talk about that and then when (IF) it happens, it's scarier than anything.

[OMama]

What great responses! Thanks to all of you! And I feel honored, Kathy, that you chose to respond to my post as your first post.

I do think it is good advice to check out different classes. And I *hear* what you all are saying about finding the right fit, and something that empowers birthing mothers under different circumstances. This is something that I will definitely have to consider.

Thanks again!

[gemasita]

I was an engineer for 6 years before becoming a doula and CBE certified through Hypnobabies. I just started researching different doula certification programs and I also got interested in Hypnobabies at the same time and attended some Hypnobabies births. It is very easy to teach, which was a nice bonus! Once I saw how many clients and students I was getting, I quit my job!

Definitely think about your philosphy, financial resources, and ask a lot of questions about what is involved in teaching if you choose a method. It's so fun to just dive in to this field. I LOVE my new career!!!