How can I mix childbirth education with UC?

[wombjuice]

Do we have any childbirth educators here who are also UCers??

I am a student herbalist, and am quite passionate about childbirth. So passionate, in fact, that I had an "ah-ha" moment where I realized I need to be sharing this passion with others.

I do not want to be a midwife. I do not want to be a doula. I have a lot of respect for midwives and doulas, but assisting with childbirth is not my path.

See, I want to teach women to listen to their ancient instinctual knowledge about giving birth. I want to teach women to take back their bodies, and take back their births. I want to remind them that our bodies are designed to give birth. That birth is normal, natural, and peaceful.

I want to teach them that they have options. That they do NOT have to give birth in the all too popular "doctor/patient" setting. I want them to know that they can trust their bodies to do what is right for them and their babies.

I even know where I would like to teach...yoga centers that offer prenatal yoga classes, birth centers, maybe even midwifery offices. I know what topics I would cover...nutrition and herbs in pregnancy, exercises (including prenatal yoga), active birth, waterbirth, lotus birth, postpartum care, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth diapering and elimination communication...these are all just thoughts passing through my mind on a daily basis.

But...would there ever be any kind of demand for someone like me? Every organization that certifies childbirth educators seems to focus on teaching women who will be delivering in the hospital...that's most definitely not my cup of tea. I can 100% support homebirthing women who will be delivering with a midwife present, but even then I would make sure that the birthing woman knows that SHE is in charge, not the midwife.

I can quickly see me not being especially popular with doctors and (some--definitely not all) midwives.

What do you all think? Anyone following a dream similar to mine? Any advice for me? Where should I start? I'm tired of thinking about dreams and never pursuing them. I have time. I have enough money for certification. I need to just do it, but I need just that extra bit of motivation to get me going. Help, please!

[mataji4]

Hi there- yeah, I think I posted pretty much exactly what you did a few months ago! Seriously. I trained as an apprentice midwife for a little over 2 years and have had four homebirths myself, the last was unassisted. I took the idea to midwives and friends in the community- I thought the idea of a class just about education regardless of how and where and with whom the woman chose to birth was really an incredibly important idea- and since midwives here are ALL really into teaching classes to their own clients and women who are birthing in the hospital take the hospital classes, that leaves a very very small amount of demand (I'm the only person I know to have a uc here in the last many years). So the idea has been put on the back burner for me, I suppose, until the birth culture changes to catch up with where I am! That might be a long wait.

So more power to you if you have a client base! Maybe in a city but not in my small town.

[augustacherri]

I'm in the same boat with you--I'm working through the Lamaze childbirth educator program right now and I have such a passion for birth. I want to share it with everyone!

But I have thought about what kind of flack I might get for being an ardent UCer from other birthing professionals in the community. I would never tell women that there is one way to birth, even when it comes to UC. But I certainly would be honest about my experiences (negative, controlling hospital birth experience and positive, free UC experience).

I have talked to my husband at length about what kind of childbirth educator I might be, considering how I feel about the current birthing climate. I think it has helped me to realize that I can still do some good. I think Sublime Birth Girl teaches childbirth classes (and is a UCer). She said one time that she has never "converted" anybody as far as one of her students choosing to UC. I think that is something I will just have to accept.

The best thing I can do is give women all the information they need. That includes primarily trying to help them develop confidence in birth and themselves and encourage them to actually think and make decisions for themselves. It also includes giving them the usual practical information about coping methods, anatomy and physiology, information about the psychological and physical changes of pregancy, birth and post-partum. I think that that information is good for all pregnancy women and the staple of childbirth education classes. The reason it is good is because it dispels myths, fears and the mystery of birth. Couple that with a teacher who's been there and is still enthusastic about her experiences....even if it avoids an episiotomy for one woman or an unnecessary cesarean for one woman...I think it might be worth it.

I do feel a bit dismayed sometimes when even the more "normal" birth advocates (Lamaze, midwifery, etc) still talk about hospitals and highly medicalized births as some sort of desirable norm. It makes me feel sad, but I know that I will have a better chance to impact women if I talk to a great variety of women, not just ones who already have a natural/homebirth slant. My niece had her first child recently and apparently she did end up choosing a drug-free, low-intervention birth (she had been planning for an epidural). My sister-in-law told me later that it was mostly because of the information I gave her about birth and me talking about my experiences. I was overwhelmed and so filled with joy that she had such a positive and empowering birth experience.

My other sister-in-law, on the other hand, knows all about my birthing experiences and perspective. She, from the very beginning of her prenancy, was all about, "I don't care how the baby gets here--I just don't want to feel it. Give me drugs, cut it out, who cares!" I gave her a book about natural birth and all the information I felt like she would comfortably listen to. She had a highly medicalized birth with an early epidural. She hates her birth experience and has pretty much blocked it out. She still feels like this is normal and I think she still views me as a freak. I was sad about that, but it was her choice.

So it boils down to this. I have to give what I feel compelled to give of myself. I know I will not impact the decisions of very many women. It is something I have to deal with. But there will be a few. And if those few talk about their birth experiences positively, how many people will THEY influence? It is a ripple effect of sorts. As for the rest, I have to speak my peace and let the chips fall where they may. I will feel frustration, but I will also feel joy. I wish you the same....

Good luck! Sorry this was so long! I get excited about it.....

[wombjuice]

Augusta, thank you so much for sharing your experience! Can I ask, though, where do you plan on teaching? Hospitals? Birth centers? Independently?

I think this is the hardest part of figuring all this out...where should I teach? I am going to advertise at health food stores, yoga centers, massage and wellness clinics...maybe that will expose my services to the right group of people and bring some clients? But then again, I kinda feel like that would be preaching to the choir...do hospitals ever hire independent childbirth educators? Now that would be fun...I think they'd fire me after the first series of classes.

mataji, are you still training to be a midwife?

[turtlewomyn]

We have a local doula/yoga teacher/CBE who is pro UC. She is a supporter of Trust Birth. She has no children yet, but I know that UC would be her first choice.
She does the Birth from Within classes independently. I also know she supports women in all of their birth choices. I think her classes are always full, I plan to take them when we are pregnant with our next child (planning an attended HBAC but have considered UC too).

[wombjuice]

Wow, that sounds almost exactly what I'd like to do one day! I love yoga, and one day would like to get certified to teach prenatal yoga. How cool! Good for her!

See...I'm actually trying to choose whether I want to do the ALACE program, and then later on supplement with Birthing From Within, or if I should just do Birthing From Within to begin with. I don't really want to be affiliated with teaching only one style of birth, though...I just want to be known as an independent Natural Childbirth Educator, that's why I'm not sure about just taking BfW in the first place...hmm...

[georgia]

Moving to Birth Professionals with a redirect link from UC

[Rockies5]

Hi there. I have had UCs and am a CCE and Doula.

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by feminine_earth

I think this is the hardest part of figuring all this out...where should I teach? I am going to advertise at health food stores, yoga centers, massage and wellness clinics...maybe that will expose my services to the right group of people and bring some clients? But then again, I kinda feel like that would be preaching to the choir...do hospitals ever hire independent childbirth educators? Now that would be fun...I think they'd fire me after the first series of classes.

I teach out of my home, and classes are full. I've only had a few hospital-bound client over the years. I do adversie at all the places you listed and feel I do well. I work as much as I want to. It isn't so much preaching to the chior as you think. Mainly I do focus on the guys though. 99% of clients are homebirth, most having their first. Many have caught their own. I *love* hearing when they do. The moms mainly want to hear personal stories and find that empowering. The guys need to hear from someone with a tag on their name (and her husband) over and over that she (partner, wife pregnant lady) knows best. How and why intuition is best and they respect the science and studies more then anything else. They also respond best to lots of visuals and "here's what might work when she's acting like this".

Yes, hospitals do hire indy educators but they will audit you, and tell you what you can/can not teach. Most are ICEA and also nurses here.

[wombjuice]

Rockies, please tell me more!! Who are you certified through? Do you live in a big city? Do any of your students have midwives who also offer classes? How many times per week do you teach?

Ahhh...I have so many questions! This information isn't on any of the childbirth educator websites, and it really should be!

That is so cool that you teach out of your home!! I never really considered that!

Wow, I am really excited right now!

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by feminine_earth

Rockies, please tell me more!! Who are you certified through? Do you live in a big city? Do any of your students have midwives who also offer classes? How many times per week do you teach?

Ahhh...I have so many questions! This information isn't on any of the childbirth educator websites, and it really should be!
!

Certified through ALACE (for both CBE and CD)

-Live in a big city? yes. We probably have a more active alternative birth % then most.

-The midwives that refer to me don't teach classes as far as I know. And it's not an exclusive thing. They refer to whomever they think will fit their clients.

-There are other indy teachers here (4-5 I believe, ALACE, CAPPA, Lamaze and Bradley)

-I've taught as much as 3x per week, but now keep it to one night a week.

-I've found the more classes I offer, the fewer student I get per class. So this coming year I've decided to do fewer classes. Im going back to school so it's been stressful to think about teaching more then that.

-When hospital bound people are referred to me, they are welcome to join the HB class and then I also do one more class specifically for them where we focus on working within the limitations of the hospital and just being really honest about what it's like and how to advocate for yourself. I've been lucky that most hosptial bound couples would rather HB so they are essentially already belive in themselves, their partners and birth and know what they want; just don't always know how to get it.

I know it isn't a normal thing and in some ways can be viewed as @ssbackwards for a UCer to be a CBE or doula. I actually have alot of conflicts when I'm doula-ing, so have to be really selective abut who I choose to work with. As a CBE I don't feel I know everything, I don't feel women always need education, "training" or even partners present. But what I find is that people that want what I offer are drawn to my classes. They are often like me with one foot in body wisdom and the belief that birth is normal and OK and most would be find birthing alone. But they want their partner and MW for a variety of reasons. I've had UCs, but also hospital births and MW attended births so I can see it from different angles.

I'm somewhat afraid of someday seeing a newspaper headline in the grocery store, some couple catches their own baby without planning to and blames me because I was so blase about "when to call the MW"

and where do teachers talk? I have a "team" somewhere else, but there are only a handful of us.

[JessicaE]

I had an accidental UC with #2. I wouldn't say I'm pro-UC, necessarily, but I'm definitely pro-home birth.

I'm a former Bradley Method CBE. I'm transferring my affiliation to ICEA, and I'm currently teaching an 8-week series of natural childbirth classes. I'm just looking to ICEA for some initials behind my name, not a curriculum, and they seemed hands-off enough in terms of what I "could" teach. I considered Birthing From Within and ALACE, but I honestly just wanted something that I could transfer my affiliation to at a relatively low cost, and then teach what I want. I do think it lends some credibility "in the community" to have the same affiliation as the hospital educators.

The vast majority of my students are hospital birthers. I get frustrated with having to teach them "self-protection," but we're just not in a particularly home-birth-friendly area.

I have gotten some feedback from home birth midwives that they don't think I should necessarily be teaching stages of labor, because it's "too linear." So I'm working on finding ways to be less linear, but still teach the majority hospital birthers the info they need to have in terms of when to leave for the hospital and what to expect (I tend to attract a fair # of linear thinkers). So it's been an interesting balance, with my new curriculum, to weigh in somewhere between "implicitly trust your inner wisdom" and "here are some tried-and-true techniques."

Anyhow, I started my first independent class Jan. 31, with six moms and their birth partners. Next class starts in April, and I already have four signed up.

I teach at a massage/healing arts center. We're in a small city. Some of the hospital CNMs refer folks to me, but mostly they find me by word of mouth.

[wombjuice]

Rockies and Jessica, you guys have seriously made my day! Thank you so much for your advice!!

I'm gonna do it. (I can't believe I'm saying that!!) And I'm almost 100% positive that I'll be going with ALACE (was trying to decide between them and CBI). I am SO FREAKIN EXCITED!!!

Now if only I can figure out how to actually join ALACE's certification program, lol...whenever I click on the "Enroll Today" button, I get taken to their store...I emailed them yesterday, and called and left another message today, but haven't heard back yet. I am too impatient!

[wombjuice]

Does anyone know what's going on with ALACE's website? I can't figure out how to enroll in the program, and I emailed them and called them two days ago and left a message, but never got a response.

[Rockies5]

That's very odd. I know the website was just launched and still has a few "bugs". I'd call again. I heard they were remodeling the office but that should have been done early this week. I'd leave another message and also email. I'm imagining a bunch of ladies putting their offices back together
Normally they are awesome. Whenever I have had a delay there's been a really good reason.

[nutritionistmom]

I left a message for ALACE on Monday and haven't heard back yet either. I'm assuming it's a little chaotic there right now. Thanks for the reminder though, they were on my list of people to call today.

[wombjuice]

No response back yet, but they must be working on it, because their brochure is now working on their website!

[mollycce]

Originally Posted by feminine_earth

.I just want to be known as an independent Natural Childbirth Educator, that's why I'm not sure about just taking BfW in the first place...hmm...

Have you checked out the website for the Association of Independent Childbirth Educators? Not a certification program, but a stunningly wonderful bunch of independent educators from all manner of cert. backgrounds. They have a newly launched blog too with a great description of "who we are." I think you'd find all sorts of information and support by joining our email list (info on first website).

I am certified with ALACE. I'm considering switching to Childbirth International for several reasons. There is a LOT of freedom in ALACE's program, which is one of their biggest strengths. That said, I use almost *nothing* from their program in my classes. I pretty much built my classes and "curriculum" from scratch. I adore BfW & may someday take that route (I'm kind of a certification junkie!). I incorporate a lot of the ideas into my classes.

I think I do pretty much what you've described wanting to do, except I don't teach anywhere except in client's homes (so far...I'd love to have a "center" to teach in). I do mostly private classes. I'm in a community of only 16,000. How many in yours?

My CBE site is: Talk Birth.

Best wishes,

Molly
--
Citizens for Midwifery blog

[wombjuice]

Molly, you are awesome! Thank you so much for the links and for the info! Your website is awesome, btw!

Can you tell me more about why you're thinking about switching to CBI? They are the two that I'm still deciding between, but for some reason, ALACE seemed more women-centered to me. Maybe that's because I like their website? Who knows...but I tried to find, through CBI's website, if they are based more on the midwifery style of care than hospital style, and couldn't really find the info.

Really, I wish I could just go straight into BFW, but I can't afford the workshop right now, which is why I was thinking of certifying through ALACE, and then doing BFW later.

Help! I don't know who to choose.

[mollycce]

Originally Posted by feminine_earth

Can you tell me more about why you're thinking about switching to CBI? They are the two that I'm still deciding between, but for some reason, ALACE seemed more women-centered to me.

ALACE IS definitely very woman-centered and rooted in homebirth/midwifery, which is why I chose it too. The main reasons I'm thinking about switching to CBI is because your certification there is "for life" (like a degree) and with ALACE you have to recertify every year. I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing ALACE, because I love what they stand for and they have an excellent program overall, but I don't feel like I get much out of recertifying and paying $50 every year. Also, I do not have a sense of the organization as being a dynamic or active one

Molly