Childbirth Educator Program

A Childbirth Educator educates pregnant women and their labor supporters about the birth process, facilitates informed decision-making, helps them create a birth plan, teaches techniques for natural childbirth, and gives advice on basic newborn care. Childbirth Educators may work privately or may work for a hospital or other birthing center, providing classes for their patients.

Application Process

Application forms are available from the College and are accepted at any time of year.

Childbirth Educator Workshop

The workshop takes place over two weekends. Throughout the nearly 40 hours of classroom time, there are many opportunities to

• explore our own preconceptions about birth

• practice guided meditations

• produce our own birth art

• demonstrate dozens of teaching tools and techniques

Some of the topics covered in the first weekend: the history of childbirth education, what makes Birthingway's model different, what is a childbirth educator, the biodynamic model of birth, scope of practice, pregnancy and what a Childbirth Educator might discuss in a class about pregnancy, birth art as an educational tool, American birth culture, birth videos, normal labor and birth and the challenges of "teaching" about something that will be different for everyone, how much do you cover in class?, the first hours after birth - "meeting baby", techniques for teaching about labor and birth, breath and relaxation, the PAIN debate, pain coping techniques, postpartum and the newborn.

Some of the topics covered in the second weekend: Cesarean birth and VBAC, interventions and how they can interfere with a biodynamic birth, teaching relaxation techniques, incorporating the partner into the class, sibling preparation, the business of childbirth education, postpartum care for mama and baby, breastfeeding - benefits and "how to," partner roles in the postpartum period.

Program Requirements

The Childbirth Educator Workshop may be taken without applying to the Childbirth Educator Certification Program or the Midwifery Program.

To be certified as a Childbirth Educator through Birthingway, students must successfully complete

• Birthingway’s Childbirth Educator Workshop. The workshop is 38 contact hours over two weekends. Students have four months after attending workshop to complete homework. The cost of this workshop is $545.

• Additional homework over a maximum of four months that includes creating your own community resources binder and your own childbirth education series syllabus.

• Once you have completed the workshop and assignments and have been accepted into the program you will be connected with your Childbirth Educator Supervising Instructor who will mentor you throughout your practicum teaching.

To request certification, the following items must be submitted to the College:

• Completed Childbirth Educator Certification Request (available from the College)

• Copy of Childbirth Educator Workshop certificate of completion

• Weekly self-evaluation journals and parent evaluation forms

• A check or money order for $150.00

Birthingway will evaluate and verify all documentation.

Upon successful completion of all of the above requirements, Birthingway College of Midwifery will certify that the student has met the requirements of the Birthingway Childbirth Educator Program and is qualified to serve as a Certified Childbirth Educator. The Birthingway Childbirth Educator Certificate is valid for four years. Re-certification is $90 and requires documentation (self-evaluation journals and parent evaluation forms) of one series of classes taught during the four year period as well as 15 hours of documented continuing education (pertinent classes, workshops, lectures, etc.). Forms are available from the College upon request.

Program Costs