Catalogue 07-08: Midwifery Program Curriculum Overview
Please note that this is the March 2007 version of the 2007-2008 Catalogue. Information within is accurate as of this date. Subject to change without notice.
Cohort Time
Recommended Course Sequence
Course Descriptions
Birthingway College of Midwifery’s midwifery program includes three components: midwifery core courses, supplemental and elective courses, and apprenticeship credit. The classroom component is 75 credit hours over three years (49 core hours and 26 supplemental and elective hours).
Clinical training includes introduction to and practice of skills in the classroom, as well as hands-on exposure to skills through apprenticeship with one or more midwifery practices. Students are introduced to and practice the "Basic Skills for Entry Level Midwifery” by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). In addition, students learn appropriate behavior, communication and relationship skills, teaching and counseling skills, and decision-making ability in the classroom and clinical setting.
Cohort Time
On core days there are 90 minutes between morning theory and afternoon skills classes. The first 30 minutes are set aside for lunch. The next 60 minutes are set aside for your cohort meeting time, which is held in the classroom. Students may bring their lunch with them to cohort.
Cohort is a place for school announcements, business, and check-in with your classmates. It can also be a forum to process class dynamics and issues that are both practical and emotional. A staff member, often the Student Affairs Coordinator, will facilitate the cohort meeting.
Recommended Course Sequence
First Year of Midwifery Program
Spring Term
Core Classes
Antepartum (PTM211) 4 credit hours
Basic Skills I (PTM211s) 2 credit hours
Supplemental Classes
Medical Terminology (MT241) 1 credit hour
Understanding Statistics (ST241) 1 credit hour
Homeopathy (HOM314) 1 credit hour
Total: 9 credit hours
Fall Term
Core Classes
Intrapartum (PTM212) 4 credit hours
Basic Skills II (PTM212s) 2 credit hours
Supplemental Classes
Breastfeeding I (BF241) 1 credit hour
Ethics for Midwives (ET441) 1 credit hour
Nutrition (NUT241) 1 credit hour
Total: 9 credit hours
Winter Term
Core Classes
Postpartum (PTM213) 3 credit hours
Basic Skills III (PTM213s) 1 credit hour
Supplemental Classes
Breastfeeding II (BF242) 1 credit hour
Infancy (INF241) 1 credit hour
Elective of Choice 1 credit hour
Total: 7 credit hours
Second Year of Midwifery Program
Spring Term
Core Classes
Microbiology (MIC321) 3 credit hours
Microbiology Skills (MIC321s) 1 credit hour
Introduction to Communication Skills (ICS321) 1 credit hour
Supplemental Classes
Botanicals I (BOT321) 2 credit hours
Plant Medicine I (PM341) 1 credit hour
Elective of Choice 1 credit hour
Total: 9 credit hours
Fall Term
Core Classes
Well-Woman Gynecology (GYN321) 3 credit hours
Gynecology Skills (GYN321s) 3 credit hours
Supplemental Classes
Botanicals II (BOT432) 1 credit hour
Plant Medicine II (PM342) 1 credit hour
Communicating With Integrity A (CWI341) 1 credit hour
Total: 9 credit hours
Winter Term
Core Classes
Complex Situations I (CS 321) 2 credit hours
Hematology Skills (HEM321) 2 credit hours
Supplemental Classes
Other Modalities (MOD341) 1 credit hour
Plant Medicine III (PM343) 1 credit hour
Communicating With Integrity B (CWI342) 1 credit hour
Total: 7 credit hours
In addition, we recommend 10 credits of Apprenticeship during second year.
Third Year of Midwifery Program
Spring Term
Core Classes
Complex Situations II (CS432) 3 credit hours
Critical Care Skills I (CCS431) 3 credit hours
Supplemental Classes
Suturing (SU441) 1 credit hour
Midwifery Culture (MWC441) 2 credit hours
Total: 9 credit hours
Fall Term
Core Classes
Psychosocial Issues (PSI431) 3 credit hours
Critical Care Skills II (CCS432) 2 credit hours
Research Methods (RSM431) 1 credit hour
Supplemental Classes
Human Genetics (GN441) 2 credit hour
Chinese Medicine (TCM341) 1 credit hour
Total: 9 credit hours
Winter Term
Core Classes
Running a Midwifery Practice (RMP441) 2 credit hours
Practice Protocols (PP432) 1 credit hour
Critical Care Skills III (CCS433) 1 credit hour
Supplemental Classes
Pharmacology (PHM441) 1 credit hour
Research Project (RP441) 1 credit hour
Elective of Choice 1 credit hour
Total: 7 credit hours
In addition, we recommend 10 credits of Apprenticeship during third year.
Course Descriptions
First Year Core Courses
Antepartum. (PTM211) 4 credit hours. Covers basics of antepartum care including pregnancy signs and symptoms, calculating due dates, reproductive and pelvic anatomy, menstrual cycle, embryology and fetal development, fetal environment, evaluating health, basic nutrition and pregnancy physiology, common complications.
Basic Skills I (PTM211s) 2 credit hours. Must be taken concurrently with Antepartum. Complete physical assessment skills.
Intrapartum. (PTM212) 4 credit hours. Covers fetal evaluation, labor, psychophysiology of birth, facilitation of first, second and third stages, unusual situations, complications, water birth, and hospital procedures.
Basic Skills II (PTM212s) 2 credit hours. Must be taken concurrently with Intrapartum. Prerequisite: Basic Skills I. Skills include sterile technique, prenatal skills, estimation of blood loss, placental exam.
Postpartum. (PTM213) 3 credit hours. Covers unique fetal anatomy and physiology, fetal transformation, newborn exam and age assessment, neonatal procedures, behavioral states, breastfeeding, neonatal complications, maternal assessment and care, maternal complications, postpartum emotional disorders.
Basic Skills III (PTM213s) 1 credit hour. Must be taken concurrently with Postpartum. Prerequisite: Basic Skills II. Skills include newborn physical and gestational age exam and evaluation, use of icterometer, growth charts.
Second Year Core Courses
Microbiology. (MIC321) 3 credit hours. Includes classification, microbial reproduction, transmission and control, immunology, diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease in pregnancy, including sexually transmitted diseases.
Microbiology Skills (MIC321s) 1 credit hour. Skills include use of a microscope, wet mounts, staining, cultures, sterilization techniques.
Introduction to Communication Skills (ICS321) 1 credit hour. Basics of speaking and listening with emphasis on group communication skills.
Well-Woman Gynecology (GYN321) 3 credit hours. Includes sexuality, birth control and family planning, pelvic exam, breast health and exam, menstrual disorders, perimenopause and menopause, uterine and cervical abnormalities, myomata.
Gynecology Skills (GYN321s) 3 credit hours. Must be taken concurrently with Well-Woman Gynecology. Prerequisite: Basic Skills II. Skills include bimanual and speculum exams, Paps, cultures, cervical cap and diaphragm fittings, pelvimetry, breast exam, bladder catheterization, and wet mounts.
Midwifery Facilitation of Complex Situations I (CS321) 2 credit hours. Prerequisite: Antepartum and Intrapartum. Anemia, energy management, thyroid, vascular problems, advanced fetal monitoring, PROM, preterm labor, postdates and postmaturity, vaginal birth after cesarean, asthma, HELLP, carpal tunnel, and dermatologic conditions.
Hematology Skills (HEM321)) 2 credit hours. Prerequisite: Basic Skills II. Hemaglobin, hematocrit, glucose evaluations with in-office devices, and venapuncture.
Third Year Core Courses
Midwifery Facilitation of Complex Situations II (CS432) 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: Antepartum and Intrapartum. Covers hemorrhage, multiple-gestation, unusual presentations, infant anomalies, emergency transport, death and grieving.
Critical Care Skills I (CCS431) 3 credit hours. Prerequisite: Hematology Skills. Skills include basic first aid, treatment of shock, I.V. and resuscitation.
Research Methods (RSM431) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Understanding Statistics. Tools, methods, and techniques for designing and implementing a research project.
Psychosocial Issues and Skills (PSI431) 2 credit hours. Prerequisite: Antepartum, Intrapartum, Postpartum. Includes cultural issues (family structures, literacy, working cross-culturally), clinical issues (sexual abuse, domestic violence, adolescent pregnancy, adoption).
Critical Care Skills II (CCS432) 2 credit hours. Prerequisite: Critical Care Skills I. IV, neonatal and maternal resuscitation.
Running a Midwifery Practice (RMP441) 2 credit hours. Covers business management, ethics, legal concepts and requirements.
Practice Protocols (PP431) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Midwifery Core except skills and research courses. Covers charts, forms, consents, agreements, risk assessments and practice protocols for clinical midwifery practice.
Critical Care Skills III (CCS433) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Critical Care Skills II. Continued practice of all critical care skills with scenarios.
Supplemental Courses
Botanicals I (BOT321) 2 credit hours. Materica medica and herbal therapeutics of gynecological herbs and herbs for infants and children.
Botanicals II (BOT432) 2 credit hours. Prerequisite: Botanicals I. Herbal therapeutics of the childbearing year.
Breastfeeding I (BF241) 1 credit hour. Covers prenatal education and the normal course of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding II (BF242) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Breastfeeding I. Covers breastfeeding problems and special situations.
Chinese Medicine (TCM341) 1 credit hour. Basic concepts in traditional Chinese medicine with applications to midwifery practice.
Communicating with Integrity A (CWI341) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Introduction to Communication Skills. Continued development of one-on-one and group communication skills.
Communicating with Integrity B (CWI342) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Introduction to Communication Skills.
Ethics in Midwifery (ET441) 1 credit hour. Problem solving ethical dilemmas that can occur in midwifery practice.
Homeopathy (HOM341) 1 credit hour. Theory of homeopathic practice with applications to midwifery care.
Human Genetics (GN441) 1 credit hour. Covers basic genetics, genetic screening, and pregnancy counseling
Infancy (IN241) 1 credit hour. Covers newborn behavior, development, bonding and attachment and childraising from an ethnopediatric perspective.
Medical Terminology (MT241) 1 credit hour. Covers medical language, including vocabulary, abbreviations and translation of medical records into “normal” English.
Midwifery Culture (MWC441) 2 credit hours. Focus on attitudes and laws that have surrounded midwives and the practice of midwifery throughout history and contemporary times. Examines the role of midwives from ancient to modern times emphasizing politics of midwifery and how midwives have come together to bring about change.
Nutrition (NUT241) 1 credit hour. Overview of nutrition concepts.
Other Modalities (MOD341) 1 credit hour. Introduction to a variety of alternative healing modalities including chiropractic, flower essences, and aromatherapy.
Pharmacology (PHM441) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Basic Skills II. Legend drugs and devices used in midwifery practice, injection techniques.
Plant Medicine I (PM341) 1 credit hour. Identifying and harvesting herbs. Preparation of teas and tinctures.
Plant Medicine II (PM342) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Plant Medicine I. Topical applications. Preparation of herbal baths, salves and creams. Preparation of lozenges and suppositories.
Plant Medicine III (PM343) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Plant Medicine II. Preparation of syrups and elixirs. Creating herbal formulas and prescriptions.
Research Project (RP441)1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Research Methods, Understanding Statistics. Definition of a topic, literature review, design and implementation of a research project, creation of a bibliography, and production of a research paper.
Understanding Statistics in Medical Literature (ST241))1 credit hour. Basic concepts, types of medical literature, critical analysis, “Evidence based” studies.
Suturing (SU441) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Basic Skills III. Selecting materials and equipment, perineal evaluation, repairs of first and second degree and labial lacerations, use of local anesthetics.
Elective Courses
Birth Stories in Life and Literature (BSL371) 1 credit hour. Read, write, and tell birth stories while learning and exploring effective storytelling techniques.
Botany (BT471) 1 credit hour. Basic botanical concepts, classification systems and nomenclature, plant identification and constituents.
Developing Your Midwifery Experiential Program (DVM241) 1 credit hour. Self awareness and communication with preceptors to optimize apprenticeship experience.
Homeopathy II (HOM472) 1 credit hour. Prerequisite: Homeopathy. More in depth look at homeopathic remedies.
Independent Study (IS471) 1 credit hour. Special project work with an advisor.
Introduction to Vibrational Healing (VI471) 1 credit hour. Discussion of vibrational medicine and how it relates to health and healing from our center outward to the planet. Course focus is on astrological medicine and gemstone energy within midwifery. Didactic knowledge is integrated with experiential, hands-on learning and observation.
Massage for Midwives (MAS271) 1 credit hour. Psychology of touch. Introduction to basic massage techniques with emphasis on pregnancy and postpartum.
Primary Care of Infants (PCI471) 1 credit hour. Prerequisites: Postpartum, Basic Skills III, Infancy. Recognizing signs of infant illness for appropriate home treatment or referral.
Primary Care of Women (PCW471) 1 credit hour. Prerequisites: Well-Woman Gynecology, Basic Skills II. Signs and symptoms as tools for differential diagnosis and referral for midwives serving as primary care “gatekeepers” for healthy women.
Psychology of Childbirth (PSC471) 1 credit hour. Exploring women’s unique mental and emotional states during the prenatal year.
Spanish for Midwives (SPA371) 1 credit hour. Basic vocabulary and phrasing for midwives.