Midwifery Courses

Core courses are offered only to students admitted to the midwifery degree and certificate programs. The first year core courses focus on normal aspects of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, including normal variations, as well as some basic deviations as they relate to identifying and managing “normalcy”. The second year expands upon the first year’s learning, and includes management of normal variations as well as care for complicated situations. The third year covers a variety of professional topics and skills.

Supplemental and elective courses are offered on a more flexible time frame and are available to the general public as well. They may be taken at any time and are scheduled as demand and opportunity allow. Completion of all supplemental courses and three electives is required to graduate.

Credit Hours

Our academic hours are semester credit hours. They are calculated based on 45 hours of total student effort per one hour of credit, including a minimum of 15 hours of contact/class time. Apprenticeship credit hours are calculated based on 30 hours

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, date/size discrepancy, urinary tract infections, bleeding in pregnancy.

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 including cord prolapse and hemorrhage, and water birth.

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 postpartum 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, and growth charts.

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 using non-violent communication (NVC) approach 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.

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., including neonatal 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) 3 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. Maternal resuscitation, continued IV skills practice.

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.

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) 2 credit hours. 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.

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.

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.

The apprenticeship experience is a crucial part of midwifery education. Midwifery is a unique profession, and the specialized training provided through apprenticing with an experienced midwife is a significant source of student knowledge.

A total of 20 credits of apprenticeship are required to graduate. These credits may be divided under any number of terms, as appropriate to the student’s specific apprenticeship workload. At the time of registration for a term, students in an apprenticeship indicate if they wish to register for apprenticeship credit.

The student’s preceptor agrees to provide a minimum amount of appropriate work to the student during the registered term. Direct client care must constitute at least 75% of the work performed. The number of credits assigned for that term is determined by Birthingway based on a minimum number of hours worked: 30 hours of work equals one credit hour. The credit to be awarded cannot be retroactively adjusted.

While Birthingway makes every effort to assist students in locating an appropriate midwifery practice for apprenticeship, the College does not guarantee availability of an apprenticeship for every student. Due to the limited number of apprenticeship sites in Portland, Birthingway strongly encourages students to seek apprenticeships in other areas. Our Faculty Coordinator is available to help answer any questions students may have.