Continuing Education for Birthworkers or Supplemental Coursework for Midwifery Apprentices

All Birthwise courses are open to enrollment for practicing midwives or other birth workers depending on space available. CPM's can count any coursework at Birthwise towards their required CEU's for re-certification (within the limits set by NARM) even when the course is not offering MEAC CEU's. Some courses do offer formal CEU's.

Midwifery students not enrolled in a formal program can supplement their academic learning by enrolling in individual courses at Birthwise Midwifery School. These can either be taken for credit ($350.00 per credit hour) or they may be audited ($200.00 per credit hour). Enrollment is dependent on space available.

Fall, 2011 Classes:

Review of Suturing Skills and Perineal Repair

September 14^th 9:00 – 12:00 (0.2 credits) /1:00 - 4:00 (0.2 credits)         

Instructor: Nell Tharpe, CNM

Suturing: This is the second in a series of  3 suturing workshops that focuses on the universal components of suturing: needles and sutures, instruments, instrument handling, suturing techniques, including application of derma bond.  The focus is on optimal instrument handling and improving efficiency of suturing skills through mentored hands - on experience.

Perineal: This is the third in the series of 3 suturing workshops and focuses on the repair of perineal lacerations sustained during childbirth.  This workshop is for both novice and experienced practitioners.  While perineal repair  is a core component of midwifery practice, many midwives perform repairs infrequently, and have limited opportunity to observe or gain skill in new techniques.  This workshop offers midwives and midwifery students an opportunity to focus on improving their repair technique at every level using tissue models in a controlled setting.

Cesarean Birth 

October 12th, 9:00 – 4:00 (0.4 credits)

Instructor: Holly Murphy, CPM

This one day course will explore surgical birth in depth, from the medical procedure, the recovery period to the emotional impact.  Special emphasis will be on providing post-partum care to clients who give birth by Cesarean.

Advanced Botanicals 

October 21st, 9:00-4:00 (0.8 credits)

Instructor: Alyssa Doolittle, herbalist

This deeper study of herbs is designed to give midwives a working understanding of selected herbs commonly used to support vitality, physiology and ease discomforts for the whole family throughout the childbearing year.  This will include how to use the herbs that are remedies for complications of pregnancy and birth such as: infertility, miscarriage, anemia, sleeplessness, pre-eclampsia, maternal infection, UTI, hemorrhage, infection, depression, lacerations, exhaustion, stress.  Herbs helpful to nursing mothers and their infants will also be discussed.

Good Grief 

Instructor: Larry Greer, Hospice coordinator and interfaith Minister

November 8th, 9:00-4:00 (0.4 credits)

Sometimes pregnancy and birth does not go as planned and hoped.  This seminar explores the way people grieve and the ways caregivers can facilitate a healthy grieving process.

Massage Techniques for Labor

Instructor: TBA

November 10th, 1:00-4:00 (0.2 credits)

This is a hands-on  class that will instruct on basic massage techniques for labor.  Special focus will be on relaxation inducing touch and pain relieving techniques for back labor.

Fertility Awareness as Birth Control/Choice

November 17th, 1:00 – 4:00(.2 credits)  

Instructor: Robin Illian, CPM

Students will learn how to teach this method of fertility control to clients, as well as getting a better understanding of the menstrual cycle and charting.  Useful for calculating a good EDD!

Placenta Medicine

December 9th, 4:00 – 6:30(.2 credits)             

Instructor: Robin Illian, CPM

Learn about “placentophagia”, Traditional Chinese Medicine “placenta caps,” and other uses for the placenta. This is a practical, hands-on class, and we will be working with placentas.   You will leave with a skill and a recipe to be able to do this in your apprenticeships or practice.  Other ways of preparing placentas for nourishment/medicine will be discussed.

Transgender Health 

December 8th^th, 9:00 – 4:00(0.4 credits)

Instructor: Tyrone Boucher and Alex Holding

An introduction to the process of providing care to the trans gender an non-conforming people. Topics include: how do trans people get pregnant and have babies, especially after some kind of medical transition?  What language is appropriate to use when working with a trans client?  What's the difference between trans gender and transsexual and gender queer and gender non-conforming and cis-gender and all the words used to talk about gender?  What are stupid questions, and how do I get the answers to them (Hint: this workshop is a great time to ask them).

Domestic Violence Training

December 15th, 9:00 - 4:00 (0.4 credits)

Instructor: Family Crisis Services

This will be geared toward health care providers: recognizing the signs of abuse, what to do if you suspect abuse, legal responsibilities, and resources available. 

A list of other courses being offered  is found below. Descriptions of our courses are found on the Course Description page. For the exact dates and times of these classes, go to our Calendar on our home page. To register for courses, submit the on-line registration form at least 2 weeks before the start of the course. Earlier registration may improve the student's chances of enrollment.

Other Courses offered Fall 2011:

• Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives (4.0 cr)
• Physical Assesment (1.6 cr)
• Normal Prenatal (3.0 cr)
• Normal Labor and Birth (3.2 cr)
• Professional Issues: Informed Choice  (0.6 cr)
• Newborn Complications  (1.6 cr)
• Well Woman Care (1.6 cr)
• Complications of Labor and Birth (4.0 cr)
• Professional Issues: Research Methods (0.8 cr)
• Professional Issues: Political, Legal, Ethical (0.4 cr)
• Botanicals for Midwives (1.2 cr)
• VBAC Seminar (0.4 cr)