Across many seasons and cultures, mothers have felt best supported by a circle of wise women throughout the childbearing year. As a midwife assistant, you can step into this circle, and bring a unique set of skills and knowledge to prepare the way for new life to come into the world.
This workshop is perfect for anyone who would like to attend births as a midwife assistant in an out-of-hospital environment. For some, this may be a stepping stone towards nursing or midwifery school, for others becoming a midwife assistant will be a rewarding and fruitful career that will continue to present new and engaging learning opportunities, and they will become experts in this incredible role.
The Midwife Assistant Training Workshop will prepare students to assist midwives throughout the prenatal period, during labor, birth, postpartum and newborn care. After completion of the workshop, students will be encouraged to complete the certification process by attending 10 births and receiving feedback from midwives on specific skills.
Students can expect to be guided through a challenging and evidence based curriculum throughout four days of learning. Topics will include:
- Midwife Assistant Professional Issues
- Honoring the Birth Process and Creating a Safe and Sacred Space for Women
- Birth Terminology
- Charting
- Confidentiality and HIPAA Requirements
- OSHA, Infection Control and Safety Precautions
- Anatomy & Physiology of the Woman: pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum
- Anatomy & Physiology of the Newborn
- Health, Variations of Normal, and Complications
- Emergency Skills Training and the Midwife Assistant’s Role
- Client Care, including Therapeutic Communication
- Vital Signs, including blood pressure assessment
- Fetal Heart Tones Assessment, using a doppler, fetoscope and pinard
- Basic Pharmacology, holistic approach and important medications
- Medication Administration, including intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
- Respecting and Honoring Diversity of Clients and Families
- Professional Relationships, Finding a Midwife Partner and Facilitating Professional Communication
- Self-Care Practices for Birthworkers
- Honoring Ceremony, Blessingway for budding Midwifery Assistants
Upon enrolling in the course, you will receive a required reading list, materials list and syllabus.
We highly recommend completion of a Labor Doula Training Workshop before attending this workshop. While it is not a requirement, doula training encourages birth workers to develop an empathetic and supportive touch to laboring women that is invaluable to anyone in the birth room.
With that said, no experience is required in order to take this course. You will be guided by a team of nurse-midwives, midwife assistants, and experienced doulas who are passionate about helping you succeed.
For more information and to learn about upcoming workshops, please email us here.