Congratulations the mom has had her baby you are all done! Well not just yet…. We still have the placenta to deliver and manage along with wounds she may have received during the birth and other postpartum events. This class covers the postpartum period and all of the issues that can accompany it. By the end of this class we want to have equipped you with the knowledge necessary to give your moms the postpartum care they deserve.

Postpartum

Doula

Sometimes what a woman needs most during labor and birth is strong emotional and physical support. Doulas are a wonderful way to provide the support that a woman might ask for. Aromatherapy, messages and counter pressure are all wonderful things that can ease a mom through labor. By the end of this course we will equip you with the ability to plan for the support you will provide during birth, the labor period, key ways to position the mother to help ease her through the process of labor and the postpartum period.

Childbirth Education

Pregnancy is a roller coaster of emotions, experiencing brand new emotions and encountering new physical challenges. It can be a scary time never knowing what a new day will hold. Childbirth education is an excellent tool to provide counseling on the labor period, pain and emotional management during and after pregnancy. By the end of this class you will be able to better educate and comfort these new and returning moms as they begin a new challenging and beautiful journey through pregnancy.

Anatomy and Physiology

The anatomy and physiology of the human body is a very complex and intricate system. Knowing how the anatomy of the body works, is the cornerstone of being able to identify potential issues and problems that your client may experience. However it goes beyond that in aiding you with things such as the course that a normal labor should take and the postpartum period. By the end of this course you should be able to feel confident in problem solving any issue that may arise through the understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a beautiful, powerful and intimate process between mother and child. It is also a very deep system that comes with countless benefits but also its own set of complications at times. In this class we hope to equip you with all the knowledge you need to understand the anatomy of the breast, the hormones it produces, milk composition and how it benefits the child. We also hope to teach you about the societal outlook on breastfeeding and issues that may arise. By the end of this class you will be able to confidently educate the mother on everything she will need to know in order to walk into breastfeeding with confidence.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the cornerstone to having a healthy body through pregnancy and a healthy baby as they develop in the womb. It can be hard in today’s society to keep a healthy diet with all the processed foods, snacks and unhealthy drinks. In this class we equip you with the knowledge to help moms with their diet and at the same time, help you understand how to take care of your own bodies nutrition. From minerals to digestion, carbohydrates and proteins we cover all things nutrition in this class and how to apply them to your day to day lives. By the end of this class you will know what to recommend to your moms to keep them and their babies happy and healthy.

Newborn

Newborns are one of the weakest most vulnerable creatures on planet earth, unable to fend for themselves, crawl, walk or eat without assistance. For these reasons it is extremely important that we keep a close watch on newborns as they come into this world. Many issues can arise in newborns and we want to prepare you for whatever those might be, jaundice, cold stress, resuscitation and the development of the baby are just some. By the end of this class we hope to have equipped you with the skills you require to take care of newborns as they are brought into this beautiful world that God has given us.

Self-Care (Elective)

In a world that moves quickly and never seems to slow down, self care is often times one of the first things we let fall to the wayside. In this class we will explore the benefits of self-care. How to prioritize and incorporate it into our day to day lives and how to avoid both emotional and physical burnout. By the end of this class we hope to identify what our calling is, what gives us life, how to hold ourselves and others accountable and how to manage a healthy routine that keeps us going and prevents us from getting burnt out.

Pharmacology (Elective)

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and medications used in out of hospital midwifery care. Students will learn about various medications and their uses, their administration, storage, handling, and other aspects that each unique drug requires. Many states require a pharmacology course in order to carry, order, and use certain medications in their practice.

Birth Emergencies

Midwives are the protectors of normal birth. They are trained to know the variations of normal and to act when pregnancy, labor, birth or postpartum becomes abnormal or an emergency. Birth Emergencies uses Bonnie Gruneburg’s Birth Emergency Skills Training and Elizabeth Davis’s Heart and Hands to delve into potential emergencies a home birth midwife may see during antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum. We will touch on topics such as bleeding, preterm labor, pregnancy complications, NRP and fetal heart rate abnormalities, shoulder dystocia and many others. The focus of this class is to provide awareness of potential emergencies that you could see during your midwifery journey.

Introduction to Research

Researching is a wonderful way to investigate and study new material in order to bring greater understanding to and new conclusions to information we already had. In the world of midwifery we are always using research to discover new ways to improve on old systems. In this class we will be teaching you how to do your own research through methods such as structuring a project, collecting data, quantitative and qualitative research. By the end of this class you will have produced your own research and hopefully come to new found conclusions on the research you have made.

Family Health

The health of the mother has been your top priority for nine months,, but now that she has had her baby it’s time to look after a few other things. This class focuses on family health both for the mother, other children, the father and elderly. We cover illnesses in all of the age groups of the family and how to deal with them when they strike, medications and healing. By the end of this class you will have a better understanding of family care, how to deal with health issues and how to plan for future incidents.

Birth After Crisis

Birth after crisis can be a hard topic to discuss, but it is an important topic that should not be overlooked. In this class we cover birth after a crisis has happened, tragedies that nobody should have to experience. From natural disasters, war, abuse, rape, death, illness and financial crisis we want to better equip you with the knowledge to help these women should any of these things occur. By the end of this class you will be able to help these women in need when the time arrives, giving mothers, fathers and children the comfort that will have all but left them, you can be a light in their darkness.

Birth Culture and Politics

There are many current issues involved in the world of midwifery, especially when considering midwifery in the context of the West. This class is geared towards confronting many of these issues, understanding the basis of the problem, and looking at solutions. Using a primary text from Evidenced Based Birth, the student will explore topics such as the Patient’s Bill of Rights, Circles of Concern and Influence, White Privilege and Racism, Evidence versus Tradition in healthcare practices, and many other topics. By the end of the class students should be able to define the major topics of the day in maternal and child health, understand how and why these issues are still prevalent, and develop solutions not only for their own practice going forward but also for the profession in general.

Advanced Herbs (Elective)

How to herbs actually work? What do we need to know about the herbs we use and recommend? When should caution be taken with herbs and why? These types of questions can be complicated, and in this course we will look at the specific actions of how herbs work within the various systems of the body, how they perform, and the details of macro and micro processes within the body. To take this course you must have already taken and passed the “Introduction to Herbs” course.

Short Course Triad (Elective)

Your clients will have many questions over the course of the pregnancy, and three of these can be difficult to explain and, at times, even understand. “What is Group Beta Strep?”, “Should I use Vitamin K with my newborn?”, and “What is anti-D and why does it matter to me?” are complicated and, at times, controversial topics, especially when various treatment options are discussed. This course will spend three weeks on each of these topics, digging deeper into the research, various treatment options, and the specifics you and your client need to know.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is a course that is based on disease incidence, distribution, and potential control relating to maternal and child health. Students will learn the basics of how studies are designed and conducted, how results are examined, and how these these affect the practice of midwifery around the world.

HIPAA, Coding, & Charting (Elective)

HIPAA, Coding, and Charting is an elective course comprised of three different topics. The first is the basics of HIPAA, how it is handled in midwifery practice, and what you clients need to know. Second is coding, specifically codes used to order labs, bill insurance, and make a diagnosis. Finally, charting explores SOAP notes, what should and should not be included in charts, types of charting programs, and other aspects of recording encounters with clients.

Introduction to Herbs

Choosing a home-birth is choosing to trust God and our bodies that have been perfectly crafted by him. This class focuses on herbs, another of Gods perfectly crafted and designed systems. With so many herbs out there to choose from it can feel overwhelming to know what to recommend and when to recommend it. By the end of this class those answers should feel second nature. From pregnancy to first aid and childbirth every problem has an herbal solution and we hope you join us in learning the beautiful power of herbs.

Embryology

Embryology, the study of fertilization, development of the embryo and fetus along with congenital disorders that arise before birth. This class covers fetal development from conception all the way up to a fully developed fetus. Knowing where the baby should be along the development line is a wonderful tool to have and helps you and the mother better understand what exactly is going on inside the moms belly. By the end of this class you will be able to identify and explain every stage of the fetuses development and what congenital defects they might have.

Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is both an important and beautiful thing. Walking alongside your moms through their pregnancy allows for you to create a bond built on trust and friendship. Checkups and prenatal testing help keep both mom and baby healthy throughout the pregnancy. In this class we hope to equip you with the ability to give prenatal care from the first to third trimester along with teaching you how to chart and document. By the end of the class everything prenatal will be second nature to you and you can walk into each new clients home with the knowledge and ability to take care of them.

Well Woman Care

Well woman care is a wonderful way to educate women, and men on how their bodies work when it comes to conceiving a baby. Bringing understanding to women about topics such as their menstrual cycles, hormones and ovulation along with natural birth control help empower the woman in her body. Often times they have not been taught many of these things in or out of school. We want to help give you the tools to educate your communities on such important matters. By the end of this class you will have grasped a greater understanding of the reproductive system of the woman’s body and how to educate women on the natural cycles their body will take.

Community Development (Elective)

God has provided a beautiful lush and bountiful planet for us to use to our advantage. Understanding the land and how we are to utilize it can be complicated, but if understood carries a wonderful power with it that will help to strengthen our communities. Knowing how water, forests and food work together to grow the land is the cornerstone to understanding community development. By the end of this class we will have helped you design your own sustainable plot of land, which gives you hands on experience in understanding how we can use the wonderful land God has gifted to us.

Women and Worldview

Well woman care is a wonderful way to educate women, and men on how their bodies work when it comes to conceiving a baby. Bringing understanding to women about topics such as their menstrual cycles, hormones and ovulation along with natural birth control help empower the woman in her body. Often times they have not been taught many of these things in or out of school. We want to help give you the tools to educate your communities on such important matters. By the end of this class you will have grasped a greater understanding of the reproductive system of the woman’s body and how to educate women on the natural cycles their body will take.

Labs and Medications

Herbs and natural remedies are amazing and the first thing we should look to when an issue arises that can be remedied by them. However sometimes we need a stronger source and when that happens we need to know what medications to recommend or give. Labs are another important tool, using labs to get specific results for an issue that you are presented with is a must. In this class we will teach you the ins and outs of labs, how to order them, what kind to order and when to order them. We will also cover medications and which medications play the most important roles during each stage of pregnancy. By the end of this class you will have a greater understanding of labs and their uses and the application of medications.

Normal Labor

After nine beautiful months of meeting with your moms the day of labor finally arrives. In this class we cover all the stages of labor, maternal structures in labor, cardinal movements and pain in labor. Labor can be scary for the mom and you are there to help her feel comfortable and safe as she brings new life into the world. By the end of this class you will know all the stages of labor in detail and how to navigate each stage to keep everyone safe and your mom comfortable every step of the way.

Normal Birth

Midwives are experts on normal birth and walk with low-risk women through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. There are many variations of what “normal” is and it is important to understand your boundaries and when to know if a situation is creeping outside of those boundaries. Normal Birth uses Anne Frye’s Holistic Midwifery Volume II and Elizabeth Davis’s Heart and Hands to discuss all the variations of normal birth. We will discuss topics like basic anatomy, the cardinal movements, fetal positions, the physiology of birth, recognizing signs of labor, the various observations and monitoring you’ll do in labor and many other topics. The goal of this course is to give you a foundational understanding of what normal birth is and how to manage it.