Birth Works®

Well after much research and discussion with Fran we have decided that we like the philosophy behind the BirthWorks® program. It promotes the "I can do this!" attitude that I believe in without the over the top new age feel like some of the other programs. Fran likes it so much she is going to pay for half of the registration fee for me and her current assistant Rose. Finishing the requirements for certification to be a Birth Works Educator will take awile, but I'm excited to learn all there is to know and teach other women how to have wonderful birth experiences.

Some of the BirthWorks® Childbirth Educator Requirements
(watered down to fit on the blog)

• Write an autobiographical essay (2-3 pages)
• Write about a birth experience either your own or one you were present for. Attend a birth other than your own.
• Attend childbirth workshops, classes or meetings write about experiences at these events.
• Take a tour of two hospitals in your area, interview a medical representative there. Write a summary of the interview(1 pg). Complete a survey of Maternity Services for each birthing facility.
• Attend a BirthWorks® Childbirth Educator Workshop. Write about your experiences and reflections on what it meant to you. (1-2 pages)
• Complete a book report on each of the books on the required reading list below. Book summaries are not acceptable. How did you feel about the book when you were done reading it? What did you disagree with? use specifice examples and quotes from the books.

• Birth Reborn*(second edition) By Michael Odent MD
• Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger
• Birthing Normally by Gayle Peterson
• Ended Beginnings* by Claudia Panuthos and Cathy Romeo
• Silent Knife by Nancy Cohen and Lois Estner
• Essential Excercises for the Childbearing Years* by Elizabeth Noble
• The Tentative Pregnancy OR Giving Birth by Barbara Katz Rothman
• Let Birth Be Born Again* by Jean Sutton
• The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth* by Henci Goer
• The Scientification of Love* by Michael Odent MD
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (6th edition) by La Leche League International

Those are the required books, there are about 15 more highly recommended books (which I'll probably try to fit some of those in)

• Critique the 3 major VBAC studies, choose from different time periods (This goes into more detail on what they want...) 1 page for each study, 2 pages summarizing what I learned from all 3
• I have to write 4 (5 page) topic papers there is a list of 25 or so topics I can choose from, or I can choose my own. I have to include a paper on "Nutrition for the Childbearing Woman"
• Then when all the requirements are successfully completed and the director of education has reviewd my submissions I'll get a comprehensive essay exam.

• Facilitate a 10 week/20 hour birth works course. Make a 60 minute audio or video tape including a 15 minute block of the feelings class, 15 minutes of the philosophy class, 15 minutes of a visualization and 15 minutes of another class of my choice. This is required to complete my certification.

See it's that easy :) LOL

It'll be worth it, I'm really excited about the amount of support I'm recieving from different birthing professionals in the area. I think this will go pretty well. I even contacted my cousin who is a midwife/doula in the Shrieve Port Louisiana area and she's giving me some great pointers about working in hospitals.