About This Course
Welcome to the Birth Inspirations Childbirth Education Training Course for Midwives. Often midwives have commenced teaching childbirth education classes with very little knowledge about teaching just the premise that they are midwives so should know how to teach. There is a skill to teaching childbirth education and this course aims to give you the skills to teach effective childbirth education classes. Unlike bedside education, classes have structure. The global aim of teaching childbirth education is to enhance the knowledge of expectant parents and their support people about labour and birth, breastfeeding and parenting. Using the principles of adult learning, expectant parents can make informed choices to enhance their birth experience.
Childbirth education is a profession in its own right. A midwife’s knowledge must be directed into the skills required for a childbirth education class. In this course you will learn the principles of adult learning, how to facilitate an activity, how to write a lesson plan, receive feedback for a class you are teaching and how to evaluate a class. These topics of learning can be applied to any childbirth education setting. They are not limited to a class setting in a hospital.
At the end of the course, it is expected that you will have the knowledge and skills to plan and deliver childbirth education to a high standard. The course carries 96 CPD hours from the Australian College of Midwives. This course is one of assessment rather than a course that issues a certificate of attendance. You will receive a Birth Inspirations Certificate of Childbirth Education, endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives. It can be used for when applying for CAPEA (Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia) certification as a childbirth educator.
You work at your own pace with an assignment submission once per month. At the end of the course you will feel confident to teach childbirth education classes, have the knowledge and skills to teach classes and make childbirth education a pathway to your career.This course is for midwives who facilitate classes face to face OR online.
Entry criteria
You must be a registered midwife currently facilitating childbirth education classes or have access to teaching formal childbirth education.
The cost of the course is $460. This must be paid at the commencement of the course.
Upon course completion you will receive a Birth Inspirations Certificate of Childbirth Education, endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives. The course carries 96 hours of CPD.
Text books
Upon your registration you will receive a text book by Andrea Robertson called Empowering women. This has been carefully selected for novice childbirth educators and will contribute to some of your readings.
Module outline
Module One
This module looks at the evolution of childbirth education and it’s impact on classes delivered today. The assignment asks you to compare childbirth education 30 years ago to childbirth education today.
Module Two
This module looks at how people learn and delves into theories of learning. This is perhaps the learning you’ll return to time and time again as you teach classes. Every person has a learning style and it is your skill as an educator to provide learning that everyone can relate to. The assignment asks you to answer 6 long answer questions.
Module Three
This module looks at facilitating a learning activity. It’s not just about presenting something, it’s about rolling out a learning activity with purpose. The assignment asks you to demonstrate a childbirth education learning activity and to reflect on your practice.
Module Four
A childbirth education class cannot happen without a lesson plan. The assignment asks for you to make a 2 hour lesson plan for a class you are going to teach in Module Five.
Module Five
Childbirth educators teach in isolation. It’s hard to know what your strengths and weaknesses are when teaching a class. I need to assess you and provide feedback for a 2-hour class (Face to face or online) you are going to teach from the lesson plan in Module 4.
Module Six
Every class needs to be evaluated. The assignment asks you to design an evaluation form that you can use in your classes.
If you are keen to diversify your practice and educate women and their partners, this course is for you. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that your words can empower couples, instil confidence and influence normal birth. I look forward to working with you
Jacqui
Midwife and childbirth educator
Birth Inspirations