OVERVIEW

This course is designed for those interested in becoming a Home Birth or Missionary Midwife. There are 3 Phases, each containing 10 Units. Each Unit must be completed before moving on to the next. All coursework must be done in order. The course can be completed in 30 months. An outline containing reading, tests, a project, and homework is provided for each Unit.

OUTLINE

Phase I
A. Basic Science

• Unit 1. Anatomy & Medical Terminology (basic overview of body system with focus on reproductive system)
• Unit 2. Physiology (including hormones, menstrual cycle, natural birth control, etc.)
• Unit 3. Fetal & Placenta Development (including genetic screening, assessment, etc.)
• Unit 4. Lab Work (wet preps, microscopes, PKU, prenatal panels, cultures, etc.)
• Unit 5. Nutrition (including vitamins & minerals, weight gain etc.)
• Unit 6. Nutrition & Exercise (including herbs and nutritional counseling)
• Unit 7. Drugs & Interventions (including Pitocin, Vit.K, Rhogam, Ultrasound, other prenatal tests)

B. Antepartum Management

• Unit 8. Childbirth Education ( homebirth requirements & preparation methods)
• Unit 9. Communication & Counseling (stress management, family unit, etc.)
• Unit 10. Prenatal Care (within normal limits)

Phase 2

• Unit 11. Risk Factors & Referrals (protocols, abuse, etc.)
• Unit 12. Prenatal Discomforts (including alternate medicine)
• Unit 13. Prenatal Complications Part l
• Unit 14. Prenatal Complications Part 2
• Unit 15. Prenatal Complications Part 3

C. Intrapartum

• Unit 16. Labor and Delivery Part 1
• Unit 17. Labor and Delivery Part 2
• Unit 18. Pelvimetry & Fetal Position (including malpresentations)
• Unit 19. Labor Support (doula work, massage, birth plans, family unit)
• Unit 20. Birth Complications Part l

Phase 3

• Unit 21. Birth Complications Part 2
• Unit 22. Birth Complications Part 3
• Unit 23. Hospital Transports (E.M.S., back up, cesarean, etc.)

D. Postpartum

• Unit 24. Postpartum Normal Part l
• Unit 25. Postpartum Normal Part 2
• Unit 26. Postpartum Changes (psycho-social, depression, etc.)
• Unit 27. Breastfeeding (from mom and baby’s side)
• Unit 28. Postpartum Complications (lacerations, bleeding, stillbirth, etc.)
• Unit 29. Newborns-Normal (newborn exam, age assessment, circumcision, etc.)
• Unit 30. Newborn Complications (abnormalities, infections, etc.)

Online Classes (optional)

• Charting Laws and Decision Making online class (2 hr class: $50 ) (required for Alaska )
• Midwife To Be International (25, 1 hr classes: $250)
• Doula To Be [10% discount if in MTB] (12, 1 hour classes: $270)

Credit Hours

• 1 Credit earned per Unit (45 hours self-study) = 30 Total Credits
• 2/3 Credit earned for weekend classes (5 classes at 10 hours each) = 3 1/3 Total Credits
• 1 Credit earned for 45 hours of clinicals over and above state requirements (min. 270) = 6 Total Credits

Sample Month Outline (for Unit 9)

• Read 2 books on Phase 1 list
• Take 2 closed-book tests (by mail/email) using the honor system
• Read Nurse Midwifery pages 174-179
• Read Holistic Midwifery pages 296-338 & 591-627 (test on above when completed)
• Go over NARMS skills 191, 192, 195, 196, 27
• Complete 1 project (example: list hospitals in area)
• Document hours of study
• Upload to Moodle