Certifed Childbirth Educator 

The Certified Childbirth Educator program is a eight-week non-credit course for those who wish to teach childbirth classes to expecting parents. This course trains instructors to teach evidenced-based natural birth and has a special emphasis on working with diverse populations. This program prepares students to teach childbirth classes in a variety of settings: hospitals, home birth and birth centers.

Coursework is 100% online with a community-based practicum component, written with the same standards of excellence that all of the Aviva Institute programs are designed in. Courses are done in a cohort group with other students with a high degree of instructor involvement. This program is not just reading books and writing papers like other distance childbirth education training programs, it is highly interactive, challenging, engaging, and fun.

Book List

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Required Textbooks

1. Childbirth Education: Practice, Research and Theory by Francine H. Nichols and Sharron Smith Humenic
   List Price:  $69.95   Free Shipping
   ISBN/ISSN: 9780721680095
   Publisher: Saunders
   
   
   
2. Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn: The Complete Guide, revised by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley & Ann Kepple
   
   

Additional Reading –You are encouraged to read these books prior to the training, however only certain sections will be required reading during the eight- week course

 The Complete Book of Pregnancy & Childbirth, revised by Sheila Kitzinger

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block

The Official Lamaze Guide to giving Birth With Confidence by Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries

Birth as An American Rite of Passage by Robbie Davis-Floyd

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

Birthing From Within, by Pam England

The Birth Book, by Bill & Martha Sears

Strongly Recommended.


The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth, by Penny Simkin

Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn: The Complete Guide, revised by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley & Ann Keppler

The Labor Progress Handbook (2nd Edition) By Penny Simkin

The Breastfeeding Answer Book 3rd Edition by Mohrbacher, Stock & Newman (La Leche League)

Birthsong Midwifery Workbook, 5th Edition by Daphne Singingtree, CPM

At the end of the course, the Childbirth Educator who completes the certification program will:

• Create positive expectations about a mother’s ability to flow with her labor and birth by presenting education about labor, delivery and postpartum in an empowering way.
• Help reduce complications and interventions by preparing parents with skills and resources to handle normal and unexpected childbirth.  Help parents develop self advocacy skills with professionalism and respect.
• Be skilled in the use of visual aids and alternative teaching methods for a variety of learning styles.
• Be able to teach a variety of methods of childbirth and encourage parents to find the one that works for them. 
• Create classes that are fun, interesting, and empowering for parents.
• Be aware of the impacts of racism, poverty and other disadvantages on the childbearing couple and counter them.
• Reach across cultures and ages to invite all people to share in the joy of childbirth and learning.
• Prepare a family for labor, delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding adaptations and challenges so that they are resilient and skillful. 
• Recognize possible risk factors for abuse and provide early intervention.
• Impact a childbearing family in a positive and faith building way that enriches and improves their lives in a profound manner.
• Grow and keep current in childbirth methods, useful comfort measures and cultural competency. 
• Encourage, support and help other childbirth professionals.
• Be recognized for excellence in their profession
• Keep records of student/s satisfaction with classes and birth outcomes and adjust classes if these outcomes are not excellent.

Instructor

Kathryn Lane Berkowitz, CLA, CCE (ALACE) CPD (CAPPA) 
is certified as a Childbirth Assistant  through Informed Homebirth / Informed Birth and Parenting (now ALACE), a certified childbirth educator through ALACE, and as a Postpartum Doula trainer through CAPPA. Kathryn is also a Lamaze trained childbirth educator, pursuing certification. She is a retired LLL Leader and continues to support nursing mothers in her community.  Kathryn completed a direct entry midwifery apprenticeship with CPMs in home birth practice.

More recently, Kathryn has focused her practice on working as a postpartum doula and mentoring those who aspire to work in the perinatal field. She also enjoys teaching evidence based, custom designed childbirth classes for expectant parents.

In addition to her work in birth, Kathryn is a bead and fiber artist. She and her family make their home in central North Carolina, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She and her husband home educated their three sons and one daughter, now all grown.

Prerequisities:
None, although previous doula or childbirth study is helpful.

Computer Requirements: Click here

Practicum:
1. Observe a complete childbirth class
2. Attend two labors and birth
3. Attend a Le Leche League meeting

Course Dates: 10/20/2008 - 12/14/2008  Participation is required five out of seven days a week, however they can be anytime of day that works with your schedule.

Tuition: $450.00

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for low income students planning on teaching families facing issues such as poverty, language issues, cultural differences, and racism. For more information click here.

Non-credit pass/fail course