Certifying Childbirth Educators Organizations

INTRODUCTION

It seems like there are so many different avenues at which you can become certified as a childbirth educator. It’s the same for a doula for that matter, but since I’ve already decided on DONA for my doula certification, I am compiling a list of organizations that certify childbirth educators, their missions, and their requirements. I will update this with cost and required reading lists in the future. I want to provide a tool to help you decide which organization fits your birth philosophy. I also plan to review each organization in terms of what it offers to mothers.

OVERVIEW:

Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators ALACE
Birthworks International: CCE(BWI)
BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® Certified Mentor
The Bradley Method® / American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®
Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association CAPPA
Hypnobabies®
Hypnobirthing®
International Childbirth Education Association ICEA
Lamaze LCCE

REVIEW

Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators ALACE

“ALACE certified childbirth educators goal is to provide a comprehensive consumer-based class that will enable women and their partners to prepare for a positive, safe and joyful birth experience. The ALACE Childbirth Educator training program was developed by midwives and is recognized for its holistic, women-centered approach. ALACE childbirth classes provide evidence based information about the birth process and provide the tools to empower women and their partners to make informed choices throughout pregnancy and birth.”

No travel is required for this certification. Requirements include registering and receiving the ALACE Training Manual and birth DVDs, reading chapters 1-7 and completing the learning activities for each chapter, submitting completed work to ALACE office and receiving feedback, successfully complete and open-book exam at-home and you become provisionally certified. Now you must complete chapter 8 learning activities while you teach, complete the required reading list, submit 6 evaluations from students, and become fully certified.


Birthworks International: CCE(BWI)

Integrate mind, body, and spirit. Help people to experience personal self-growth in their birth and lives.

The requirements start with attending a three-day Birth Works Childbirth Educator Workshop and end with you facilitating an 8 week (16 hour) Birth Works course over a 10 week period. The other requirements are to sign their Statement of Beliefs, write an autobiographical essay, attend a breastfeeding preparation program, list any childbirth related workshops, conferences, classes or meetings you’ve attended in the last 5 years, take a tour of the maternity floor of two hospitals, complete a book report for each of the eleven required books on the reading list, critique three major VBAC papers, read an editorial on VBAC by Betty Anne Daviss, study and write four topic papers, and complete the Comprehensive Essay Exam.


BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® Certified Mentor

Motivate and initiate parents to birth from within.

The requirements start with attending a three-day Introduction to BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® Workshop where you are assigned an advisor who remains your advisor throughout the certification process. Your HomeStudy and practice requirements call for you to complete the home study/insight journal, read the level one required reading list and write book notes, attend four births per year, mentor a BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® Childbirth Class, conduct and individual birth art session with a pregnant woman, record yourself leading a “Birth Tiger Safari” with parents, and then submit your completed Home Study Packet to your advisor. Now you are required to complete the advanced home study/insight journal, read from the advanced reading list and write book notes after which you can attend the Advanced Study workshop with is a six-day workshop at a residential retreat. Continue to attend four births per year, mentor a Birthin’ Again class series, mentor a regular BIRTHING FROM WITHIN® Childbirth Class for parents using the new Advanced processes, conduct a process painting session with parents, record yourself leading specific four 15-minute segments of your class, and submit your completed Advanced HomeStudy to your advisor.


The Bradley Method® / American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® AAHCC

To enter the Bradley® program, you must be a parent who has taken Bradley® classes, filled out the Student Workbook, read Husband-Coached Childbirth, and Natural Childbirth the Bradley® Way, attended La Leche League meetings, had an unmedicated Bradley® birth and breastfed your baby.

The requirements are to read five assigned books, write a number of reports, and then attend a four day workshop where the first three days are 14 hours with 1½ hour breaks for lunch and dinner. The last day is 6½ hours in length. After the workshop, you will teach two twelve-week series and submit weekly evaluations online. When approved, you will take the final exam. Husbands are encouraged to attend the workshop and classes with you at no additional cost.


Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association CAPPA

“CAPPA certified professionals aim to empower, connect and advocate for families in the childbearing year. CAPPA seeks to forge positive and productive relationships between organizations that support healthy, informed family choices.”

The requirements are to become a member of CAPPA, purchase the certification packet, read five books from the required reading list, attend a local childbirth education series of at least 10 hours, a local breastfeeding class, and a local newborn care class and provide documentation, teach a total of 2 hours with a certified instructor, observe 2 labor/births totaling at least 10 hours and provide documentation, complete the pre-workshop study guide, attend a CAPPA approved childbirth education training (2 days), teach a 15 minute childbirth topic assigned to you at the workshop, and pass the test on childbirth education topics included in your certification packet.


· Hypnobabies®

“Hypnobabies is a complete childbirth education course…Hypnobabies is always taught in 6 (3 hour) classes using only our extremely comprehensive Hypnobabies materials.”

To be a Hypnobabies instructor, you must have a background in hypnosis (50 hours of study from a reputable school of hypnosis), a background in childbirth (doula, childbirth educator, midwifery or nursing training), read a required reading list, attend a 4-day course, and interview with the Program Coordinator.


· Hypnobirthing®

“HypnoBirthing® - The Mongan Method - is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. HypnoBirthing® provides the missing link that allows women to use their natural instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing. Emphasis is placed on pregnancy and childbirth, as well as on pre-birth parenting and the consciousness of the pre-born baby. As a birthing method, HypnoBirthing® is as new as tomorrow and as old as ancient times. It is presented in a series of five, 2 1/2-hour classes.”

HypnoBirthing is a well-thought-out and dynamic, 4-day, 2-part Childbirth Educator Program consisting of a 16-hour, Introduction to Hypnosis for Childbirth or Introduction to Birthing Basics, and a 16-hour, Certification Workshop for HypnoBirthing®


· International Childbirth Education Association ICEA

“ICEA certified childbirth educators have verified that they have the necessary knowledge and experience to enable them to facilitate expectant parents' mental and physical preparation for pregnancy, labor, birth and parenthood. This program promotes the concept of the childbirth educator as an advocate of the natural process of childbirth and the right of the expectant parent to make informed choices based on the knowledge of alternatives”

Requirements to be an ICEA certified childbirth educator include attending the the Basic Training Childbirth Educator Workshop (18 hours), completing the required reading list, successfully complete and evaluated teaching series, observe a minimum of two labors and births, then take the certification examination.


· Lamaze LCCE

“The mission of Lamaze International is to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy. Lamaze envisions a world of confident women choosing normal birth.”

Requirements include three birth observations (including one normal birth), observation of a childbirth series taught by an LCCE educator, attendance at a program seminar (3 days), completion of childbirth education course design, student-teaching a series of Lamaze childbirth education classes under the supervision of a LCCE, and completion of reading and learning activities in the Lamaze International Study Guide.

CONCLUSIONS

Please let me know if I am missing any organizations. I do plan to update this in the future. Thanks for reading!