The Massachusetts Midwives Alliance Basic Course in Midwifery meets twice a month September through June to learn from practicing midwives from around Massachusetts. Each full day class consists of a seminar style presentation on the material studied at home the preceding month, a vegetarian potluck lunch, and usually a skills practicum. Light summer work will be assigned in preparation for the first class. These are full days, so expect to arrive on time and be prepared to run a few minutes over if the material demands it. Due to the intensive nature of the days, only non-mobile nursing babies will be allowed.

Prerequisite: Cultural Competency Training through Mercy In Action

Fall 2019

September 7 Orientation class and History of midwifery

September 21 Medical terminology and and Anatomy and Physiology

October 5 First trimester: nutrition, medial history intake, miscarriage. Skills: blood pressure, pulse

October 19 Research evidence based care; Diversity/disparities in midwifery/obstetric care and cultural sensitivity

November 2 Second Trimester: conducting a prenatal, common concerns and complaints. Skills: palpation, auscultation

November 16 Pelvic exams, labs. Skill: blood draw, IM injections, papsmere

December 7 Third Trimester: troubleshooting, postdates, NST, BPP, the home visit. Skills: clonus, CVA, edema, GBS swab sterilizing equipment.

December 14 Labor and Delivery One: signs and symptoms, hormones, ROM, monitoring maternal and fetal well-being. Skill: Role play, counting FHT

Winter/Spring 2020

January 11 Labor and Delivery Two: Third stage/placenta, EBL, new born transition, skin ti skin, NNR review. Skills: Newborn exam, placental exam, EBL

January 25 Postpartum: postpartum visits, (where midwifery shines), breastfeeding, mood disorders. Skills: Edinburgh scale, role play, review of vitals

February 8 Childbirth Education with Vicki Elson

February 22 Doula day! Local doulas will spend the morning talking shop and teaching hands -on skills. Afternoon: Breastfeeding for providers: troubleshooting, solutions and when to call in help.

March 7 Unusual Labor and Birth One

March 20 Unusual Labor and Birth Two

April 3 Csec prevention, VBAC, transport, Stillbirth; alternative therapies

April 17 Grief workshop/training; Herbs: herbs used in pregnancy and birth. Skill: infusions and tinctures.

May 2 Basic Suturing; CPR training

May 16 Business of Midwifery, next steps, apprenticeships

May 30 (possible make up day if there were any snow day etc.) **if not needed could decide as a group to bump dates up

June 13 Research paper presentation; take home final exam passed in as well as ALL homework due to graduate with certificate of completion

June 20 Graduation ceremony

*** class dates may be subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen challenges.