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 Traing through Mercy In Action

Orientation & History of Midwifery

History of Midwifery ~ Life of a Midwife~ Pathways~ Birth Circle

Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology

Female Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology~ STDs ~Charting~ Universal Precautions ~ Sterile Technique~ Fertility~Contraception

The First Trimester of Pregnancy

Fetal & Placental Development ~ Vital Signs ~Urinalysis~ Risking Out~ Signs & Symptoms~ Physical & Other Changes ~ Due Dates~ Physical Exams~Health Histories, Miscarriage~ Well Women Labs~ Nutrition

Research, Evidence Based Care & Complimentary Care

Epidemiology Evaluating Research~ Causation, Informed Consent~ Conducting Research~ Ethics~ Acupuncture~ Optimal Fetal Positioning and Body Mechanics~ Chiropratic Care~ Abdominal Massage

The Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Conducting a Prenatal~Leopold Maneuvers ~ Assessing Fetal Heart Tones~ Differential Diagnosis ~ Complications of Pregnancy~ Psychological & Emotional Impacts~ Sexuality~ Common Discomforts~Medications

Prenatal Labs & Pelvic Exams

Anatomy of the Pelvic Region ~ Performing Gynecologic Exams~ Pelvimetry~ Breast Exams ~ Venipuncture~ Lab work & Test Results

The Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Preparing for Birth~ Assessing Fetal Well Being~ Optimal Fetal Positioning~ Rebozo~Postdates~ Sterilizing Instruments~ Complications~ Referrals & Collaborative Care. ~The Home Visit~

Labor & Birth: One

Hormones of Labor ~ Mechanisms of Labor ~Fetal/Pelvic Relationship ~ Rupture of Membranes ~ Monitoring Maternal & Fetal Well-being ~ Estimating Dilation, & Station~ Being on Call

Labor& Birth: Two Immediate Postpartum & the Newborn Placental Examination

Estimating Blood Loss ~ Changes in Newborn Physiology ~ APGAR Scores ~ Newborn Exams~ Intramuscular Injections~ Eye Prophylaxis~ Vitamin K~Placentas

The Postpartum Period & Care

Post-partum Visits ~ Screening for Depression~ Involution ~ Jaundice~ Common Infections & Complications ~ Newborn Growth Patterns

Childbirth Educator Workshop and Doula Workshop

Full Weekend Workshop~ Childbirth Education Certification Traing with Vicki Elson~ Doula Skills and Training

Breastfeeding & Herbs for the Childbearing Year

Breastfeeding for Providers~Herbs for the Childbearing Year~Homeopathy

Unusual Labor & Birth Part One

Understanding~ Recognizing & Responding to Complications of Labor & Birth

Unusual Labor & Birth Part Two

Understanding, Recognizing & Responding toComplications of Labor Birth

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean & Cesarean Section Prevention

Cesarean Prevention~ Post Traumatic Stress from Birth~ Supporting Recovery~ , VBAC Protocols, Informed consent, Transport

Grief, & Self Care for Birth Workers

Loss in the Childbearing Year~Grief ~ PTSD~Self Care for Midwives

Suturing

Review of Pelvic Floor Anatomy~Suturing & Supporting Perineum Health ~ Sterile Techinique~ Pelvic Floor Health: Remedies and Care

Business of Midwifery

Setting up a Practice ~Next Steps~~the PEP Process~ Apprenticeships,~ Money Matters~

Research Paper or Final Project Presentations

Graduation