Massachusetts Midwives Alliance Basic Course in Midwifery

The Massachusetts Midwives Alliance Midwifery Course will be running, in-person, this coming year.
The class will start the last Saturday in August 2022 and run through June 2023. Classes will be held in downtown Northampton two Saturdays a month. We updated the website, www.massmidwives.org, and all the information is there but you can email Rebecca Beck at [email protected] or call her at 508-341-7191 if you have questions.
Here are some of the basics. The class meets roughly every other Saturday from 9 to 4 (with a few exceptions). Midwives and instructors from all around the state come and teach the classes to give differing perspectives and helpful tricks of the trade. The class will be held in downtown Northampton, MA. The schedule should remain as listed below. The subject matter might shift within these dates due to instructor availability.
Fall 2022
08/27 Orientation
09/03 Medical Terminology/A&P
09/17 Cultural Competency
10/01 First Trimester
10/22 Research/Nutrition
11/05 Second Trimester
11/19 Labs and Pelvic Exams
12/03 Third Trimester
12/17 Labor and Delivery 1
Winter/Spring 2023
01/07 Labor and Delivery 2
01/21 Postpartum
02/04 Childbirth Ed
02/18 Doula Round Table/Breastfeeding
03/04 Unusual Labor 1
03/18 Unusual Labor 2
04/01 Alternative Therapies/Herb
04/15 Grief workshop/counseling
04/29 C-section prevention, VBAC/CPR
05/13 Suturing Skills/Business of Midwifery
05/27 Graduation
Tuition and Fees:
Full tuition is $3800 with a $125 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration. The remainder of the tuition is due by the first class. If you would like to start a payment plan that can be arranged. If you have any other questions regarding finances, please feel free to be in touch.
We offer Woman/Person of Color Partial Scholarships which you can request when you register.
There are a number of books to purchase, as well as some equipment. These are outlined in the handbook which you will receive after registering.
The only prerequisite for the course is to complete the Mercy in Action Cultural Competency Training online. You need to complete the course before the first class. Cultural sensitivity is one of the hallmarks of good midwifery care. It means truly being present for an individual’s needs where they are at that moment. In their communities, with their language, their barriers and hardships. Our hope is to bridge some of these gaps and it begins with knowing where the disparities lie. We try our best to weave this into our curriculum and expect our students to be sensitive to their classmates and instructors. You will find the course at: http://www.mercyinaction.com/online-cultural-competency The training cost is $99. Please let us know if you have a hardship with accessing the internet for an extended period of time.
If you are interested in registering, please let Rebecca know and she will send you a form and our handbook.
If it is helpful to ask questions in person, please feel free to call Rebecca Beck during normal business hours at 508-341-7191.
Just for full disclosure, this course is not MEAC accredited, is a first step before an apprenticeship and will not certify you as a midwife, and we cannot guarantee you an apprenticeship. We can guide you in all these areas but the course is meant to be an introduction to midwifery, the subject matter and a glimpse at the lifestyle. From there you can take it in the direction that is best for you."

🌟They told you about the contractions, but did they tell you about the expansion? Did they tell you how your body would open to make way for the whole universe to pass through? Did they tell you how your heart would explode with a love bigger than anything you’ve ever known as you pulled your baby to your chest?

🌟They told you about the ring of fire but did they tell you about the crown of stars? Did they mention that there’s a moment when your baby enters the world and you leave your body and touch the heavens and become the light of a million galaxies? Did they tell you how the pain of stretching to receive your child would be more exquisite than any sensation you've felt?

🌟They told you would scream but did they tell you about how would you roar? Did they tell you about the power that would rise up from your belly as you called your baby forth with your mighty voice? Did they tell you how you would embody the wild woman within you as breathe fire with your song?

🌟They told you would bleed, but did they tell you how that sacred blood wouldn't scare you? How you would feel grateful for that magical liquid of life as it trickled down your leg - how you would honour its flow and how it would help you heal a lifetime of hating your body's bleeding cycle.

🌟They told these stories and taught you to fear birth, to fear your power, to fear yourself. But you are stronger and wiser than that mama. You know that birth is your divine dance, your soul's song, your moment with God, and you walk fearlessly into her open arms.

Beautiful words and art by: Catie from Spirit Y Sol

Look at this Dad passing Baby under Mama’s legs to meet her 😍 That sweet moment of relief and resolution after the hard work of birthing your baby is so precious and equally as intense as the work you did to bring your baby earthside, however your baby was born.

📸:

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

Call (back) the midwife! - The Boston Globe US doctors have monopolized childbirth and made deliveries more complicated than necessary.

Birth is no reason to go to hospital, review suggests A new Cochrane Review concludes that all countries should consider establishing proper home birth services. They should also provide low-risk pregnant women with information enabling them to make an informed choice.

Program begins in Fall of 2018!

A family welcomes a baby boy, birthed at home - The Boston Globe Home births aren’t for everyone. But for Ashley Bennett, having her second child at home in Medford was an opportunity to be encouraged and supported at a time when she, and many women, feel at their most vulnerable. The birth plan gave Ashley and her husband, Mike, an array of delivery options, but…

Bringin' in Da Spirit This is "Bringin' in Da Spirit" by Rhonda Haynes on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

STUDENTS ARE INVITED!
Upcoming Massachusetts Midwives Alliance meetings:
Wednesday, September 10th - New Bedford - email [email protected] for directions
· Tuesday, November 4th - Fitchburg
· Friday, January 9th - Turners Falls
· Thursday, March 5th - Framingham
· Wednesday, April 29th - Jamaica Plain
· Monday, June 1, 2015 - Annual Meeting in Brimfield