4 Ways to Use Childbirth Educator Training in the Real World
We are so excited that our 12- week Childbirth Educator (CBE) training is going live again this March! This is a highly-requested class, as many community-focused birth workers are ready and excited to deepen the ways they hold space for families in their communities.
In alignment with the BADT values, our CBE course is inclusive, trauma-informed, expansive, and evidence-based. The objective of this class is for class participants to be prepared to support birthing people through labor and birth preparation classes. We want our educators to not only have a basic knowledge of pregnancy, labor, and birth, but an in-depth and inclusive understanding of all aspects and realities of birth and birthing people.
What is CBE and Who is Taking This Course?
BADT’s version of CBE is one that goes both deep and wide. We cover a range of topics from anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to inclusive feeding and lactation, to grief and loss. We facilitate learning that centers birthing people as whole people and acknowledge that each individual and each family has a unique social location that impacts their lived experience and access, particularly in relationship to reproductive health. Our CBE students will leave class with ideas for how they can facilitate learning experiences for families in their communities.
Many people who take our CBE course are doulas. This class is also a good fit for folks who work in community-based organizations, as well as healthcare providers. Truly, anyone who is passionate about supporting birthing people from an anti-oppressive lens could benefit from and enjoy this training experience.
Doulas and educators who commit to taking both the full spectrum doula training and CBE training will find these courses complimentary. Read more about pairing these courses here!
How to Use Your CBE Training in the Real World
We have been inspired as we witness BADT students take their learning into the real world! There is a range of ways birth workers and community educators can use their knowledge from our CBE training to support families in their communities– both virtually and IRL.
Private CBE classes. Many CBE educators teach private classes that help individuals or families prepare for their labor, birth, and early parenting journey in a really individualized way. The content of the classes can be structured to meet the unique needs of each family. These classes may be 1-off sessions or a series of sessions.
Doula add-on service. Doulas who are offering preconception, labor, and/or birth services may offer an additional CBE service. This would expand the information that is typically covered in prenatal meetings to include more in-depth exploration of the labor and birth process, as well as considerations for parenthood and the significance of this transition.
Public classes. Educators may offer public classes for small groups. Some educators market to specific audiences. For example, a childbirth educator may offer a class that is for teen parents, queer parents, single parents, polyam families, and so on. These offerings may be a series of classes– for example, 4-6 weekly sessions– or 1-off classes that focus on a more specific element of the CBE.
Community-based classes. Childbirth educators may offer classes in collaboration with other organizations in their community. For example, educators may partner with community clinics, non-profits, schools, and other community-based centers to hold space for birthing people who are preparing for birth.
Getting Started
We’ve said this before, and we will say it again, direct learning through our courses is valuable, AND you will find that once you begin applying your learning, things resonate on an even deeper level. At first, you might experience imposter syndrome, and while your feelings are valid, you do not have to be an expert in all things in order to serve clients and students. You will continue to learn alongside them and amongst your BADT community. And if you’re committed to ongoing learning, you’ll love our continued education classes and or BADT+ membership, which is currently open to former and current BADT program participants.
Ready to Train with BADT?
Class starts up March 2, and we’d love to see you there! Find all of our courses, including full spectrum and CBE here, and be sure to sign up for our email list so you’ll be first to hear about new courses, open enrolment periods, and scholarship opportunities.