Learn the art, the essence and the basics of midwifery care in this full-day workshop designed for the aspiring and beginning midwife. Our experienced teachers share their wisdom and love of midwifery in a way that will nurture your interest and make you feel welcomed to the world of birth. They will teach the basics of normal pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.

We will cover basic prenatal massage strokes, body mechanics, and precautions and contraindications of prenatal massage. These include Swedish and support massage strokes you will need for prenatal, labor and postpartum care. You will learn how to use your hands and body correctly in all the support positions you use, as well as the physiological and energetic contraindications of hands-on support for pregnancy, labor and postpartum care. Elaine will teach massage techniques in a variety of positions midwives assume to support the laboring woman. You will learn hand-saving and body-saving techniques for when you are on the floor, in a tub and in other difficult positions at a birth. This is a whole mini massage course. Bring one or two pillows, a flat sheet and a small hand towel.

The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum: Its Effects and Management, Part 1
Maternity caregivers (physicians, midwives, nurses, doulas, counselors, educators, social workers, perinatal psychotherapists and others) will learn about the prevalence of child sexual abuse, and how it can impact the child, the adult, and the childbearing woman. Caregivers will learn how to recognize symptoms and behaviors that may be exhibited during pregnancy, labor and birth, breastfeeding or early parenting. They will learn how specific actions and events during the perinatal period may be triggers for the symptoms, activating memories of abuse and interfering with the birth or new infant care. We will discuss special interview methods to engage parents in exploring their own concerns about protecting the baby. Participants will learn specific interventions and counseling strategies to help survivors during this vulnerable time to reduce fears, minimize triggers, prepare for the events of labor, birth and breastfeeding, effectuate healing and enhance bonding. A number of short-term helpful counseling approaches will be discussed in relationship to the time-limited period before, during, and shortly after birth.
 
This first day will also include ways for the caregiver to avoid vicarious traumatization when hearing the stories or pain their clients have experienced. In addition, self-care is essential to avoid burnout. We will practice particular interviewing methods to find the balance between learning what each type of caregiver (midwife, doula, educator, or counselor) needs to know to help the woman through the events of birth and to avoid being intrusive. Goals of counseling include uncovering or exploring the meaning of the distress and also finding ways to heal it, or at least to contain it until such time that the issue can be worked with. This is especially important when birth is imminent. Participants will have experiential exercises with cases to learn how to work with the survivor to plan for, cope with, or avoid the triggers that might occur during the intense efforts of labor. Participants will also learn how to manage a situation when meeting the survivor for the first time in labor as well as specific ways to work with emotional fears that impede labor.

Anne Frye, Elizabeth Davis and Marion Toepke McLean

Our speakers will discuss the mechanisms of normal and stuck breech birth and techniques for handling each. These practitioners have great combined experience with breech deliveries. Come fine-tune your skills at this important workshop.

A midwife with vast knowledge of traditional Mexican massage will explain some of the many techniques used by midwives in Mexico. You will have time to practice these techniques. Mexican traditional massage is used for everything from fertility treatments to prenatal birth and postpartum indications. Learn how to turn posterior and other presentations using a rebozo and massage. Mexico has many techniques and massages that are totally unique to this country. Naolí will explore with you many useful tools you can use immediately. Practice time will be provided.

The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum: Its Effects and Management, Part 2
(See explanation in A3 introductory paragraph.) This second day will focus on helping survivors with issues during postpartum, including the importance of immediate care needs, breastfeeding challenges and solutions, and later counseling methods to help recover from traumatic events or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the birth. Discussion, exercises and case material will deal with understanding postpartum mood disorders that may manifest, fears about the baby and ability to cope, concerns about partner and family, and methods to counsel and heal from distress.

Michel will teach you how to look at birth through the eyes of a physiologist, a valuable asset to any midwife. In an easy-to-understand manner, he will cite important findings from many areas of research and explain how this information can affect mothers and babies, not only during birth, but also over the course of their lives. “I learned more in this seven-hour class than I have in any other class I have attended during my 22 years as a midwife,” says Jan Tritten. There will be time for questions and discussion following the presentation of leading edge research and analysis of current problems. Do yourself and your clients a big favor and take this fascinating class. Michel will bring us insight from his books, The Scientification of Love, The Farmer and the Obsterician, and The Caesarean.

Labor outcomes depend on women going into labor healthy. Our panel will discuss preventing labor complications with prenatal care. Learn how individual care and good communication can positively affect labor. Panel members will share the protocols and techniques they use to help the mother move through the first stage of labor. This discussion will include prolonged ruptures of membranes, failure to progress, abnormal labor patterns, non-medical intervention and more. Second stage is a time of watchfulness and sometimes mounting tension. Listen to these experienced midwives discuss constructive and effective ways to handle both normal and difficult situations. A thorough discussion of shoulder dystocia will be included. Bring your questions and experiences in what promises to be an exciting day!

Learn how we can really effect changes in midwifery and childbirth on the global level. Learn about the midwifery and birth movements and issues from around the world and how you can help.

Mothers and babies of the world count on caring providers to empower them on their journey in birth. The future depends on how they are treated on this journey. Everything we do affects the future of our society. Let's rally to provide the most loving care. Birth counts and birth works.

How do we re-learn to question everything we do to motherbaby? We are protectors, comforters and encouragers. We teach, guide, listen and trust birth. How do we impart our confidence to women? If we don't have confidence how can we get it? To change the world we need a loving midwife or doula for every mother.

Gail will share her brilliant insights and findings on the hormonal states of mother and baby and the interaction that occurs. She will cover how we can facilitate what is going on without disturbing motherbaby.

Penny will review scientific reports of prenatal and intrapartum events known to have long-lasting impact on the child as an adult and a childbearing woman. She will present illustrative cases (e.g., extreme prematurity with no contact with parents for 2.5 months; unwanted pregnancy in which mother tried to commit suicide at 8 months; an adoptee who was in foster care for the first 3 months of her life before being adopted) from her own practice, along with examples of how these early childhood experiences came up later when these infants grew up and became parents, with body memories or flashbacks that arose during pregnancy, labor or postpartum. She will discuss care practices that might have prevented some of the adverse later effects, and will describe her counseling interactions (as a doula/childbirth educator) with each woman to facilitate their healing. Lastly, she will present hopeful findings on protective factors that foster resiliency in at-risk children.

Many episodes of excessive blood loss are either preventable or foreseeable and easily controlled. It is important to facilitate delivery of the placenta with patience. Learn techniques and approaches that render the need for pharmaceuticals rare. Learn what problems may arise in third stage and how to be prepared to attend them. Bleeding, various problems with placenta retention and other issues will be discussed. You will learn how to assess and deal with bleeding in a way that will increase your confidence.

Because birth is directed by the subconscious and the instinctual, (otherwise every mother would “get the birth exactly the way she planned it”), the journey to a successful VBAC is inward. A woman with a history of a previous cesarean has a history of a disruption of her instincts due to subconscious messages she received in her past. Bringing forth the subconscious to the conscious (where it can be changed over time, or in a flash) results in bringing forth the child. The secret to VBAC success is personal empowerment resulting in birth empowerment—resulting in ecstasy!

Let us recapture the timeless essence of midwifery in traditional cultures. Let us preserve and learn from our deep and ancient roots. We can receive so very much from our sisters still practicing the old ways. Let us ponder how we can preserve and use the great cultural treasure trove of midwifery knowledge.

Labor support techniques for doulas and midwives come from the bodywork modalities of massage, acupressure, vibrational healing, and craniosacral therapy. Learn how to balance and release the pelvic diaphragm through bodywork and core awareness techniques. These gentle techniques relax the muscles and balance the ligaments of the pelvis, sacrum and uterus, allowing the baby and mother more room to work effectively and comfortably together for a healthy birth.

Learn how to relate to clients in a healthy way, to support effective communication, protect boundaries and minimize negative reactions or harmful behavior. This class is an introduction to important interpersonal practice concepts that will give you greater confidence when relating to challenging clients. Explore your personal relationship issues, especially those that seem to get in the way of good client care. You can also apply these principles to midwife to midwife relationships.

The placenta is the perfect organ to make medicine from. However, in the US we need to be careful not to practice medicine without a license. Patricia will teach you how to process and encapsulate placentas and discuss providing appropriate information to your clients about the benefits of this amazing and natural gift of birth. Patricia has processed many placentas and used them to help mothers and babies. It is especially powerful in preventing postpartum blues and depression.

Our teachers will explain why massage is essential for pregnant and birthing women and show you how to do several types. Massage is both ancient and new. We bring together unique practices from around the world. We have new relaxation and healing tools to help mothers have great experiences in the birth year and beyond. We will discuss the importance of healing touch as a loving and safe remedy for the pregnant and laboring body. Postpartum massage will be covered, as well.

This class is based on two of Gloria's well-known articles. She will take the time to make these two articles come alive in ways you won't soon forget. You will “get” it on a whole other level when Gloria teaches it live, adding stories and experiences. Learn about how to assess dilation without doing a pelvic—looking for the external signs, and that's a skill really needed these days with so many women suffering sexual abuse or who just don't want to be invaded.

Michel has possibly traveled to more countries than any of us teaching and learning from those places about midwifery and birth. He will share his experiences of places that are islands of sanity birthwise. Come take this trip around the world with one of midwifery's favorite doctors.

We will dance together and practice the ancient womb dancing moves of spiraling the pelvis and undulating the spine. Learn how these primal movements facilitate women's cycles and birthing. Learn to use these powerful and sensual movements in the art of hoopdancing. Everyone can learn with Kara's large adult-sized hoops, even if you haven't tried a hula-hoop since you were a kid!

Share the techniques you've perfected in your practice or bring your burning questions to this roundtable of pertinent tips on a wide variety of topics. Previous sessions have included facilitating effective contractions, dealing with prolonged labor, preventing perineal tears, helping the slow-to-start baby and holistic first aid. This is always a much-appreciated session, for its sense of sisterhood as well as its information. “Worth at least two weeks of academic training,” said one participant.

This class will address why we need to reclaim twins, breeches and VBAC. We'll talk about who we are and why we need to be experienced, proficient and calm in skills and heart to be midwives. Learn about a precedent-setting court case that may help make midwives the practitioners of choice for these births.

Using art to heal learn about images trapped inside the body that cause illness, anxiety and birth complications. This workshop is an experience, not a teaching. The only requirement is an open heart, and the willingness to let go. If you are not an artist, all the better!

Our teachers have extensive experience with twin birth. They will discuss strategies for safe twin birth, including positioning, time of delivery, premature delivery and avoiding postpartum hemorrhage, as well as special aspects of prenatal care. The telling of amazing birth stories is a gift of these highly-experienced midwives.

The sexual energy in birth is like the river water through which the power of birth navigates. For birth to be a satisfying, fulfilling experience that heals and powers a woman into her fullest potential, the flow of her sexuality needs to be as open as possible. We will explore these issues and ways to unblock the sexual energy in birth.

Midwifery education today varies dramatically. At its worst, it shapes the student into a maiden of medicine, and, at its best, into a courageous and insightful woman-centered partner in care. This workshop will consider the pros and cons of various educational models used in order to identify what might work best for you.

Making Sense of Aromatherapy for Midwives, Doulas and Nurses. Learn how to use aromatherapy effectively and safely when working with women, during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. In this class we will discover the power of scent in promoting and regulating contractions, easing labor pain, and easing postpartum depression, nausea, and other discomforts and issues that can occur in pregnancy. Learn how to use aromatherapy safely in the birth environment, about topical and non-topical blends, and how to blend simple formulas for your practice. This session includes a large handout for playing with essential oils and the Original “Labor Balm” recipe. Be ready to experiment and have a great time!

We will explore the art of being a relaxation specialist for labor. Comfort measures for labor such as hydrotherapy, massage/touch, focal points, movement, toning and the birthing ball will be discussed. Learn comforting and calming techniques to support your clients through all stages of labor with confidence, resources and hands-on skills. Learn to listen and react to their needs, even when non-verbal, through listening with your heart and intuition. The focus here is pain relief, support, respect and helping mothers stay calm and focused.

This workshop is an introduction to a psychoeducational intervention under development for use with pregnant sexual abuse survivors. The intervention focuses on managing posttraumatic stress reactions, soothing emotions and fostering positive interpersonal interactions.

How do we get a long labor to progress? Long labors may be associated with complications ranging from social or emotional issues to physical problems. We will learn different reasons for prolonged labor, as well as methods for helping women move along in labor. Analysis of myth and reality will also be discussed.

What everyone needs to know about this tragedy. The United States has a higher ratio of maternal deaths than at least 40 other countries, even though it spends more money per capita than any other. There is a lack of a comprehensive, confidential system to ascertain maternal death. Maternal deaths must be reviewed to make motherhood safer. We can come up with solutions.

Shafia brings powerful and sensitive words regarding race issues in our profession. This class will be proactive and solution-oriented.

Do you have an act to share? Tell Kara or Michel. Let's share our talents.

Upbeat dance music from Zimbabwe.

We will be immersed in traditional techniques surrounding birth, including herbs and massage, from this brilliant Mexican midwife. We will learn how midwives work with both normal birth and problems that arise. We will learn ways to manage breech, move stalled labor along and much more. You will learn a wealth of ideas that can be applied directly to your practice.

Childbirth practitioners are finding it necessary to learn “birth” Spanish in order to effectively serve the entire population of their communities. Join Naolí in this participatory presentation that will assist you in learning correct pronunciation. You will learn a visual and auditory approach, as well as cultural information that is essential to the practitioner.

Discover integrative bodywork techniques for newborns and infants to relieve birth trauma, promote health and well-being, and calm fussy babies. Learn techniques to teach parents to calm and care for their newborns with healing touch and energetic medicine, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy and warm-water therapy.

Midwives with long experience in home, hospital and birth center practice, will lead a discussion highlighting important issues for CNMs. We'll cover medicalization, relationships with other practitioners and clients, autonomy and more. Bring your burning issues for a lively discussion.

This class will affirm the knowledge and the power we contain and express through our hands. It will remind you that the essence of midwifery is, after all, its hands-on approach to providing care, support and education. It will give you confidence to use your senses, to keep your heart open and to listen. Gain skills that involve the sense of touch. The practical use of hands will be discussed; you will be reminded that hands are also tools of emotional support and love.

In this well-loved Midwifery Today format, you'll sit in on three interesting and inspiring roundtables of your choice. Roundtables will include:

We are integral to a healthy society by helping one family at a time. As each motherbaby begins to have their best birth possible we will begin to see civilization change. There is hope for the future and midwives and doulas are an important part of that. We are the change agents.