Childbirth Education, which online course is best?

Browneyedgirl · Aug 31, 2003

Bradley is not a quick online course.

sunnybrook23 · Aug 31, 2003

Hello,

I did not ask for a quick course. I asked which one was best overall. Anyway can somone give me a heads up!

Rebecca:stone

keeper · Aug 31, 2003

Hi there,

I think it's great that you want to become a CBE. It is one of my goals for the future, as well.

I am a true blue Bradley birther and I really enjoyed their course. My husband and I took it during our first pregnancy and have used the method for four wonderful natural births now. I love the couple centered aspect of it. I think my husband really appreciated the emphasis they put on his role in natural childbirth.

I also appreciated the information about medical interventions, their pros and cons, and the process of informed consent. I have been impressed by the great attitude I've found about informed consent on this board, but I found it, unfortunately, lacking in the nurses from my two hospital births. I actually had a nurse tell me before I signed the epidural consent, "This is a list of all the things that could happen, but they never do." (I told her I wouldn't need an epidural, but she said I HAD to sign it). I was very glad that I knew the truth about the risks and felt badly for any woman going into birth without that knowledge.

I will say that this is a more "hard core" natural childbirth method. It's not necessarily going to come across as epidural friendly, in case you're wanting something more balanced. I figure, however that balance, when needed, is really up to the teacher.

I'm not sure if Bradley offers an online course, but if they do, I would be interested as well. When I looked into it, they did their trainings all over the country in two day workshops. I think the cost is about $1000 now, which I think is well worth it.

Good luck, and I hope this helps a little!

Sarah

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2003

Well, this is just my opinion. I am currently completing the process of becoming a CAPPA CLE via the distance program- I believe all in all, books, etc. included, it should cost me about $400 dollars, plus the $50/year CAPPA membership and $75 re-cert fee required to remain certified.

I investigated a number of options (for both lactation educators AND childbirth educators, though in the end I decided to go for the CLE because I work with PP mothers and their babies; don't get any time in L&D).

Of course, LaLeche League is the only place you can become a LLL teacher. :) I'm not telling you anything you don't already know there. CAPPA has a very reasonable-fee CLE program, though, so if you haven't checked that out, you should.

Bradley and Birthworks are both registered trademark classes; in other words, to become certified through either of them would mean you are certified to teach THEIR class and follow the structure that *they* provide you. You are basically a representative of their company, teaching classes based on their respective philosophies. CAPPA, on the other hand, is much more liberal in that respect- they do not teach you a specific philosophy, but rather have you do a lot of research on your own and then back you with their certification, enabling you to go out and structure your OWN classes or lectures, working with more than one philosophy to create the best class you possibly can.

To me, this is a much better idea. Very few people subscribe to only one school of thought, and the best teacher is one who can reach to numerous sources of information and then combine them in a way that provides the most comprehensive and applicable education for his/her students.

Not to mention, CAPPA is MUCH more affordable, and they have a distance program that allows you to do much of the work on your own (ie, not necessarily having to go out of state to a $600 conference just to prove you're serious about the certification!).

All of this just depends on what YOU want to get out of your education: Are you comfortable sticking to one main philosophy, or are you looking to provide a more rounded class? Neither is correct; it just depends on what you're looking to do with it.

I hope that helps a bit! Let us know if you have any more questions; I've spent quite a bit of time investigating this. :)

The thing I like in particular about the CAPPA CBE course is that they embrace natural birth, but accept that it's not for everyone and so include legitimate options as far as epi's go, etc. I'm a pretty moderate person, philosophy-wise, and this was something I personally believed in.

CRZ · Sep 8, 2003

Hi Rebecca. Here's my opinion as a La Leche League Leader for 19 years, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for 16 years and a childbirth educator for 29 years. First of all, there are 10 concepts you must believe in and live by before you can be a LLL Leader. You must have at least one child who was exclusively breastfed and you must experience childled weaning. The organization is strict about their requirements and it is important that you understand that it is a lay organization-mothers helping other mothers breastfeed. Even if you don't qualify to be a leader, it is very worthwhile for professional nurses to belong to the organization as a member. Their information is extensive and very valuable. Be aware that , like Bradley or LaMaze, they do adhere to a particular philosophy as being superior to others. You can be an IBCLC without any connection to LLL. You can learn more about both by logging on to their web sites. The U. S. desperately needs RNs and doctors who are knowledgeable about breastfeeding. I have seen and heard some appalling things from ignorant professionals, so go for it please!

So far as childbirth education goes, there is no one better organization. I would urge you to look into the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA). It is an umbrella organization that has a worldwide perspective and truly looks at what is important for mothers, babies, and families. Many different philosophies exist for childbirth education and the ICEA unites them all. The culture that a family lives in affects their ideas about what is best far more than actual research and we as educators need to be careful not to fall into the culture trap as well. Right now in the U.S. things are tending to return to the philosophy of the 50's and 60's where pregnancy and childbirth are looked at as a medical event and parents are tending to fall into the mindset that their doctor knows what's best for them, that epidurals are harmless, and that hospitals will do what's best for moms and babies. This is quite different from the mindset of the 70's and 80's where midwifery, natural childbirth, and the responsibility for learning and making informed choices was demanded by new parents. Whatever organization you choose to become certified through, be sure you understand their philosophy and can live with it because it will bias what you are exposed to and learn. Look for something global that extends beyond the U.S. We do not have a good track record here when it comes to the well being of mothers and babies as compared to many other countries!

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2003

Good point- I'd completly forgotten about ICEA! I don't think they have a breastfeeding workshop, but I'm not absolutely sure of that...?

sunnybrook23 · Nov 7, 2003

Hello,

Sorry I completely forgot to pop back in and say thanks for all your help. For CBE I chose CAPPA and for Infant Massage I'm choosing between babysfirstmassage.com and the IAIM. Although I hadn't mentioned that one before. I'm also planning to teach pre & postnatal fitness. Trying to decide how to go an that route too. I'm confident that my ADN will come in handy for those things too. Anyway I hope that all of you have a great day! :cool:

Rebecca