- Midwifery Assistant Workshop

This is an intensive workshop and we encourage participants to read the books on the reading list before attending. Contact us for a reading list.

This workshop now includes the following classes:

• Birth kit supplies, setup and use, and what is expected of a midwife assistant
• Basic sterile technique; drawing up injections, and keeping the birth environment clean
• Anatomy and physiology of female reproduction, pregnancy, labor and delivery
• A closer look at ultrasound use: problems and solutions
• Introduction to pelvimetry and anatomy of the pelvis; dilation checks with model
• Introduction to charting, record keeping and medical terminology
• Introduction to midwifery assistant skills, including taking blood pressure, vital signs, fetal heart tones and measurements hands on with a live model
• Monitoring baby’s fetal heart tones
• The midwife assistant’s role during labor, delivery and postpartum care
• Immediate postpartum care of mother and baby
• Introduction to care and assessment of the newborn
• Helping the breast-feeding mother
• Testing of hematocrit and urine
• Cultural differences in childbirth education
• History of midwifery in the U.S. and the Farm Midwifery Center
• Bloodborn Pathogens: HBV, HIV/AIDS and the midwife
• Oxygen setup and use Neonatal Resuscitation (optional)

- Neonatal Resuscitation

This class will be a two-day hands-on workshop following the April Midwifery Assistant Workshop. You may attend this class in conjunction with or separate from the Midwifery Assistant Workshop. Upon successfully passing this class, you will receive a “Card of Completion” from the American Academy of Pediatrics/American Heart Association Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

- Advanced Midwifery Workshop

Continuing education units approved from Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council (MEAC).

This workshop is for women who are practicing midwives, or who have completed a Midwifery Assistant workshop, and have attended at least 8 deliveries with a practicing midwife or a doctor.

Workshop includes:

• Introduction to phlebotomy*
• Pelvic exams, pap smears, wet mounts*
• Placing a urinary catheter; reasons for procedure, and technique*
• Suturing: we will discuss and practice on a model several new technique's for suturing that decreases discomfort for the mother and aids in healing.*
• Discussion on second and third stage management: We will address ways to deliver the head and shoulders of the baby over an intact perineum, and will discuss methods to resolve a shoulder dystocia.
• Prolonged labor, inductions and augmentations: what is safe, and what is not safe in an out-of-hospital setting?
• Ina May's Quilt Project
• Group B strep: discussion of case studies and new solutions to this problem.
• Discussion and demonstration on breech and twin deliveries*
• Things we learn from Amish Birthing Traditions: tour of the Ethridge Amish Community, and a visit with a traditional Amish midwife
• Postpartum: The Year Following Birth
• Watsu: water massage for pregnent women*
• A synopsis of Women's History of Medicine and Midwifery
• Hands-on class

- Common Sense and Tradition: Workshop for Midwives
This workshop is for practicing midwives, nurse midwife students, advanced midwife students and labor and delivery nurses. Please contact us for a complete schedule/curriculum. This workshop offers continuing education units from the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council (MEAC) and the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM).

- IV Therapy Class

This class will be a two-day, hands-on workshop following the Advanced Midwifery Workshop. It is designed for midwives who want to update their skills and midwifery students who are starting to do hands-on deliveries with their preceptors. You may attend this class in conjunction with or separate from the Advanced Workshop.

Workshop for Midwives: Common Sense and Tradition (CEUs offered from ACNM and MEAC)

This class is for practicing midwives, nurse midwife students, advanced midwife students and labor and delivery nurses.

Workshop includes:

• Group B strep: problems and solutions
• A synopsis of women's history of medicine and midwifery
• Breeches and twins; hands-on with models*
• Managing second stage and resolving a shoulder dystocia
• Watsu: water exercise and massage for pregnant women*
• Women's intuition in the birthing environment
• The caring relationship between midwife and woman
• Neonatal resuscitation in a home birth setting*
• Amish birthding traditions, and a visit with an traditional Amish midwife
• Reflecting on intervention: Ina May's Quilt Project
• History of The Farm - slide show
• Tour of The Farm
• Hands-on class

- Herb Workshop
taught by Wendel Combest PhD.

In this workshop we will look at healing herbs and some herbs used by midwives: where to find them, how to grow, harvest and store them. We will also look at the indications for herbal use and the safety of use. We will dedicate some time to making herbal tinctures and salves. Workshop held at The Farm Community Center.

- Watsu
Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 we have added a Watsu class after each Midwife Assistant Workshop. This class will be held at the YMCA in their therapy pool and you will need a bathing suit. We will discuss the advantages of prenatal water exercise. Working with a partner, you will learn and practice floating and movement techniques and water massage to create total relaxation. Goggles or ear plugs optional.