Passion for Birth is accredited by Lamaze International. For more information, go to lamaze.org.
New/Traditional pathway
Depending on your experience, you may complete all or some
of these. Not everyone will complete in the same order - flexibility!!
apply and receive your
PfB Learning Task Journal and Lamaze study guide. Look for your "goodie" bag in the mail!
read
the recommended reading list.
observe a childbirth class series - find the best one in your area. If
not Lamaze or Lamaze not available, document this on the form (PfB does have dvds for rent but watching a LIVE class is preferred)
be part of/observe at least 3 births. (try anyway you can (volunteer in the class you observe, meet with
the dept head at local hospitals, talk to your midwife/dr at annual exam, volunteer at a teen program or on a miliatry base,
etc. etc), if there is no possible option and you have tried every avenue, send Teri an email explaining the situation.
(with documentation this may be waived but it is NOT automatic as you were learn an incredible amount by being at births!)
be acively involved in a 3 day PfB seminar!
create a course design
teach with
an observer/mentor. If there are no Lamaze certified folks available, there is a special evaluation form option.
But remind the LCCEs you approach to observe that they can get up to 10 contact hours for observing you and providing feedback.
If you can't get teaching set up at hospital, check into teen programs, crisis pregnancy centers, family support military
programs, if you are a doula get 3 - 5 of your clients together, think about your faith community. Be creative and think
about where you want to teach ultimately and start the ground work for reaching that goal.
pass the Lamaze
certification exam with flying color!! (offered April/October every year)
Experienced/Open
pathway
If you
can document 144 hours of teaching childbirth education experience (in the last 5 years) and have at least 5 contact
hours in addition to the 20 from the PfB seminar (and must be related to birth/babies/breastfeeding), you qualify for the
open track. To sit for the Lamaze certification exam, you only need to be actively involved in the Passion for Birth
seminar and then take the exam. We HIGHLY recommend that you also get the study guide and read that as well as the other
recommended reading. No need to complete the application, complete the birth and class observations, create a course
design or teach with an observer/mentor observing. Just register for the seminar! (and optional study guide)
Midwife/Midwifery student
pathway
PfB offers
a special one day course for midwives (contact us about hosting one). Midwives can also take a traditional seminar and
then take the certification exam. The study guide is also a recommended option but not required.
Lamaze recommended
reading
Overwhelmed by all the books/reading? Before
you feel compelled to order every book, you need to assess where your strengths are and which areas you need to "boost
up" a bit. This is recommended - not required!
Below are some of the books that are available on Amazon.com. If you click on
the Amazon ad and order from this link, PfB will receive a small donation towards its scholarship funds. Before ordering,
read about the complimentary copy, coupon, dvd option and weblink below.
A complimentary
copy of "The Official Lamaze Guide: Birth with Confidence" will be in your Learning Task Journal box or you will
receive a complimentary copy at the seminar.
At the seminar you will receive a sample parent’s book "Prepared
Childbirth" by Jeanne Green and Debby Amis. Inside this book will be a coupon for a discount of their "Educator’s
Guide" notebook that is on the recommended list.
About the book:
This publication
is an indispensable nuts and bolts teacher’s guide for the childbirth educator. The subjects addressed in the popular
handbook Prepared Childbirth – The Family Way are matched with teaching tips. It also includes relaxation scripts, masters
for making transparencies (including beautiful color illustrations), suggested course outlines, a valuable list of resources
for teaching aids books, Web sites and much more. This is a must have for both new and experienced childbirth educators.
Instead of buying the "Amazing
Newborn" book, the same material is on dvd. This dvd may be available from Lamaze soon. (or the video is available
from www.dona.org) It's a great resource to have as something to loan to people in your class.
About the book: More than 120 exquisite photographs celebrate the first hours and days of life.
Based on their fascinating research, the Klaus team proves that babies possess extraordinary abilities from the moment of
birth. A “must have” for parents-to-be, grandparents, siblings and caregivers.
This book is sometimes a little difficult to find - it can
be ordered directly from the author: peter-renner.com
Lamaze recommended reading list
This list is the official list of recommended reading.
