Welcome to Steps to Midwifery!

Steps to Midwifery in an online study group for birth workers. Join and learn how to help women have healthy pregnancies and births through the midwifery model of care!

I really love helping student midwives meet their goals and learn to practice midwifery with compassion, competence, and confidence. In this day and age, there are many pathways to becoming a midwife but there are also many challenges. The majority of student midwives are studying midwifery through distance academics while completing their clinical training in their area. There are little options for lecture or classroom time to learn midwifery.

 
 
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While some students learn well through reading texts and gaining real world experience, I believe that comprehensive lecture, discussion, and case studies help students move forward with efficient comprehension.

 

The Steps to Midwifery Study Group on Facebook is meeting this need by offering weekly live classes on midwifery topics. Students can tune in for the live class, or watch the recorded class at their own convenience. Handouts are included for each class with links and recommended reading so that the student can study further on each topic.

 

Who is this group for?

  • Current students midwives, whether in a MEAC school, PEP, Nurse midwifery, or otherwise!

  • Current practicing midwives who may want to learn further on some topics!

  • People who are considering midwifery but not sure if it is for them!

  • Doulas and other birth workers who are considering furthering their education!

Past Topics Have Included:

  • Measuring Labor Progress without Cervical Assessment

  • Writing Protocols: Pre-eclampsia

  • Writing Protocols as a Learning Tool: PUPPPs and ICP

  • Owning the Knowing: Learning New Things in Midwifery

  • Coaching and Counseling Skills for Midwives Using Open Ended Questions

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Pregnancy

  • Navigating Transfer of Care in the Childbearing Year

  • Late Transfers and the Midwifery Model of Care

  • Implementing Sabbatical for the Midwife

  • Herbal Infusions for the Childbearing Year

  • Botanical Medicine for Postpartum Hemorrhage

  • Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and GERD: Natural Options, Treatment and Relief

  • Postpartum Hemorrhage: Prevention, Recognition, and Management

  • Low Progesterone Management and Supplementation

  • Basic and Defensive Charting

  • Thyroid Disease Management in the Midwifery Model of Care

  • Writing Your Own Protocols

  • Becoming a Great Midwife’s Assistant

  • The Initial OB Visit: History, Physical Exam, Lab Work Disorders of Pregnancy: PIH, Pre-E, E, and HELLP

  • Finding a Clinical Preceptor

  • Pathways to Midwifery and Treating Pregnancy Complications with Natural Therapies: Polyhydramnios, Oligohydramnios, IUGR, PIH, PROM

  • Labor Prep and Natural Induction and Augmentation

  • Botanical Medicine and Homeopathics for Labor

  • Midwifery School Options: MEAC vs Non-accredited

  • Adrenal Fatigue and Burn Out

  • Preparing for the NARM exam

  • Coping with Traumatic Situations as a Student

  • The Midwifery Journey Continuum

  • Managing Long Early and Active Labor

  • Learning Cervical Assessment and Pelvic Exams

  • All About Urine! Dipsticks, Urine Cultures, STIs

Case Studies:

  • Case Study: G1P0 with scoliosis, Spontaneous Labor at 41 weeks, Early + Late Decels

  • Case Study: G1P0, Late to Care, High BP, NSVD in Water at 37.6

  • Case Study: G10P8A2, 41.5 with 36 hours PROM, Military OP, 6 min Resuscitation

  • Case Study: G3T2P1 with hx of Pre-e, GDM, Induction and Preterm Labor

  • Case Study: G4T3P0A1L3 with low AFI, Shoulder Dystocia and Resuscitation

  • Case Study: G1P0, Diet controlled GDM, LGA and OP baby, CPD

  • Case Study: G11 T4 P2 A3 L8, Hx of SAB, Preterm Labor, PPD

  • Case Study: Primip, Late Transfer, Swelling, Increasing BP

  • Case Study: G1, Thyroid Disease s/s, GDM, Low Pubic Bone

  • Case Study: G2, Diet Controlled GDM, SPD, hx of PPH

  • G1 Prolonged Labor Management

  • G8 Diastasis Recti, Pendulous Abdomen, Prolonged Labo

  • G1, 41 week homeopathic Induction and Cord Avulsion

  • G1 Uterine Fibroids, Severe Anemia, Transverse, Transfer of Care

  • G6P4 PROM, OP, 41 week, Water Birth

  • Primip 41.2 weeks Natural Induction and Augmentation

  • G5 Cord Prolapse and Resuscitation

  • G2, Diet Controlled Gestational Diabetes, Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and History of Postpartum Hemorrhage

  • G1, Thyroid Disease, Gestational Diabetes, and Low Pubic Bone Prolonging Second Stage

  • G11 T4 P2 A3 L8, History of Spontaneous Miscarriage, Preterm Labor, and Postpartum Depression

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Future Topics Include:

  • Interpreting Lab Work in Pregnancy

  • First Trimester Complications and Bleeding

  • Prodromal Labor Differential Diagnosis and Management

  • Monitoring Fetal Well Being in Labor

  • Homeopathy for Midwives

  • Building Your Business

  • Starting Your Midwifery Practice

  • Building Your Home Birth Kit

  • Thriving in Your Observation, Assistant, and Primary Under Supervision phases!

  • Preterm Labor and Birth: Causes, Prevention, and A Case Study

  • First Trimester Midwifery Care: Determining Viability, Managing Bleeding, and Supporting Families through Loss

  • and more!

Group members may request topics!

What People Are Saying:

"Even after becoming a licensed midwife, I have found great value in the Steps to Midwifery group. Some topics are deeper than I studied in school or simply a review. It allows me to test my knowledge but in every case, I gain something every single time I listen. Bethany has also been a great personal encouragement as I start my own home birth midwifery practice."

— Wendy Fowler, LM, CPM

"The Steps to Midwifery group is an invaluable resource. I am enjoying getting to know other students as we learn together. Bethany is a fantastic teacher! She's a wealth of knowledge, and a great presenter, and it's just really a joy to learn from her!

I'm so thankful for the resources within the group, the files and documents, links, and especially the live videos she does for us! Of course, the videos are always recorded for us to playback, in case we miss them, and Bethany is so willing to answer our questions or clarify when we ask.

This has really enhanced my studies! I'm so thankful for Bethany, and all she does for us! She has a true servant's heart for serving families and for passing on the tradition of midwifery. I can't recommend it enough!"

— Gayla Mays

"Steps to Midwifery has been an invaluable addition to my midwifery education. Bethany has done an amazing job compiling resources and organizing thoughtful classes each week. It is a tremendous value for the cost! I have added so many handouts, references, and notes to my midwifery files. I am always learn something new or have a concept solidified when I listen to her classes. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is a student of midwifery. Thank you, Bethany!"

— Christine Cassella

Join the Course!

This group is for student midwives, midwives, birth workers, and aspiring birth workers who desire to learn the midwifery model of care and grow in their knowledge.

Each week, I do a live class that is 1-2 hours long on various midwifery topics. Associated handouts are posted in the files section and classes are saved for all members to listen/watch to at a later date. Upon joining, you have access to all content and classes that has ever been shared in the group.

Investment: $15/month

Join now