GS Workshop Content

During the Great Starts Professional Childbirth Educator Workshop we will discuss both what information is taught in prenatal classes and how to teach it.

What you will learn to teach about:

  • Pregnancy: normal changes, warning signs, healthy choices
  • Conditioning exercises for pregnancy and labor preparation
  • Stages of labor: what to expect
  • Coping skills for labor and birth
  • Pain medications for labor
  • Variations and interventions, including Cesarean birth and VBAC
  • Birth plans and informed decisions
  • Dealing with unexpected outcomes
  • Postpartum and newborn care

What you will learn about how to teach:

  • History of childbirth education and current practices
  • Interactive teaching techniques
  • Curriculum design: teaching objectives and lesson plans
  • Planning a childbirth class series: prioritizing which information to cover
  • Development and use of audio-visual aids
  • Researching evidence-based information about maternity care

The best way to learn anything is to do it. So, you will be teaching three ten-minute presentations during the workshop, and getting concrete feedback from your fellow students and your instructor about what went well, and what could be better. Students tell us this is one of the most helpful aspects of the workshop.

Text and Syllabus

Participants taking the Great Starts Professional Childbirth Educator’s Workshop receive a copy of the Parent Trust for Washington Children book Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, and an extensive course syllabus including information on teaching techniques, and study guides.