Producing the film These Are My Hours has offered us a unique view into countless birth communities all over the US. We are seeing they all have one thing in common - a lack of options in childbirth education. Most of the programs are hospital-based or dated and none speak to the truths of birth we’ve come to understand. In all of these locations doulas are plenty and many of them are threatening or already experiencing burnout. Doulas are being asked to be the saviors of birth and their bodies and hearts are suffering for it. Most of these birthworkers are EXTREMELY knowledgeable and want to spend lots of their time educating their clients but end up needing to talk about the realities of the local hospitals instead.

True change isn’t going to happen from overextended doulas trying to protect people during their labors. That’s too late. Real change comes from parents demanding informed consent and refusal and personalized care before their births AT A CRITICAL MASS. It will be impossible for birth to stay as it is now if hundreds of thousands of parents are simultaneously asking for the same thing: respect from everyone involved in their care, to know about all their options, and for their spiritual and psychological well-being to be attended to.

We got to thinking: What if doulas were the educators of their communities? What kind of change could they make if they focus on teaching parents about the stuff most childbirth education leaves out? And Rooted Birth ed was born!

This course includes:

14 modules on Podia, a self-paced, online platform

60+ videos of Rooted Birth teachings

6+ expert guest lecturers; their beliefs, messages, methods, and wisdom

A comprehensive reading list of fantastic new books and some wonderful classics

24 sample forms and documents for your pratice

60 infographics for use in your classes

30 slideshow presentations for use in your classes

60 links to articles, podcasts, and websites that will complement your education

Public screening license for These Are My Hours to use in your community and childbirth classes

Optional community projects, if “with honors” certificate is desired

Optional featured post on the Rooted Birth/These Are My Hours social media pages when you become certified

The Alchemy of Adrenaline
Altered States of Consciousness
Anatomy & Physiology
Ancient Roles & Archetypes
Assessing Labor Progress
Becoming a Storycatcher & Trauma Steward
Birth in the Media
Birth as a Mystical Experience
Birth as a Rite of Passage
The Birth Blueprint
Birth Plans and Intentions
Body Mechanics & Preparing for Birth
Comfort Measures for Labor
Creating Curriculum
The Golden Hours: Immediate Postpartum
Group Facilitation & Communication
Intercultural Competency
Intuitive Parenting
Menstruation, Conception, & Placentation
Nourishing Foods and Broth
The Nursing Relationship
The Placenta & the Cord
Postpartum Vaginal Steaming
Problems with the Placenta
Self-Awareness for the Birthworker
The Stages of Labor
Tending the Postpartum Family
Tools for Healing Trauma
Transforming Perceptions of Care
Using These Are My Hours

Watch all videos and presentations

Passing score on 6 quizzes and practical birth information

Read 11 books, one from each of the following categories:
Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, Nursing, Loss, Birth Philosophies & Systems, Special Topics in Reproduction, Parenting, Trauma, Self-Awareness, Intercultural Safety/Competency

For an advanced “honors” certificate, complete projects from the following categories:

Pregnancy & Preparing for Birth, Labor & Birth, Spiritual Birth, Attending Births, Placenta & Cord, Postpartum, Nursing Relationship, Self-Awareness, Trauma-Informed Care, Becoming a Changemaker, Creating Curriculum