What You Will Learn

The ALACE Training Manual includes a seven-class curriculum as a guide for your own class series. Content is based on the midwifery model of care and emphasizes the psychological and emotional aspects of labor and birth. We encourage you to modify this curriculum to suit your teaching style and the needs of your community.

Training Manual Contents:

Chapter 1: Birth Today
Explore the influence history and society plays with insights from prominent birth commentators.

Chapter 2: Pregnancy-Growth and Decision Making
Discuss parent responsibility and informed choices. Explore the transformative aspects of pregnancy, including emotional and physical changes.

Chapter 3: The Birthing Process
Examine how the baby is born and how to work with the process for an easier labor and birth.

Chapter 4: Creating Your Birth
Discuss standard hospital and homebirth routines including typical interventions. Parents create their own birth plans.

Chapter 5: When Birth Doesn’t Go As Planned

Discuss the “scary” aspects of birth. Contrast “variations of normal” with true medical crises. Teach useful problem-solving skills to overcome fear-based biases.

Chapter 6: Newborn, Postpartum and Family
Explore psychological, emotional and physical concerns of new parenthood. Discuss the newborn exam, breastfeeding, circumcision, basic newborn care, etc.

Chapter 7: Potluck and Community Building
Previous students return to tell their own birth stories and help build a supportive birth community

Chapter 8: Teaching Techniques
Identify and understand learning styles of adults. Develop strategies for difficult situations and formulate goals and objectives for your class.

You’ll also receive valuable professional resources, parent handouts, practical teaching tips, and publicity and marketing tools.

See our full brochure for more information (pdf)
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Overview of the Childbirth Educator Training Program
How You Work Through the Program
Program Curriculum
Certification Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions