The 2024 Spiral Birthkeeper
New Dates Coming Soon
The 2024 Spiral Birthkeeper is a certifiable, 250-hour course that focuses on a variety of elements of African-American Birthwork, from the history of how it involved in the United States shaped by the Grand Midwives, to a full spectrum of perinatal topics from fertility to postpartum, and an analysis of contemporary Black Birth Justice studies.
Classes will be taught live. Recordings will be available and sent to all registrants, but at least partial attendance of Live classes are required for Certification
Also inclusive of 9 Homework Assignments required for Certification
Early Bird Registration: $1100 Standard Registration: $1500
Payment Plans Available
Topics included are the following:
Day 1:Intro and West and Central African Traditions in Birthwork, History of the Grand Midwives, Global Birth Traditions in the African Diaspora, African-American Birth Traditions, Birthwork on Southern Plantations, Black Medical Terrorism throughout History
Day 2: Prenatals, Food and Nutrition During Pregnancy, Belly Mapping, Stages of Labor, Common Interventions and Comfort Measures, Partner Support, Family Dynamics, Placenta Care
Day 3: Home Births, Birth Justice Rights, Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills, Providing Birth and Labor Services, Miscarriages and Maternal Warning Signs
Day 4: Black Maternal Mortality, Stillbirths and Child Loss, Perinatal Grief and Care, Memorials, and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Day 5: Food and Nutrition in Postpartum, Parental Care, Black Lactation, Baby-Wearing, Belly-Binding, and Postpartum Planning
Day 6: Newborn Care, Family Dynamics in Postpartum, Intimate Partner Violence, Harm Reduction in Birthwork, Surrogancy and Adoption, Black Foster Care, Vicarious Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
Day 7: Black Fertility, Fertility Planning, Chronic Disorders, Holistic Period Care, and Sexual Assault
Day 8: Abortions, Black Rural Birthwork & Maternity Deserts, Celebrations and Rites, Black Herbalism in Birthwork
Day 9: Black Queer and Trans Birthwork, Black Disabled Birthwork, Black Autistic Birthwork, Incarcerated Birthwork, Immigrant Birthwork, and Unhoused Birthwork
Day 10: Working with other Birth Professionals, Working with other Postpartum Professionals, Working with other Fertility Professionals, Types of Birthkeepers, Backup Birthworkers, Services and Offerings, and Setting Up Your Practice
Day 11: Cultural-Informed Care, Book Reflections, and Case Studies
Day 12: Case Studies, Contemporary Global Birthwork, Advocacy in Birthwork, and Your Birthkeeper Legacy