From the Desk of ... Karen Pestlin.

ALACE Director of Teacher Training, CCE 

Working through the Childbirth Education Training Modules: Tips

For those of you who are in the training stage of becoming a Childbirth Educator, working through the modules can be a mixed bag. You may find the material interesting, maybe even stimulating. At the same time, you may be wondering how you can find the time to read and assimilate the extensive amounts of information provided. Following you will find some ideas that may help ease the task a bit.

As you begin each module, do a skimming overview first. Get familiar with the basic goals and objectives of the module, as well as the concepts to be grasped. Do the background reading. Have a notepad handy for terms or subjects that you feel you may need to review to become more familiar with. Some people find that doing a scratch copy of the Learning Activities, and then a final copy, helps them to review the material.

After you have done an overview of the module, begin to look at it in bite-size pieces. Set small goals for yourself, and pace your reading and study time in a way that is reasonable for your particular lifestyle. Mothers with small children (which many of us are) are understandably going to need to be flexible in goal setting.

Set aside time once or twice a week (more or less!) to do nothing else but read or study. I understand that this will be harder for single moms. Some good ideas that I have heard are: hiring a teen that you know to sit with your children for a couple of hours, going to a library or coffee shop to study, or having your partner be available on a regular schedule so that you can "retreat." The idea here is that if you deliberately set aside the time and place to do the work, it is more likely to get done.

Find a study buddy! It can be someone in your community, or if you are online, an e-mail buddy. Let me know if you are interested in being connected with someone by e-mailing me, [e-mail].

Along the same lines, you may also attach your module activity work to an e-mail, and submit it to me in this format instead of sending it via snail mail. Many of you have reported how convenient this has been for you.

Keep your work neat! This isn't only for my benefit, but your own. I request that you send work written neatly in blue or black ink, or typewritten. Another request is that you leave a large margin on the right side of the paper for my comments (three inches is preferable). This will make it easier for you to read my comments when I send them back to you.

Feel free to elaborate on your answers--especially on the counseling skills exercises. I like reading what you have to say!

If you feel "stuck"--please don't stay there. Reach out by calling your state coordinator, another Childbirth Educator, or myself. In a way, we are all "sisters," and like to support one another.

Remember that A LAC E is flexible in that we do not set time limits on finishing the modules. Some women finish the program in two months, and some take five years. If it has been a while since you have picked up your Teacher's Training Manual--don't feel alone. One of the most common questions I get is, "Is it too late to finish my training?" The answer, "No!"

Always make copies before you send your module work in. There was a situation recently where a graded module was sent back to a trainee and it got lost in the mail. Luckily, she had made a copy, and all was not lost.

Occasionally you will find something in the Teacher's Manual that is outdated. Reward yourself for being observant, and send in updated information if you have it. Jessica and I are currently updating the manual.

Note. Correction for Module 4: Regarding questions 14 and 17, these were written with the first edition of Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth in mind. However, most of us only have access to the second edition. Here are the correct answers:

14. Q. What fraction or percentage of women in the epidural group required instrument delivery compared with what fraction or percentage in the placebo group?

A. One-half of the epidural group and one-fourth of the placebo group.

17. Instead of reading Appendix 4 as stated, you are to read "Table 6" and comment.