How to become a childbirth educator?

[amitymama]

I'm interested in becoming a childbirth educator. Does anyone know what I need to do to get the necessary training and set myself up as a teacher?

Sorry if this isn't the right place for this, I wasn't sure where it should go!

[waitingtobloom]

What sort of approach do you want to take? The nct do training courses to become an antenatal teacher with them or an alternative approach would be to become a doula although that would be more of a support/information role than educating as such

[amitymama]

Thanks wtb. I looked at the nct but it looks like it would take years and a fair chunk of change to become qualified. I was hoping to be independent and combine being a doula with cb education.

[fabsmum]

The NCT will pay 80% of your course fee to train as an antenatal teacher though you'd have to get involved with your local branch in order to get them to fund you. I had no involvement with the NCT before I trained but joined the local branch a few months before applying.

Re: training as a doula before becoming an educator, I know there are more and more doulas setting themselves up as childbirth educators, but tbh I've got major misgivings about this route into antenatal teaching. I've done a doula training - it was all of three days long. I really can't see how this qualifies you to run preparation for parenthood classes.

The NCT training, which is university accredited, usually takes a minimum of 2 years but it's a fantastic course, and equivalent to an HND.

Would want to add that I wouldn't rely on it as a route into a profitable career at the moment. A lot of NCT teachers are really struggling to fill their courses at the moment. Two years ago if you didn't get onto a course straight after your booking visit you ran the risk of not getting a place. Not so now. I think we're being credit crunched! The good thing with the NCT diploma is because it's a widely recognised and reputable qualification it's easier to branch out into other areas. NCT teachers are now getting work in children's centres and teaching within the NHS. I intend to put a unit together to take into secondary schools for post 14 students doing the new vocational health and social care courses. It really would be much harder to find these sorts of opportunities if you've not done a proper, widely recognised qualification.

[amitymama]

That's good info to know fabsmum, thanks. I do want to become fully accredited but was worried about the cost and time. I didn't realise that NCT pay most of the fees. Ace! I've also looked into Childbirth Internat'l -- have you any experience of people training through them?

[fabsmum]

My problem with distance learning courses like the Childbirth International one is that they take people on without interview, and there's no proper ongoing system of regulation, continued training or support once you've completed the course. In addition to that the course itself is very superficial compared to the NCT diploma - only a fraction of the number of assessments, observations, presentations and essays.

I think being an antenatal teacher is a really responsible job - you're working with people at a time in their life when they're going through huge changes, and sometimes dealing with some very complex and upsetting issues. Honestly I think this job is hard enough even with all the training and support we get. I would hate to have to do it without that.

[Bluestocking]

NCT only pay the fees for trainees who have done the hard yards as committee members and put in lots of time at NCT events.

[MKG]

I just finished the Childbirth International Childbirth education program and am still doing the doula program, and agree with Fabsmum that is is very unstructured. And you only get the support that you ask for.

The plus side for me was that there is no place for me to go (am in US), and with two young children and a full time job I don't have the time or money to take to go to workshops across the country.

Look at your resources and lifestyle and see which one will work for you.

[fabsmum]

"NCT only pay the fees for trainees who have done the hard yards as committee members and put in lots of time at NCT events"

Not in my area. They paid for me despite the fact that I had had very little involvement with the branch before I applied to train as an antenatal teacher.

And even if you do do a few months of volunteering it's hardly hard graft. Turn up at a handful of committee meetings, dole out a few cakes at nearly new sales, distribute a few newletters.......