The BABE Course

Birth and Beginnings Education

The BABE Course is the Academy of Certified Birth Educators' CCE (Certified Childbirth Educator) certification program.  This course is designed for healthcare professionals, attendees of past ACBE or ACBE-approved birth doula and childbirth education workshops, and others who qualify based on education or experience as determined by our review committee.

Course Objectives:

  • Describe the philosophy of different types of childbirth preparation methods
  • Adapt course content to meet the needs of the individual childbearing family
  • Demonstrate ice-breaking techniques to improve group dynamics
  • Identify learning activities to aid women in assessing their nutritional status
  • Explain the basics of breathing methods and their relationship to relaxation
  • Demonstrate techniques for teaching relaxation principles
  • Formulate a complete topic outline for a childbirth education course
  • Identify maternal and fetal changes as they relate to each trimester
  • Identify maternal behaviors that may indicate a history of sexual abuse and birth trauma
  • Demonstrate prenatal exercises
  • Utilize a variety of teaching techniques to differentiate between minor discomforts and warning/danger signs during pregnancy
  • Describe the progression of labor and birth
  • List benefits of professional labor support for the childbearing family
  • Explain the physiology of non-pharmacological pain relief
  • Using the principles of adult education, demonstrate the ability to teach in a simulated situation
  • Identify the current trends in cesarean birth in the United States
  • Summarize the current ACOG criteria for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
  • Define advantages and challenges of breastfeeding for mother and baby
  • Identify techniques to assist mothers in initiating breast- and bottle-feeding
  • Describe characteristics of the normal newborn
  • Identify teaching strategies to enhance childbirth preparation classes for adolescents
 

The Accelerated BABE Course

We now offer an accelerated version of the full 3-day BABE Course.

The Accelerated BABE Course is a 1-day workshop designed to build on the knowledge from our Birth Doula Workshop.  This intensive course focuses primarily on teaching techniques, group dynamics, and activities to enhance the learning experience.

Participants in ACBE's 3-day Birth Doula Workshop automatically qualify to take the Accelerated BABE Course as an optional fourth day of training.  We also recommend the Accelerated BABE Course for BABE certification renewal.

CEUs

Both the full 3-day BABE Course and the Accelerated BABE Course are approved as continuing nursing education activities through the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The 3-day BABE Course is approved for 19.5 continuing education hours (CEUs) total, or 6.5 hours per each day of the workshop.  CEP#9357.

The Accelerated BABE Course is approved for 6.5 continuing education hours.  CEP#9357.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for the BABE Course if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • Registered nurse (currently licensed)
  • Graduate of a higher education institution with a degree in a health-related field
  • Attendee of a past ACBE or ACBE-approved birth doula or childbirth education workshop

OR

  • You may qualify by experience.  Qualification by experience is determined on an individual review basis by our registration committee.  Please contact office@acbe.com for details.

ACBE reserves the right to accept or deny applications with or without cause.

 

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