Jump into a time machine and take yourself back to the first time you heard a statement that profoundly affected you.  

For me, it happened during my very first childbirth education class when I was pregnant with our first child.  As an icebreaker, the childbirth educator gave half of us cards with ingredients from common packaged foods and the other half cards with the names of products containing those ingredients.  We had to match them up correctly, while also meeting one another.  I received the ingredient card for Cool Whip and was shocked to see so many sugars and additives – most of which I could not pronounce.  I was also surprised to learn that Cool Whip did not contain any dairy products.  As we read our ingredients and matched products, I realized that I had never taken the time to read the labels of products I consumed.  In a non-judgmental and tangible way, the educator provided evidence-based information about the importance of eating healthy foods for not only ourselves but also for our babies.  That activity and the knowledge shared impacted my life 40 some years later—and it inspired me to become an educator as I learned how impactful a good one can be.  This particular instructor, a certified childbirth educator, sparked a passion in me to follow the same path.   

Advantages of Being Certified as a Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, or Lactation Educator 

Engage Adult Learners More Effectively 

One of the greatest advantages of becoming certified is knowing you have the best information to pass on. In addition to teaching you all about the subject, it is important that the program you choose also has a strong emphasis on adult learning. Choosing an organization that teaches evidence-based childbirth education coupled with ways to get the family engaged in the classroom (or virtually) will make the class more effective for the learners.  If you are a nurse, you may be asked to teach classes and becoming certified can help. The best nurses can be great educators if they understand how to engage with a group of adults and recognize that the students will bring their own life experiences into the classroom. These lived experiences need to be considered in lesson planning.     

Certification also helps educators from diverse backgrounds adapt to teaching childbirth education.  For example, I met a new educator who had a background as a high school teacher.  She found it exciting to work with adult learners who brought their own experiences and motivation to the classroom, highlighting the unique dynamics of teaching adults. 

One of my favorite class activities that I still use today I learned during my certification trainings.  I give my students and partners two tennis balls and a tube sock.  They place the tennis balls in the sock and then tie a single knot at the end.  This transforms into a massage tool that they can use during labor. During class, they roll them up and down each other’s backs.  As you become certified, you will also learn other memorable, practical ideas that you can share in your classes or with your clients.   

Boost Your Career 

Another advantage of being certified is that you will be more marketable.  Many institutions, including hospitals, birth centers, women’s clinics, and even insurance programs require you to have a certification in whatever discipline you would be hired to teach. These organizations typically value certification because it is a better measure that who they have hired has the proper education and experience.  As one organization puts it, certification “… sets a common standard that improves the quality of teaching by individual childbirth educators, protects the consumer by ensuring minimum qualifications, and provides the basis for establishing childbirth education as a recognized profession.”1 

I was hired by a reputable hospital early in my career because of the great reputation my organization, ICEA, carries in the healthcare community.  They understood that I had been educated with evidence-based information and teaching principles that work with adult learners. To be certified as a childbirth educator, I also observed and taught classes, which gave me the opportunity to practice in a safe supportive environment, building confidence to do the best job possible.  Many of my nurse friends who have chosen to become certified as a childbirth educator and/or doula have improved their knowledge of adult learners, which in turn helps them be a better bedside nurse as well.

“We conduct up to 20 deliveries a month. Becoming a certified childbirth educator has been so beneficial and rewarding to prepare families for labor and birth with my hands on labor nurse experience.  Not only does it help my class participants, but it also helps my patients in the hospital setting.  I have had numerous patients comment that they really appreciated the extra time that I take to educate at the beside.”

Kelley, a seasoned nurse.

Join a Passionate Community

Another benefit of getting certified is that many certifying organizations provide a mentor who helps develop your skill set. I became the certified childbirth educator and doula that I am today because of committed, compassionate, caring certification leaders and the mentorship they provided after the seminars.  I always had someone I could text, email, or call when questions arose during my certification journey.  Even today, some 40 years later, I have seasoned educators/doulas that I can reach out to when I need guidance.  The trainers in my organization are passionate about walking alongside those they have taught.   

Being certified connects us as professionals with a common desire to be specialists within our disciplines and to spur one another on toward excellence. I am constantly learning from my peers as they challenge me to be and do my best.  There are times when I have honestly gotten to the point of “burn out,” and frequently one of our dedicated members steps in to “pick me up.”   

If you are not already a certified perinatal educator, find a certifying organization that keeps you focused on what’s truly important:  educating for the benefit of pregnant families, creating community with others in the field, and helping to increase access to safe, respectful perinatal care. 

1 ICEA Certified Childbirth Education Program 

Other Childbirth Education Certification Programs: