Birth Emergencies

Assisting in Community Birth Emergencies

This course covers how to be a helpful assistant during an emergency at a home or birth center birth. This course is designed for the New Student Midwife, Birth Assistant or any other support person attending Community Birth. We will cover warning signs of an emergency and how we can assist the Midwife during an emergency.

Topics covered in this course:

Preparing for Birth Emergencies/Equipment Overview
Non-reassuring heart tones
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Shoulder Dystocia
Maternal Shock/Fainting
Emergency Transport Procedures
Processing Emergencies

Required Textbook: None
Recommended Prerequisites: CPR & NRP classes





Your Instructor


Jessica Swan
Jessica Swan

Since I was a little girl, I have had an interest in pregnancy and birth. I learned about midwifery during my undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill through a screening of The Business of Being Born. From that moment, I knew I would be a midwife. In 2012, I moved to Seattle to begin Bastyr's midwifery program and in 2015 I graduated with a Master's in Midwifery. Since graduating I have worked with the Eastside Midwives at Puget Sound Birth Center, sat as the President of the Midwives of Washington State organization and am faculty at Bastyr University. My experience includes well over 700 births and thousands of hours of prenatal and postpartum care. I also teach many classes in the midwifery program at Bastyr University. I am currently back in school to earn my degree as a Certified Nurse Midwife and Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP). Taking care of birthing people and their families is my passion and teaching new birth workers and midwives is how I will give back to the community I serve. I hope you learn much from these classes and I invite you to reach out with questions, [email protected]!


Course Curriculum


  Welcome to Birth Emergencies!
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

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