By Jessica English, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA)

Last month, LCCE Jessica English began the path to become an independent trainer with Lamaze International, as part of the just opened 'Independent Track' trainer program. This new program helps qualified individuals become Lamaze trainers - able to offer Lamaze childbirth educator trainings which is one step on the path for LCCE certification. She's agreed to share her trainer journey with us in a series of blog posts; 'On the Independent Track to Becoming a Lamaze Trainer', offering insights at key milestones in the process. If this is a program you are interested in, look for information in 2015 on how to apply for the 2015 cohort.- Sharon Muza, Science & Sensibility Community Manager.

When I first saw the invitation to apply to become an independent trainer with Lamaze International, my heart leapt! As a doula trainer, I'd long wanted to extend my training work to include childbirth educators but I'd heard the process to become a Lamaze trainer was complicated. The announcement that landed in my inbox said that there was a new, simplified pathway to becoming an independent Lamaze trainer. As I prepared to launch a new business venture that included many facets of my skill set: DONA birth doula trainings, childbirth classes, business training/coaching sessions and more, it seemed so clear that becoming a Lamaze trainer fit right in with my path. Yes! Count me in!

© Tanya Strusberg

I was 'in' wholeheartedly, but I still needed to apply and be approved. The application asked about our qualifications and our vision for a Lamaze program. Several days before the application deadline, Laura Ruth in the Lamaze office told me that they'd already received a lot of applications. My nerves set it! The closer the deadline came, the surer I was that becoming a Lamaze trainer was the right path for me; I hoped the review committee would agree.

The wait to hear back was blessedly short. Less than a week after I submitted my application, I heard back from Lamaze International that I'd been approved as part of the first cohort of independent track trainers. How exciting! I immediately started laying plans to travel to Washington, D.C. for the 'train the trainer' session, praying that my November doula clients would either have their babies before I left or wait for my return. I also needed a sub to teach my own Thursday night childbirth class.

Thankfully, three babies came in nine days, I found a fantastic sub, and I headed to D.C. with a clear calendar. (Thank you for aligning, birthy stars!) I arrived Wednesday night and met my roommate, Trena Gallant from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Before our official training ever began, our informal education started with the opportunity to share stories and techniques as experienced educators and (doula) trainers. My LCCE heart was already bursting!

I'd been curious from the beginning about who would be in the training, and it was fun to watch the room fill Thursday morning. Several of my fellow DONA-approved birth doula trainers were in the group, there were a handful of other folks whose names I recognized, and I saw a few new faces. The 12 of us hailed from the United States, Canada and even Australia. Everyone participating in the training was an experienced educator, and we had several accomplished Lamaze trainers and leaders in the room to help guide us as well. I was excited know we'd have the chance to connect throughout the weekend.

The morning began with ice breakers and climate setters with our experienced facilitator, Tom Leonhardt. Once we all felt comfortable together, we dove into the science of adult learning. Even as an experienced educator and trainer, I enjoyed the chance to reanalyze how adults learn. One of the things that I love about Lamaze International is its emphasis on evidence-based information, and this training was no different. There's great science on adult learning, and Lamaze ensures that your trainers understand how to use that science to help new educators create great classes. I appreciated that the training itself was highly interactive - implementing the same proven techniques we were discussing. I picked up some new ideas and other information was reinforced. I was able to explore my own teaching style and its strengths and weaknesses. An expert facilitator, Tom guided us and brought us back to task when we ventured just a little too far down an occasional rabbit hole.

Saturday was spent on additional teaching analysis and introduction of the primary objectives for our Lamaze curricula. Another reason I adore Lamaze is that they lay down core objectives for educators and then allow each LCCE to teach in his or her own way. I discovered that the trainer process was similar. Each trainer will complete a needs assessment for her community, region or country. We are tasked with using a planning table to detail content for each objective, then listing our teaching techniques and evidence-based resources. In part because all Lamaze International training seminars qualify for nursing contact hours, the process of getting your training program accredited is rigorous - just another reason that Lamaze is the gold standard in our field! I could see the work ahead.

On Saturday afternoon we broke into pairs and developed an assigned training module. Each team delivered its 20-minute teaching session beginning Sunday morning. My partner and I volunteered to present first, which allowed us to fully enjoy the rest of the presentations without any thoughts about our own session. What a delight to watch so many incredible educators work their magic! I think we all picked up techniques and language from one another. We reminded ourselves again and again that we were training educators and not parents. That was an interesting shift, as we've all been teaching families for years or even decades. We glowed with the praise from our peers and humbled ourselves to received constructive feedback on what could have gone better. What an excellent model for us to follow as we prepare others to teach!

Saturday ended with an exploration of best practices in dealing with challenging participants. I love that Lamaze International wants us to explore these issues with new instructors! Being a great childbirth educator is about so much more than just understanding birth. The science and art of teaching are critically important to our work and Lamaze International is devoted to helping to build truly great teachers around the world.

As I said goodbye to my new colleagues Monday afternoon and wound my way through a weather-challenged journey home, my thoughts turned to next steps. As my new venture- Heart | Soul | Business ramps up, I'm carving out time to work on my Lamaze curriculum. Branding and marketing are on my mind as I solidify plans to combine birth doula workshops, childbirth educator seminars and advanced business trainings to help other birth workers thrive in this heart-centered work. My background is in marketing, public relations and business administration, so that trifecta of trainings feels like the perfect combination!

A variety of questions remain for me. Which cities need childbirth educator, doula and business trainings? How can I help to even further distinguish the Lamaze name in an increasingly crowded marketplace? What are the pieces of a kick-butt curriculum that will help grow strong, confident educators who can make a difference in diverse communities and in their own unique styles? What will it be like to work on that curriculum with Lamaze International's amazing lead nurse planner, Susan Givens? I'm strongly committed to continuing to teach families and attend births in my home community, but how will those commitments balance with an increased travel schedule?

Stay tuned, friends. I'm diving in and I'm excited to have you along for the journey.

About Jessica English

Jessica English, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), is the founder of Heart | Soul | Business. A former marketing and PR executive, she owns Birth Kalamazoo, a thriving doula and childbirth education agency in Southwest Michigan. Jessica trains birth doulas and (soon!) Lamaze childbirth educators, as well as offering heart-centered business-building workshops for all birth professionals.

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