We believe that there is no single right way to give birth. We believe in offering information and options, and respecting the parents' ability to choose for them what the right path is. We believe that it is the parents responsibility to take care of their health to the best of their ability and to do what they can to have a healthy pregnancy. We believe in informed consent and empowered birth. We believe that the childbirth educator's job is to give the information to the parents that they can use to have as healthy and empowered of a birth as possible.

    Those that train and certify with us can thereafter use the initials AZCCE after their names to show that they are Nurturing Hearts Certified Childbirth Educators!

  • Why choose childbirth education training and certification from Nurturing Hearts?
    • Training - and not just a weekend workshop, but continued training and support throughout your beginning years as an educator. Your trainer will remain available to you for questions and advice, to review experiences and offer suggestions for the future.
    • Continuing Education - free monthly continuing education meetings with guest speakers to help expand our knowledge.
    • Referrals - listings on this website and priority listings on SouthwestDoulas.com
    • Continued support - not only from your trainer, but from other AZCCE teachers!
    • Lending library - All students have open access to our extensive lending library of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, baby care, and postpartum books! Any of our books are FREE to be checked out and taken home.

  • Requirements for Certification
    • Be a Nurturing Hearts member
    • Training workshop - full weekend course $150 (scholarships available for those who qualify)
    • Observe a childbirth education class series (Nurturing Hearts classes are free for members to observe)
    • Submit class outline
    • Pass a final examination (option of written or oral)

    Please check the Nurturing Hearts Schedule of Events for scheduled training sessions.

DUAL CERTIFICATION OPTION

This is designed specifically for experienced doulas - certified through a recognized organization who would like to add on the NHBS certification.

  • Requirements for Dual Certification
    • Be a Nurturing Hearts member
    • Copy of certification certificate from approved organization
    • Sign a Standard of Practice form
    • Submit a 500-word essay on Birth in Arizona

    After taking a Nurturing Hearts Childbirth Educator training workshop, you will be able to:

  • Define normal childbirth in America
  • Explain the importance of evidence-based teaching
  • Define the types of learners and methods employed to help students retain information taught.
  • Explain the importance of language and word usage when teaching
  • Discuss the signs of pre-labor and warnings signs of pregnancy
  • Explain the stages and phases of labor both emotional and physical.
  • Explore the Gate Control Theory and Fight or Flight and their impact on childbirth.
  • List various comfort measures for labor and birth and describe their benefit.
  • State the questions of informed consent and how this may empower childbearing women.
  • Discuss the immediate postpartum period and routine procedures that occur during this time.
  • Explore the postpartum period and the adjustment to parenthood
  • Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding and ways that childbirth educators can encourage breastfeeding.
  • Explore unexpected outcomes including cesareans and precipitous births
  • Explain the importance of working within the birthing community and being an active member
  • List supplies helpful for childbirth classes and describe how they can be used.
  • Discuss the business of being a childbirth educator.
  • List various games and explain how they may be used in a childbirth preparation class.