CLNC 1010

Course Description

Students observe at least ten births and describe in writing one case linking knowledge or skills acquired in observed birth experiences with knowledge acquired in first year of study, specifically the Midwives Model of Care. Students evaluate the learning gained from observed birth experiences. (Midwives College of Utah, 2020.)

3 credits

As I have been an active doula for the past two years leading up to my enrollment in this course I had already completed my ten observed births. I did continue attending births during this course, as well as starting my preceptorship and observing births in that role versus that of the doula. The writing assignments in this course allowed me to truly reflect upon the births I have attended and to start integrating the material covered in my midwifery-related classes (MDWF 1010, MDWF 1030) as a part of my overall birth experiences. I appreciated the opportunity to look back at these births in a different light, as well as walking into the births I attended this term with more confidence. During this term I attended three births as a doula and three births with my preceptor as a student, as well as attending 29 clinical hours of prenatal appointments through my preceptorship.

In addition to my classes at MCU, I also attended a three-day Birth Assistant certificate program.

Skills Mastered: taking vitals during prenatal visits (blood pressure and pulse)

Developing Skills: taking newborn vitals (heart rate, respiration, temperature), listening to fetal heart tones, setting up equipment