AAMI's Midwifery SkillsLabs offer aspiring midwives a safe environment to ask questions and practice skills. AAMI’s emphasis is on non-interventive practice and our philosophy is “with woman” midwifery. Although we at AAMI believe in the ability to trust birth completely, we also find it wise for women to be skilled in a variety of tasks to better equip themselves and those they are blessed to help during the prenatal, labor, delivery and postpartum periods of a woman’s life. We also realize that not all midwives will find themselves in healthy trust birth scenarios all of the time and will need these skills occasionally to be a blessing in a time of need.

AAMI's Midwifery SkillsLabs (MSLs) are taught primarily by Kristi Zittle, CPM. Kristi began her journey in home birth midwifery in the winter of 1999. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Towson University in 1994 and is ever continuing her education in the broad field of midwifery, herbs, homeopathy, and alternative care treatments (such as chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, etc). Most of her learning was achieved through AAMI and its amazing thorough program of study, along with a variety of herbal training courses, and is slowly continuing her education as an RN through a local state college. Kristi has taught many workshops on nutrition, supplementation, herbal and homeopathic therapies, and midwifery skills over the past several years and has found this avenue to be a great passion joining her love for teaching and the service of women into one. She has also enjoyed an ability to aid many aspiring midwives through apprenticeship in both Pennsylvania and Virginia. Although Kristi is no longer practicing hands on midwifery in the state where she resides, she stays in tune with the local birth community in a variety of ways. Kristi also has a great heart for the unattended/free birth movement and strives to help couples equip themselves to pursue their plans for such a birth if they desire. Kristi has taken over the main portion of the SkillsLab teaching giving its former instructor, Dana Combest, a break to pursue her ever growing midwifery practice in Washington state. Dana will occasionally choose to teach a SkillsLab when her schedule permits. Dana has been a home birth, traditional midwife since 1978, is a graduate of AAMI and has served as the Academic Director for 10 years. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor, AAMI’s first Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Assistant, Certified Practicing Midwife and Washington state Licensed midwife. Dana has conducted numerous workshops and apprenticed many midwives. Dana has a heart for traditional midwifery and takes groups of AAMI students, midwives and aspiring midwives on midwifery service trips to locations all over the world.

Attendance at an AAMI's Midwifery SkillsLab satisfies one of the Advanced Midwifery Studies Section 3 curriculum options.

For more information email quiverof10@cox.net.

From Kristi:
AAMI's Midwifery SkillsLab (MSL) is a three-day, hands-on intensive workshop for midwifery students and beginning midwives. MSLs focus on non-interventive, low-tech, expectant midwifery care and home birth. We believe that the most important thing a midwife needs to know how to do is not so much management skills - but knowing how to avoid needing them and knowing when something else will serve the mother and baby better. Keeping this in mind, we discuss and practice a variety of skills, beginning with basics. Discussion varies with the group attending but common topics include informed choice, herbs for pregnancy, and preventing tears. This workshop is an introduction to these skills and we do not promise that attendees will become proficient.

Group size at MSLs is limited to 12; minimum size is 5. The MSL usually begins on Thursday and goes through Saturday evening; occasionally we meet on weekdays. We meet beginning at 8:00 am each day and usually finish up around 6 pm daily (although at times we will finish a little early on the final day). On Thursday, we reconvene at 7:00 for dinner and videos. The cost is $350, payable in advance, and includes breakfast and lunch each day, and dinner on Thursday evening. Lodging is not included, although at many workshops it is available though other attendees or the hostess (always on a first come, first fill basis). On Friday night, I go out to dinner and all attendees are invited to come along.

No children are allowed, other than non-mobile nursing babies. Childcare could be arranged or not, as determined by the hostess based on need. You will most likely have to arrange for care of your own children. If you choose to bring your baby, you should understand that if s/he is very young or one who needs a lot of attention, you will not gain optimal benefit from the class. I may ask that you take your baby to another room if s/he becomes fussy for longer than a short period of time, in which case you will miss part of the content. Additionally, it is not fair to expect that other participants will watch your baby repeatedly while you do your skills practice, although we are often willing to do so. However, there are skills that we all do as a group (e.g. suturing), so no one will be available during those times. I know this sounds extremely harsh, and is certainly not in keeping with the baby-love we all feel as midwives, but I feel it is only fair to make this clear before you register for the MSL.

You will be asked to bring a fetoscope, stethoscope and bp cuff to the MSL; however, this is not required. It is also expected that you will have at least a basic understanding of the principles of midwifery and midwifery terms. The book Helping Hands: The Apprentice Workbook is required to be read prior to the MSL.

Again, it must be emphasized that our focus is on non-interventive MIDWIFERY care, and we will concentrate on low-tech midwifery skills. We will practice the skills listed, but only in the context of last-resort techniques. We feel that good midwifery care hinges on the use of "medical" skills only when necessary. Additionally, we place great importance on the issue of informed consent and the right of parents to refuse ANY test or procedure. This emphasis does not mesh with some midwifery practices, so please consider this information and keep it in mind when you register and attend the workshop. We do not ask that you agree with our perspective, or that you practice in this manner; we do not advocate that you break any rules, laws or protocols set forth by your state or governing body. We ask that you consider the value of what is taught in the context of a huge world of varied midwifery practice and that you take what information you can use or apply, and leave the rest without further judgment.

Please feel free to contact your hostess or myself with any questions you might have. You can reach me at quiverof10@cox.net or 757-479-1737. Thank you for your interest in the Midwifery SkillsLab.

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