Maternal Health Consultant Training
What is a Maternal Heatlh Consultant?
A maternal health consultant is a paraprofessional who specializes in providing expertise, guidance, and support to the birthing family to help improve maternal and infant health outcomes. They have enhanced knowledge of various medical conditions and complications that can arise during the perinatal period and implement strategies to provide specialized support in these situations.
Maternal health consultants may have diverse backgrounds, including doula, midwife, birth assistant, lactation specialist, or other related fields. They may work independently or as part of a team within healthcare facilities, non-profit organizations or consultancy agencies. Their primary goal is to enhance the quality of care and promote positive maternal and infant health experiences.
What is the Maternal Health Consultant Training?
The Maternal Health Consultant Training (MHC), a.k.a. the Advanced Doula Skills Training, was curated by Midwife Sekesa Berry to improve maternal wellness within Black communities. This training is designed to educate and empower the everyday person and community Doulas with fundamental knowledge about normal health perimeters. Whether you are a doula, lactation counselor, or simply interested in improving maternal health and wellbeing, the Maternal Health Consultant Training is a valuable resource that can help you make a difference in the lives of birthing women and families.
“I didn’t realize how important the role of a Doula is in our community. I will step up to the plate and answer the call.”
The Maternal Health Consultant Training (MHC), a.k.a Advanced Doula Skills Training, is a comprehensive program designed to equip the everyday person and community Doulas with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to provide effective care to pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies. This training is ideal for allied healthcare providers such as doulas, lactation counselor, birth assistants or those simply interested in improving maternal health and wellbeing.
The MHC training covers a wide range of topics, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care and infant care. Participants will learn about the latest evidence-based practices and protocols for identifying and preventing maternal and neonatal health complications, such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature birth, and postpartum mood disorder.
The MHC training also includes practical components, such as hands-on demonstrations, and simulation exercises, to help participants develop their clinical skills and decision-making abilities. In addition, the training includes cultural competence, and ethical considerations related to maternal and neonatal care.
“This training impacted me by realizing that it’s important to be self-motivated and find joy in what I do, especially in this field! Learning never ends and the journey of birthing work is both stimulating and inspiring, it’s truly a privilege to be of service to mother’s and empower women/families with information to aid in taking charge of their wealth and health!.”
In addition to educating individuals on maternal health and wellness, the MHC training also emphasizes the importance of emotional support and advocacy for mothers, as well as building strong relationships with healthcare providers and other members of the birth team.
Upon completion of the MHC training, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to provide supplemental quality care to pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies. They will also be able to offer evidence-based guidance to families and communities on how to promote maternal and neonatal health and prevent adverse outcomes.
Need to Know
Each participant receives a Maternal Health Consultant Manual and Wellness Tool Kit comprised of a digital blood pressure cuff, a digital thermometer, urine test strips and a glucometer. The participants also receives a complimentary eBook, When Birth Calls, Developing Your Inner Birth Worker, by Midwife Sekesa Berry.
The Maternal Health Consultant Training Curriculum:
Herstory and legacy of traditional African American perinatal care.
The impact of institutional and systemic racism on Black maternal health in the United States.
Holistic Human Anatomy & Body functions.
Body temperatures and what they reveal about infection.
Stress, an unsustainable reality; measuring its impact through blood pressures.
Warning signs that pose threats to both maternal and infant wellness.
Diabetes as a modern-day epidemic and glucose measurements.
Urinalysis, a window into the body’s chemistry.
Identify abnormal maternal signs and know when to seek medical or alternative care.
“Sekesa I want to thank you (and the other trainers) so much for doing the maternal health workshop. I was able to use it this week/weekend to help literally save my friend and neighbors life. Not only the physical tools but more so the knowledge to be confident in our assessment of the situation. ”
Meet the Developer
Sekesa Berry is a Birth Justice Activist and community leader for Black Birth Workers throughout Metro Atlanta. She honors many titles such as the Founder and Director of the Atlanta Doula Collective, Developer of the Maternal Health Consultant Training, a Lactation Specialist, and a Traditional Midwife and Author. For over a decade Sekesa has worked closely with several grass-roots organizations and national non-profit foundations such as SisterSong in an effort to decolonize birth, curtail birth traumas, and restore natural birth rights. The MHC Training is an extension of her efforts to help fill the negligent gap of maternal healthcare in Black communities.
Video recording and images by ksiphotography. Video editing by c_doubleu productions.