Safety Training Seminars
Safety Training Seminars
Midwives are at the heart of maternal and newborn health, offering compassionate care during one of life’s most incredible moments. Your work requires a distinct blend of skill, intuition, and a readiness for the unexpected. While most births unfold smoothly, emergencies can happen in an instant, demanding immediate, life-saving action. This is why a current CPR certification is more than just a professional requirement—it is a cornerstone of safe and competent care.
As a midwife, you are often the first responder in a critical situation. Whether you work in a hospital, a birthing center, or a client’s home, you must be prepared for cardiac and respiratory emergencies. CPR and life support skills are vital for managing these rare but serious events.
Your ability to perform CPR is fundamental to your role. Maternal cardiac arrest is a rare but catastrophic event. Immediate and effective resuscitation can dramatically improve survival rates. Likewise, newborns sometimes require resuscitation right after birth. Your readiness to provide life-saving support can be the difference between a positive outcome and a tragic one.
Being certified means you have the training to:
These skills empower you to act decisively and effectively, ensuring the highest standard of care for your clients.
For midwives, CPR certification is a professional and often legal necessity. Most states and healthcare facilities mandate that midwives maintain current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and often the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
Staying certified proves that you are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of your profession and are prepared for any emergency.
Emergencies are stressful. Regular CPR training provides the muscle memory and mental clarity needed to stay calm and focused under pressure. Knowing you have the skills to handle a crisis builds your confidence, which in turn inspires trust from your clients.
Families place immense trust in you to guide them through pregnancy and childbirth safely. Your preparedness for emergencies is a key part of that trust. When clients know you are certified in life-saving procedures, they feel more secure and confident in your care.
While CPR is a foundational skill, midwives need specialized training that addresses the unique challenges of perinatal and neonatal care. The primary certifications you will need are BLS, ACLS, and NRP.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the most fundamental certification for any healthcare provider. The course provides the core skills needed to respond to cardiac and respiratory emergencies in adults, children, and infants. BLS courses are offered by the American Heart Association (AHA) and are a prerequisite for more advanced certifications.
A BLS course covers:
For midwives, BLS is non-negotiable. It is the certification that ensures you can provide immediate life support in any setting, from a hospital to a home birth.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) builds upon BLS skills and is essential for midwives who work in hospitals or have admitting privileges. The ACLS course focuses on the management of adult cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. It prepares you to be an effective member of a hospital resuscitation team and manage complex maternal emergencies.
Key topics in an ACLS course include:
The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), is perhaps the most critical certification for a midwife. This program teaches an evidence-based approach to newborn care at the time of delivery. It equips you with the cognitive, technical, and teamwork skills needed for effective neonatal resuscitation.
An NRP course will teach you to:
Since up to 10% of newborns require some assistance to begin breathing at birth, NRP skills are indispensable for any professional attending deliveries.
Selecting a high-quality training program is crucial. Your certification is only as good as the training you receive. Here’s what to look for when choosing a provider.
First, ensure the training center is an authorized provider for the American Heart Association (AHA) for BLS and ACLS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for NRP. Certifications from these organizations are the gold standard and are recognized by licensing boards, hospitals, and insurance companies across the country.
Be careful of online-only courses that claim to offer certification without an in-person skills session. These are often fraudulent and will not be accepted professionally. Legitimate certification requires hands-on practice.
Modern training programs often use a blended learning model, which is perfect for busy midwives. This format allows you to complete the theoretical coursework online at your own pace. Afterward, you attend a shorter, in-person session to practice and demonstrate your hands-on skills with an instructor.
This approach is ideal for busy professionals, as it minimizes time away from your practice while ensuring you receive the necessary hands-on training to be proficient.
Look for programs with experienced instructors who are healthcare professionals themselves. Instructors with real-world experience, such as paramedics, nurses, or doctors, can provide valuable context and answer complex questions related to your practice.
The training should also use high-quality manikins and equipment that provide realistic feedback. This helps you perfect your technique for chest compressions and ventilations, building the muscle memory you need in a real emergency.
CPR and life support certifications are not a one-time achievement. To ensure you are always prepared, these certifications must be renewed every two years. Skills can degrade over time, and medical guidelines are periodically updated based on new research from organizations like the AHA and AAP.
Staying current is a professional responsibility. Set reminders for yourself well in advance of your expiration dates to ensure you have plenty of time to schedule and complete your renewal courses. Continuous training keeps your skills sharp and your knowledge up-to-date with the latest best practices in resuscitation science.
We understand that as a midwife, your time is precious. That’s why we have designed our certification process to be as efficient and effective as possible. As an official American Heart Association Training Center, we offer the BLS, ACLS, and NRP courses you need to stay compliant and confident in your practice.
Our blended learning format is perfect for your busy schedule. You can complete most of the coursework online, followed by a quick in-person skills session at one of our 70+ locations throughout California. You’ll leave with your official certification card in hand the same day. Our instructors are experienced healthcare professionals who provide a supportive, high-quality training experience. If you’re ready to get or renew your CPR, BLS, ACLS, or NRP certification, we are here to help. Contact us today to find a class near you and take the next step in reinforcing your life-saving skills.
Most midwives are required to have a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA). Additionally, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification is essential for anyone attending births. If you work in a hospital setting, you may also need an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
BLS, ACLS, and NRP certifications are all valid for two years. You must renew them before they expire to remain compliant with professional and legal requirements.
No. Legitimate CPR, BLS, ACLS, and NRP certifications require an in-person, hands-on skills assessment. Programs that are 100% online are not recognized by licensing boards or employers. Blended learning, which combines online coursework with an in-person skills session, is a valid and convenient option.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is the act of performing chest compressions and rescue breaths. BLS (Basic Life Support) is a certification course designed for healthcare professionals that includes CPR training for all age groups, AED use, and other life-saving skills. BLS is the appropriate level of training for midwives.
The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) provides the specific skills needed to resuscitate a newborn. Since a small but significant percentage of newborns require some form of assistance to breathe at birth, NRP training is critical for ensuring you are prepared to handle this common neonatal emergency.