Birthsong Midwifery Workbook

The Birthsong Midwifery Workbook, 7th Edition is a comprehensive, basic-level midwifery study guide developed for beginning and intermediate learners in professional midwifery education. This expanded edition includes over one hundred additional pages and reflects more than four decades of teaching experience in community-based midwifery programs. The workbook provides clear, evidence-based instruction across the full childbearing continuum, including pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care, and newborn assessment.

Written by experienced midwifery educators, the workbook is designed to support structured coursework, apprenticeship learning, and independent study. It is widely used in midwifery schools and training programs and supports preparation for CPM examination and foundational midwifery curricula. Content emphasizes practical application while grounding students in the underlying physiology and principles that guide safe, effective midwifery care in out-of-hospital settings.

Chapters are organized to promote active learning and skill integration. Each chapter includes clearly defined learning objectives, essential concepts, clinical tips, and a wide range of exercises. These include matching activities, terminology review, diagram labeling, case-based questions, and anatomy coloring pages that support visual and kinesthetic learning. Exercises are designed to reinforce comprehension, strengthen clinical reasoning, and help students translate theoretical knowledge into hands-on practice.

The workbook covers core subject areas essential to midwifery education, including reproductive anatomy and physiology, embryology and fetal development, the physiology of pregnancy, prenatal assessment and care, the mechanics and stages of labor, intrapartum support, postpartum recovery, newborn transition and assessment, breastfeeding physiology and management, infection prevention, and emergency recognition and response. Content reflects the realities of homebirth and birth center practice while remaining applicable across diverse midwifery education settings.

Strong emphasis is placed on physiologic birth, informed decision-making, and continuity of care. The workbook integrates culturally grounded midwifery perspectives, effective communication skills, and community-based perinatal support. It addresses the professional role of the midwife as clinician, educator, and advocate, encouraging students to develop both technical competence and reflective practice. Attention is given to trauma-informed care, respectful maternity care, and the social contexts that shape pregnancy and birth experiences.

Used for more than forty years by midwifery programs, apprenticeships, community birth workers, and doulas seeking deeper clinical understanding, The Birthsong Midwifery Workbook has become a longstanding educational resource in midwifery training. The seventh edition continues this tradition with updated content, expanded exercises, and a learning-centered design that supports students as they progress from foundational study to clinical application. This workbook is intended to serve as a core educational tool for those building a strong and enduring foundation in midwifery practice.