Waterbirth International has been working non-stop for over two decades providing education and training programs for parents and practitioners alike.  Those programs have helped meet our mission goals of making waterbirth an available option for all women and to change the way we welcome babies into the world.

A request came in from a physician asking to attend one of our workshops and she also asked if she could become credentialed in waterbirth afterwards because her hospital insurers were asking for proof that she could provide safe and adequate care for women giving birth in water. With her help and guidance we created the credentialing program, which has now been simplified.

Credentialing through Waterbirth International is done in three simple steps.

1. Completion of the Waterbirth Certification Workshop

The workshop covers all the most current research, recognizing and preventing emergencies in waterbirth, pool set up, infection control, establishing a research protocol and much more.

2. Submission of attendance at five (5) waterbirths and evaluation of outcomes through your role as a provider.

We are developing the documents, but have already accepted a narrative form of the births. 

3. Active Professional Membership in Waterbirth International.  

    Professional membership is yearly and is $95

 

All Credentialing candidates agree to continue ongoing data reporting.

Candidates also encourage waterbirth mothers to register their babies

on the "I Was Born in Water," list on the Waterbirth International website. 

We are working quickly to make both the Credentialing packet and the database available online to make it even easier to complete the Credentialing process. 

The goal with both the Credentialing and the collection of on going data

is to create a vibrant research and referral database.

A few hospitals in the US require their providers to be credentialed.  

Our first program was approved by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and taught to 110 participants in a pre-conference at the Gentle Birth World Congress in September of 2007.  

Since then a few dozen midwives and physicians have completed all requirements and maintain a credential in Waterbirth.

For questions or if you are interested in sponsoring or attending a workshop near you, email: info@waterbirth.org. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterbirth: Easier for Moms...Better for Babies!™