Until licensing and regulation take effect and all families have access to midwives there is a need for families and community members to be knowledgeable of birth emergency management. Whether it is parents who find themselves unassisted at the time of birth, or EMTs and first responders who are called when a complication develops at a home or as a laboring mother travels to the state line, being able to
effectively deal with the most common complications can be lifesaving.

Birth Emergency Management Skills workshops are being scheduled around the state to meet this need for training and to raise awareness of the problems families are facing. The skills workshop is a 4-6 hour program covering the most common emergencies with catastrophic potential (stuck shoulder, bleeding after birth and a baby that does not breath after birth, and others). The program will include videos, discussion and practice with mannequins. The workshop may be requested by any
group of 6-12 people and may be parents, those who are involved in helping women at the time of birth, or EMTs and first responders who may be called to a
birth emergency. More information is available at SDDocsforMidwives.org under the heading "community service."

Direct inquiries about hosting a workshop in your community to skillsworkshop@SDDocsforMidwives.org

Upcoming Birth Emergency Management Skills Workshops:
Sept 21 Oacoma Community Center Tammi Chaney 337-2326
Sept 24 & 25 Yankton Public Library Kari Rettig 364-7379
Sept 26 & 27 Brookings Alaina Kerkove 534-9821
Sept 29 Watertown Karina Seppanen 783-3141

Pre-registration is required. Contact the area host to reserve a seat, or email skillsworkshop@SDsafebirth.org.