COR 312 2 - Beyond Birth: Mental/Emotional

Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 3
Maximum Credit(s) Awarded: 3

This interdisciplinary course will delve into the mental/emotional side of birth support drawing on scientific and medical research, and the disciplines of Psychology, Theology, and Sociology. Students will examine the merits and critiques of the dominant medical model, and gain insights from an experienced childbirth educator and birth doula, as well as a variety of birth support professionals and programs in the broader community. Tools to help laboring women remain centered and focused and able to activate their parasympathetic nervous system for gentler birth outcomes will be explored. Students will also personally gain specific tools for realization and focus, as well as an understanding of how these can be of benefit in the birthing process. Recognizing that people come from a variety of experiences with birth, we will also explore the many racial, socio-economic and cultural factors involved. As part of the process, students will be invited to explore their own identity in a deeper way and how that relates to supporting other in connection with the three organizing COR questions.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of COR 1 or COR 199 or COR 199 in progress; two full-time semesters of college credit, excluding retro credits, AP credits, and college credit earned while in high school.