Discover the ways of The Birth Cartographer, and develop practical tools to create an environment that leads to informed, supported and confident birthing.
This revolutionary approach to birth preparation is so stunningly simply to implement, and yet extraordinarily powerful.
Designed to bridge the communication gap in maternity services, the scientific art of birth mapping uses Sensemaking, Relationship and Supported Maternal Decision Making.
The Birth Map is the creation of Catherine Bell – a Mother of four, with a masters of Science Communication, who trained as a doula and breastfeeding educator in order to reclaim the knowledge that is our birth right. In observing that standard maternity care means women’s reasonable expectations are considered unrealistic, she sought to bridge the gap. The birth plan, a tool intended to give agency and aid communication, was falling short. Catherine developed a new tool, building on the intent of the birth plan, working within the context of standard care to help women to unleash the power they hold within by giving them the means to take responsibility. From here, she saw that maternity care providers were just as eager to see this gap closed: and Birth Cartography evolved. Birth Cartography gives care providers the foundation to build relationships based in respectful maternity care , with effective communication in order to create an environment for informed decision making.
The Birth Map Study evaluated the concept, earning Catherine her PhD, and placing the birth map approach into the evidence for best practice.
This self paced course is self-paced, and could be completed over 4 weeks (estimated at 2 – 3 hours per week). At the end of each module there are tasks to be completed using the closed forum. You will not be accessed, nor is this a qualification: this is common sense, respectful care. This training is personal as well as professional development, you will be able to apply what your discover into many aspect of your life.
You have ongoing access, if the course platform changes, you will be offered continuation. The course includes digital resources. The physical resources can be purchased separately.
During 2026 the course will be redeveloped to be more interactive and visually interesting. Some changes to the order to modules will occur, and additional resources developed.
In addition to the course content registration to the online course gives you:
- discounted access to face to face training (use code: inperson) and zoom training (use code: zoomtraining)
- Member Access, which includes a flipbook version of The Birth Map, the digital version of The Game of Birth and other resources.
Birth Cartographer® Online Training with Catherine Bell
Participants can join anytime, and work through at the speed that suits them, the live zooms will be scheduled for the first week of every month. You will be awarded your certificate of completion once you have completed all the modules. You are invited to maintain your access, and are welcome to attend as many zooms as you enjoy, as we build our networks and this online community for birth cartography. Access can be renewed annually.
| Topic title | Topic duration (mins) | Learning Outcomes to be covered | Opportunities for interactivity | Suggested Tasks | Opportunities for feedback |
| The trouble with consent Benefits of Birth Cartography | 90min | Understand consumer perspective of consent, risk and choice. Understand the concept of birth cartography and its key elements and benefits. | Game of Birth Activity chat forum | Forum interaction, create a meme or blog post | Via forum and email |
| Informed Decision Making The Fast Birth Pathway The Partner Perspective | 90min | Understand decision making from a consumer perspective Understand the concept of the fast birth pathway, and how it benefits birth preparation. Apply this to your practice. Understand the partner perspective and analyse the impact this has on outcomes. Evaluate decision making, and begin to create a birth map. | forum | Forum interaction, meme or blog post | Via forum and email |
| General Considerations The Vaginal and Caesarean Pathway | 90min | Understand the pathways from a consumer perspective, apply this into practise by analysing wholistic appreciation of individual care and evaluating circumstances to support consumers in the creation of an individual birth map for use during labour. Create communication tools to enhance practice, creating effective and efficient appointments. | forum | Forum interaction, meme or blog post | Via forum and email |
| Beyond the Birth | 30min | Understand the wholistic and varied nature of the newborn phase, Understand matrescence and applying education antenatally to support this phase. Create new methods and networks particular to own practice to enhance education and support within own community. | forum | Forum interaction, meme or blog post | Via forum and email |
| Putting it into Practice | 60min | Creating a landscape overview particular to your practice, within the context of individualised birth. Consolidates all the sessions, provides opportunity to clarify or grow concepts | Game of Birth Activity Forum | map, forum interaction, attend live | Via forum and email |
