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 simple to implement and yet extraordinarily powerful.
Are you ready to boldly go where no birth plan has gone before?
The Birth Map is the creation of Catherine Bell – a Mother of four, with a master’s of Science Communication, who trained as a doula and breastfeeding educator to reclaim the knowledge that is our birthright. 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 on respectful maternity care, with effective communication to create an environment for informed decision making.
This course includes access to all the content needed to become a Birth Cartographer with optional zoom chats each month to provide an engaging, community building environment.
This 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 have access for one year, with an option to renew annually for $50.
In addition to the course content, registration for the online course gives you:
- discount to join face to face training and zoom training
- member access, which includes a flipbook version of The Birth Map, the digital version of The Game of Birth and other resources.
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.
For those interesting in offering professional development education to their local hospitals and possibly undergraduate education to universities, please stay connected. I am working on embedding the concept into the system at all levels, and whilst online training modules help with consistency and holding the integrity of the concept, in person development opportunities can build confidence and integration. I do not yet know what this will look like exactly, but am imagining developing a powerpoint presentation, and offering additional communication skills training to those who need it. There will need to be some additional resources, like posters and pamphlets, and a large format game is likely to be involved. This is going to be the most fun revolution, fuelled by compassion and respect. If you are interested in Social Impact and Systems Change…stay tuned. I dream big and the next dream needs a team.
Birth Cartographer® Online Training with Catherine Bell
Participants can join anytime and work through at the speed that suits them. You will be awarded your certificate of completion once you have completed all the modules. You are invited to maintain your access and interaction in the group and are welcome to attend as many lives as you enjoy as we build our networks and this online community for birth cartography.  Access can be renewed annually.Â
Topic |
estimated duration |
Learning Outcomes |
Suggested Tasks |
The trouble with consentBenefits 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, forum response, create a social media or blog post |
Informed Decision MakingThe Fast Birth PathwayThe 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 interaction, a social media or blog post |
General ConsiderationsThe Vaginal and Caesarean Pathway |
90min | Understand the pathways from a consumer perspective, and apply this into practice by analysing a wholistic appreciation of individual care and evaluating circumstances to support consumers in creating an individual birth map for use during labour. Create communication tools to enhance practice, creating effective and efficient appointments. | Forum interaction,
a social media or blog post |
Beyond the Birth |
30min | Understand the wholistic and varied nature of the newborn phase, understand matrescence and apply education antenatally to support this phase. Create new methods and networks particular to own practice to enhance education and support within own community. | Forum interaction, a social media or blog post |
Putting it into Practice |
60min | Creating a landscape overview particular to your practice within the context of individualised birth. Consolidates all the sessions, and provides opportunity to clarify or grow concepts | Game of Birth Activity, create a map, forum interaction, a social media or blog post |
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