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Reading Requirements - Doula Support

Birth & Postpartum Doulas must read 3 books,
Childbirth Educators and Breastfeeding Counselors must read 5 books

You can choose any books from the full reading list - categories are on the left

Books on doula support


The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth

Author: Penny Simkin

Amazon Description: A clear, informative guide that includes a thorough description of everything a birth partner can expect. Every section includes a description of a stage of labor or circumstance, a description of what the caregiver (doctor, nurse or midwife) might do, and suggestions about what the birth partner's role should be.


The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth

Author: Marshall Klaus, John Kennell, & Phyllis H. Klaus

CBI Review: A good summary of the role of a doula and impact a doula can have on labor and birth. Studies are used throughout to show the benefits and all are referenced. Unfortunately, many of the studies consisted of small groups of women so it is difficult to know how much of an impact a doula can have in larger groups.

CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:


Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant

Author: Paulina Perez & Cheryl Snedeker

CBI Review: This book may be more appropriate for the monitrice rather than the birth doula. Perez sometimes suggests the doula role may be more clinical than CBI feels is relevant. Worth considering the different perspectives of what the role of a doula is and how these different perceptions impact the reputation of the occupation as a whole.

CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:


The Doula Advantage: Your Complete Guide to Having an Empowered and Positive Birth with the Help of a Professional Childbirth Assistant

Author: Rachel Gurevich

CBI Review: A well presented book for women considering a doula that includes research and tips on how to work with a birth, postpartum or antepartum doula.

CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:


Doula: We Couldn't Have Done It without You! The Ultimate Guide to Labor Support during Pregnancy and Childbirth

Author: Antoinette Bond

CBI Review: This book tends to be very directive throughout, implying there is very definitely a right way and a wrong way to be a doula. It is also full of generalizations about the way women are during labor. There are many different fonts that are distracting and the drawings are very basic.

CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:


A Tip Toe Through the Doulas

Author: Breck Hawk

Amazon Description: An expectant mother's guide to birthing options. It was created from tips, trick, and techniques of over one hundred Birth Professionals across the US and Canada. There are over 300 pages of tried-and-true wisdoms that will help make your pregnancy safe and satisfying.


Nurturing the Family The Guide for Postpartum Doulas

Author: Jacqueline Kelleher

CBI Review: The only book we have been able to find that specifically addresses the postpartum doula. Nurturing the Family has received positive reviews on Amazon and is reported as being an easy read.


The Nurturing Touch at Birth: A Labor Support Handbook

Author: Paulina Perez

Amazon Description: Contains a compilation of numerous tips and hints on how to support women through the hard work of giving birth, including relaxation and visualization techniques, touch and massage, position changes, how to talk to women in labor, and a variety of strategies and techniques for pain relief. The book will be a valuable library addition for inexperienced doulas and childbirth educators.

Books in Other Categories

Pregnancy
Prenatal Testing
Childbirth Education
Labor & Birth
Doula Support
Pain in Labor
Alternatives to Hospital Birth
Parenting
Fatherhood
Sleep Issues
Depression
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Politics
Communication & Counseling
Midwives Tales
Grief & Loss
Disability & Abnormality
Evidence-Based Care
Birth Politics
Birth, Culture & Society
Cesarean & VBAC
Fertility & Infertility
Anatomy & Physiology
Other Languages
Printable list of all books
Summary list to print

"Thank you for such a wonderful experience! I learned so much. I've enjoyed this so much that I'm thinking about becoming a Childbirth Educator and if I do, I'm definitely going through you." - Jami, Washington

 
 
     
 
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