CAPPA Reading List Recommendations

I'm new to these boards and to the doula certification process. Right now, I'm leaning towards certifying through CAPPA and would like to get started on my reading. I'm sure I'll end up reading well over the five book requirement, but to get started I'd like to know which of the books you enjoyed most/found most useful from the CAPPA list (if you are certified or are in the process of certifying with CAPPA). Thanks so much!

[Jackie7183]

Sorry I am working on my DONA cert, but I found a wonderful book off of their reading list. "The mother of all pregnancy books"

It is a great book that has a very balanced look at many issues.

[teachinmamaof4]

Hey Jess Shorten my username here and you know me from Ovusoft.

I've started with The Birth Partner b/c I had several recommendations that it is an excellent book. I also have a copy of the LLL book that I'll work thru next. I started The Nursing Mother's Companion but it was from the library. I want to buy them then read so I can make notes or whatever.

[DL]

Hi

I'm a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula. I completed my required reading of 5 books before officially joining CAPPA and attending my doula training (started reading in Feb '03, joined CAPPA in April '03, and attended doula training & bought cert. packet in June '03). The 5 books for cert. purposes are indicated by a *. It really is a great way to go about it. Having read the books first, my training workshop experience was greatly enhanced, I believe.

I've read way more than the 5 required books since, but I have not read everything on CAPPA's list. I'll try to remember the ones that I like best so far that are on the reading list (your mileage may vary):

Favorites so far, in no particular order (that are on CAPPA reading list):
*The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

*Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler

*The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

*The Doula Book by Klaus, Klaus, and Kennell

*The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International

The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins


Not favorites of mine, but definitely good reading & recommended:

The Doula Advantage by Rachel Gurivech (excellent for potential clients to read!)

The Birth Book by William and Martha Sears

The VBAC Companion by Dianna Korte

I didn't care for:A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diane Korte and Roberta Scaer (no good reason for why I didn't like it other than it bored me. Maybe it was because I had read so many other books in such a short period of time?)

There are quite a few others that are listed that I haven't yet (will soon!) read but have heard wonderful reviews about:

Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

Also....not on the CAPPA reading list, but I HIGHLY recommend: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

HTHs some! I'll also be interested to see what some of the others have to recommend!! That might help me to decide what to read next!

Hi Heather....nice to see you here!

Thanks for the recommendations...keep 'em coming! I've read A Thinking Woman's Guide....too bad it isn't on the list, it is excellant and also have started Ina May's Guide, also too bad it isn't on the list. I am going to start ordering some books used online tonight.

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YogaMama ...I've read A Thinking Woman's Guide....too bad it isn't on the list, it is excellant and also have started Ina May's Guide, also too bad it isn't on the list. I am going to start ordering some books used online tonight.

According to the CAPPA website, The Thinking Woman's Guide to A Better Birth is on the list. Since you've read it, it should count as one of your five!

I don't know why Ina May's Guide to Childbirth isn't on the list, but it really should be, IMO!

[MothertheMother]

I did like The Birth Book by Sears. It was the first one I read and it made such an impression on me. Hmmm, I wonder if the order you read in makes a difference in how you feel about them. I just feel like The Birth Book would be great for the mainstream couple that may read only one book. He basically talks about all (or most) of the things Henci Goer (loved thinking womans guide too) but it was a little less "this is how it is." If you get nothing else from it you will get a good explination of why dad's benefit from doulas as well.

I read the old Gentle Birth Choices and have the new one waiting. Very good book. And the DVD that comes with is an hour long. Good stuff.

I think The Birth Partner, Simpkin, is a good one to read so that you can suggest it for dads to read.

I try to look at how a book might benefit parents as much as how it would benefit me.

I didn't really like the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding but I would recommend it to parents. If someone is on the fence about breastfeeding I think it could really sway them.

Hope this helps

[DL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MothertheMother I did like The Birth Book by Sears. It was the first one I read and it made such an impression on me. Hmmm, I wonder if the order you read in makes a difference in how you feel about them.

You know....as I was typing my favorites out, I was wondering the same thing. I read my first five books 'fast and feriously', including taking LOTS of notes. I read several others right after, including The Birth Book. I also really liked that book, but I don't *remember* thinking that it was my favorite (could be that I was a little tired of reading so much at that point). I actually LOVE the Sears' (I also have their The Breastfeeding Book, which I like)! I really do highly recommend The Birth Book, and agree with you that it would be a great read for the mainstream couple.

Thanks ladies! I actually came up with a list that meets both CAPPA and DONA requirements, since I am still on the fence about who I am going to certify with. Though, yesterday it was CAPPA and today I'm leaning toward DONA! This way, either way I've read the required reading and can go forward with either.