CAPPA Certified Birth Doula Training

 

Birth Rhythm’s

Pre– requisites

These requirements ensure that everyone attending the doula training has the basic background knowledge required to be an effective doula.  BEFORE attending the Doula Training, please do the following:

 

Purchase all three and Read ONE of the following and take notes to be submitted at the training:

 

 1. The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin 

 2. Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Gail Dahl

3. Creating Your Birth Plan, Marsden Wagner, M.D., M.S

You may purchase these as a bundle for a reduced cost through

Birth Rhythm:

 $63.00

 

Fall 2009  Session: October 22 – January 7, 2010

No classes Dec. 24th and 31st

 

 

Friday night

Required reading for the Labour Doula program

 

You have two years from the date of the workshop to complete all other requirements of the course. See the CAPPA Canada website for more information.

 

 Certification candidates must read the CAPPA Canada Labour Doula Manual  (which you may purchase at the workshop) and must choose a MINIMUM of any five books from the list below. 

 

**Please note the pre-requisite reading for Saskatoon Trainings in the sidebar, highlighted in yellow.

 

Extra reading is always highly recommended.

 

 These 2  books: 

1.     The Doula Book by Klaus, Klaus, and Kennell

 2.     The Labor Progress Handbook by Penny Simkin

 

 From the following, choose one:

 

 1.     Nurturing Touch at Birth by Paulina Perez

 2.     A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diane Korte and Roberta Scaer

 3.     Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant by Paulina Perez 

 

From the following , choose one:

 

 1.     Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, by Dr Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman

 2.     The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins

 3.     The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International

 4.     The Breastfeeding Answer Book 3^rd Edition, by La Leche League International 

 

From the following, choose one:

 

 1.     Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler

 2.     The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Shelia Kitzinger

 3.     The Birth Book by William and Martha Sears

 4.     The Mother of all Pregnancy Books, by Ann Douglas

 

 And any of the following:

 

 1.     Cesarean Birth and VBAC by Elizabeth Kaufman

 2.     The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte

 3.     Silent Knife by Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois J. Estner

 4.     Home Birth and other alternatives to hospital by Shelia Kitzinger

 5.     Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper

 6.     Obstetric Myths vs. Research Realities by Henci Goer

 7.     The Thinking Woman’s Guide To a Better Birth- by Henci Goer

 8.     Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin

 9.     The Breastfeeding Atlas 2^nd edition, by Barbara Wilson-Clay and Kay Hoover

 10.  When Hello Means Goodbye by Kirk and Schwiebert

 11.  When a Baby Dies by Limbo and Wheeler

 12.  Pregnancy and Birth: The Best Evidence by Joyce Barrett and Teresa Pitman

 13.  Pregnancy and Birth: Your Questions Answered by Karina Reynolds, Grainne McCartan    and Christoph Lees

 14.  Episiotomy and the Second Stage of Labor by Sheila Kitzinger and Penny Simkin

 

 

 

 These books may be purchased in the CAPPA bookstore (if in stock), any online bookstores such as amazon.ca or chapters.ca, or at a local bookstore, etc.  We also recommend visiting your local library, resource centre of hospital for lending sources. Borrowing these books is also recommended.

 

Why is there a need for Doulas in Saskatchewan?

As childbirth has moved from home to hospital, a vital element of care has been lost from the whole process. Gone are the days where a woman would have continuous support from one caregiver throughout her labour. It used to be the case that the womenfolk within the immediate and extended family (mothers/sisters/grandmother etc...) would be on hand to provide the nurturing role for the new mother, to guide by experience and help with the practicalities that need to be performed before, during and after a woman gives birth to a baby.

The concept of the community midwife is only now being developed in Saskatchewan, but due to the immediate lack of resources, (midwives and willing Health Districts)  this service will not be readily available to all women for perhaps another decade or more.  Doulas fill this gap in services, by supporting women in the birth environment of their choice.

Presently, many women feel that they have no choice but to be in hospital to give birth to their baby where it is much more likely that a birth will be medically managed and intervention methods will be used.

RESEARCH has shown that having a Doula present at a birth ;

· Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours

· Decreases the chance of caesarean section by 50%

· Decreases the need for pain medication

· Helps fathers participate with confidence

· Increases success in breastfeeding

 

Reference:  "Mothering the Mother,"
Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993

A doula believes in “mothering the mother” - enabling a woman to have the most satisfying and empowered time that she can during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new mum. This type of support also helps the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience.

Birth doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth, although they may or may not have given birth themselves. They have a good knowledge and awareness of female physiology BUT the Doula is not supporting the mother in a clinical role - that is the job of the midwife/medical staff.

Postnatal doulas work flexible hours to suit the family, offering practical and emotional support to the new mother and father in the home following the birth of baby. In the West today, too often mothers are rushed back into normal day-to-day activities; in many cultures women are confined to bed and rest for a period of up to 40 days. This may be impossible in our society but with the help of a postnatal Doula, a mother can enjoy some of the benefits of a prolonged "lying in" period. This will help her bond with her baby and spend extra time with any older siblings. Our work is about empowering a family to take care of itself and we facilitate this by helping around the house and offering encouragement and suggestions.