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Resources for Labor Support During Pregnancy and Childbirth


Childbirth Connection's Pregnancy Topic on Labor Support

We provide in-depth coverage through our Pregnancy Topic to help inform you about labor support:

Other Childbirth Connection Resources Relating to Labor Support


Resources to Learn About and Find Local Doulas (Labor Assistants)

DONA International, in addition to serving as an important resource for doulas, the DONA International website of DONA has excellent resources for women who are considering working with a doula

DONA International Position Paper: The Doula's Contribution to Modern Maternity Care


The Doula Advantage: Your Complete Guide to Having an Empowered and Positie Birth with the Help of a Professional Childbirth Assistant by Rachel Gurevich
pregnancy book		The Doula Advantage: Your Complete Guide to Having an Empowered and Positive Birth with the Help of a Professional Childbirth Assistant (2003), by Rachel Gurevich.

In The Doula Advantage, you will learn the many ways doulas provide labor support, whether you plan a "natural" or medicated birth, how to find, hire, and choose the right doula, how specialized doulas can help you before or after the baby's birth, how doulas help the dad-to-be, and more.

Learn more about The Doula Advantage from Amazon pregnancy book at Amazon


The Doula Book, by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus, a pregnancy book
pregnancy book		The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth (2002), by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus.

Real-life examples of the interaction among the doula, the mother, and her partner illuminate what it's like to work with a doula. Appendixes provide detailed information about the training of doulas, the techniques that they employ, and the results of clinical trials of labor support.

Learn more about The Doula Book from Amazon pregnancy book at Amazon

Lamaze International: Labor Support as a Core Practice Promoting Normal Birth (PDF), position paper on labor support as a core practice promoting normal birth, with a commentary by Childbirth Connection's director of programs, Carol Sakala

Social Support by Doulas During Labor and the Early Postpartum Period (PDF), by Bruce Meyer, Jane Arnold, and Debra Pascali-Bonaro, an article from Hospital Physician (2001).

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer, a pregnancy book
pregnancy book		 The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (1999), by Henci Goer. (See chapter 11.)

Learn more about The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth from Amazon pregnancy book at Amazon

Helpful Resource for a Friend or Family Member Who Will Provide Labor Support for You

Your partner or a friend or family member who will provide support during your labor and birth can grow in knowledge and confidence with a book by a founder of DONA that was written just for them:

The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Penny Simkin, a pregnancy book
pregnancy book		The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (3rd edition, 2008), by Penny Simkin.

Wise resource to help your spouse/partner, friend or another companion give you the special and powerful gift of continuous support as you give birth. Includes many labor "comfort measures" and strategies for difficult labors that can make all the difference for you.

Learn more about The Birth Partner from Amazon pregnancy book at Amazon

Resources to Find a Local Doula (Labor Assistant)

Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators: Find a Labor Assistant/Birth Doula or a Childbirth Educator, an online directory; you can also contact info@alace.org or call toll-free 888-222-5223 for ALACE referrals

Birth Works: Find an Educator/Doula, an online directory

Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association: Find a Childbirth Professional, an online directory of CAPPA members who choose to be listed; you can also call their toll-free number (888-548-3672) or contact info@cappa.net to get referrals for doulas who are not listed in the online directory

DONA International: Find a Doula, an online directory of DONA-certified doulas who choose to be listed online; you can also contact referrals@dona.org to get names of doulas who are not included in the online directory by choosing the e-mail option (be sure to give your town and zip code)

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)'s online directory, names, credential and towns of ICEA-certified doulas; you can also get referrals by calling ICEA at 952-854-8660 or contacting info@icea.org

Most recent page update: 4/30/2008
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