[KatieMae]

Me posting here on occasion (but mainly lurking for the most part)? I'm Katie and I'm am taking a doula workshop next month and I'd love to hang around here and ask questions and basically just learn where I can. I finally had to kick myself in gear because a couple of weeks ago DH got a possible quick-ship notification (he's trying to join the Air Force) which meant he'd leave the NEXT day for basic. That sorta made me go "Oh...I need to get this done!". Sooooo, if you guys don't mind I might be around asking questions to get an idea of your thoughts and feelings on your labor and childbirth. I'll try to not be too much of a bother

And if anyone has any advice, I'll take it very willingly! Thanks in advance, ladies

[WhoaMomma!]

Hi Katie! You are NO bother and we'd love for you to hang out here with us cool kids I'm Danielle - 27 - wife to Billy and mommy to Claire (8/12/09). I'm taking my workshop this summer for my postpartum doula certification. We love talking pregnancy, labor, and birth - so ask away! And please don't feel like you have to just lurk. Dive in and get to know us and let us get to know you

[ChicaChels]

Hey Katie, hang out here all you want! What doula workshop are you taking???

[KatieMae]

Thanks! I'll be taking a DONA one in Omaha next month, I thought I'd have to wait til after we moved since the ones I saw back in January were in the fall (or KC or Des Moines) but this totally surprised me I'm so excited to get it DONE finally

[WhoaMomma!]

Which books did you do for your reading requirements?

[KatieMae]

I've got "The Doula Book" "Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn" and "The Birth Partner" and I cannot figure out for the life of me which other two to read before I do my class (I'll end up reading all of them I'm 100% sure on that ). I think I might spring for the "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" first just because she fascinates me (and reminds me a lot of my mom ).

Do you have suggestions perhaps?

[ChicaChels]

Watch the business of being born and Pregnant in America if you havent

I'm very Bradley Biased, so I reccommend the Bradley books to everyone
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern midwife is GREAT
What Babies Want is fantastic
The Thinking woman's Guide to a better birth
The Birth Partner
pretty much anything by ina may is a must


I could go on and on!

[WhoaMomma!]

I pulled the required reading list from the DONA site. Here are the categories you still need:

At least one of the following:
• Harper, Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions about Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, Hospital Birth, revised 2005
• Gaskin, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, 2004
• Peterson, An Easier Childbirth: A Mother's Guide for Birthing Normally, 1993
• Goer, The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, 1999
At least one of the following:
• Mohrbacher, Stock & Newton, The Breastfeeding Answer Book, 3rd edition
• Mohrbacher & Kendall-Tackett, Breastfeeding Made Simple, 2005 (Available in the U.S. and Canada)
• Newman & Pitman, The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, 2000 (Available in the U.S.)
• Newman & Pitman, Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, 2000 (Available in Canada)
• Huggins & Lawrence, The Nursing Mother’s Companion, 5th edition, 2005

I've read all of the books in the first section. I really think to be a successful Doula you need to have read BOTH Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Goer's Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. They are equally fantastic. Ina May's book is invaluable for information on natural birth and philosophy. Goer's birth is more geared to natural birth in the hospital and what to avoid - so both very important for a Birth Doula. I didn't read any of the breastfeeding books on that list, so I can't speak to those. But I am currently reading Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, and it is FABULOUS!!! You might check with DONA and see if they intend to add that one to the list since it's new (just came out in 2009) and they obviously value Ina May's other work. Even if they don't, I would read it. It's great

[ChicaChels]

basically, Ina May should be president. Anything published by her should be required reading for anyone of child bearing age and she should just move into the house down the road from me that is for sale and deliver all my babies for the rest of my life right here in my living room

[WhoaMomma!]

Originally Posted by ChicaChels

basically, Ina May should be president. Anything published by her should be required reading for anyone of child bearing age and she should just move into the house down the road from me that is for sale and deliver all my babies for the rest of my life right here in my living room

My husband said Ina May Gaskin is to Obstetrics what Jesus Christ was for the Romans -- hurting their power, costing them money, and seducing their followers. But then again, my DH is a sacreligious goofball.

[ChicaChels]

I would punch sam in the taint!! He likes Ina May a lot..I made him read some of her stuff while I was pregtastic...but Sam is also the biggest male natural birth-anti ob-anti-hospital-birth advocate I know

[KatieMae]

You guys are hilarious! And Chelsea, I agree...I just wish I could live in Tennessee when I give birth I'm pretty sure I've watched every video on youtube with Ina May in it and I'm sitting there just wide eyed and in wonderment Oh and I've watched both Business of Being Born and Pregnant in America and will just rewatch them just for something to do on occasion

Thank you ladies for your input *furiously writes down all suggestions*

[ChicaChels]

maybe you guys will get sent to TN

[KatieMae]

Take that back, take that back! I do NOT want to end up in Tennessee, it's a pretty place and all but the only air force base there is only like 2 hrs from Ina's "farm" but that base is SO podunk, I would lose my mind! The grocery store is only open from 9-4:30 and closed on Sundays and Mondays....noooooooo. I'm thinking Florida

[WhoaMomma!]

I grew up in Florida. Be careful what you wish for. Rednecks Yankees high cs rates 2nd highest malpractice insurance (translation - 2nd most expensive healthcare a d LOTS of unnecessary tests) piss poor education system and towns that are withering and dung before your very eyes. But oh God I miss the ocean

[~Allison~]

Originally Posted by ChicaChels

I would punch sam in the taint!!

Ok, so I was just skimming this thread, not really reading much of it, and this popped out, and I started rolling! I seriously laughed out loud, then DH had to ask when I was laughing at, and I couldn't even get it out! Hilarious!

[ChicaChels]

lol glad I could make you laugh

[KatieMae]

Oh geez, JM never ceases to surprise me.

Oh and Danielle we'll be on base so hopefully we won't deal with most of that. I just need HOT sun so I can function properly and some salt water would help as well