Here is the list that DONA International suggests:
Section One: Becoming a Mother (choose one)
The New Mother: Eagan, Mothering the New Mother: Placksin, Misconceptions: Wolf, The Year After Childbirth: Kitzinger, Ourselves as Mothers: Kitzinger
Section Two: The Newborn (choose one)
Your Amazing Newborn: Klaus and Klaus, Touchpoints: Brazelton, The Mind of Your Newborn Baby: Chamberlain, The Vital Touch: Heller, Infancy: Field The Baby Book: Sears, The Year After Childbirth: Kitzinger
Section Three: Breastfeeding (choose one)
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers: Newman, The Breastfeeding Answer Book: La Leche League, Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding (Canada), Breastfeeding Made Simple: Morbacher and Kendall-Tackett
Section Four: Family Building, Touch and Attachment (choose one)
Bonding: Kennell and Klaus, Becoming a Father: Sears, The Vital Touch: Heller, The Baby Book: Sears, The Family Bed: Thevin, Fathering Right From the Start: Heinowitz
Section Five: Infant Care (choose one)
The Baby Book: Sears, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: Simkin, The Mother of All Baby Books: Douglas
Section Six: Postpartum Mood Disorders (choose one)
Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: Sebastian, The Postpartum Husband: Kleiman, This Isn’t What I Expected: Kleiman, I’m Listening: Honikman, Depression in New Mothers: Kendall-Tackett
Section Seven: Birth (choose one)
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth: Kitzinger, The Birth Book: Sears, The Birth Partner: Simkin, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: Simkin
Section Seven: Birth (choose one)
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth: Kitzinger, The Birth Book: Sears, The Birth Partner: Simkin, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: Simkin
Section Eight: Multiples (choose one)
Having Twins and More: Noble, The Art of Parenting Twins: Malstrom, Multiple Blessings: Rothbart, Mothering Multiples: Kerkhoff Gromada
Section Nine: The Mother’s Changing Body (choose one)
Essential Exercises for the Childbearing Year: Noble, The Year After Childbirth: Kitzinger, Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: Simkin
Section Ten: The Work of the Postpartum Doula (choose one)
Nurturing The Family:The Guide For Postpartum Doulas: Kelleher, Nurturing Beginnings: Pascali-Bonaro
Seems like a lot! Doesn't it? Whew. That's 10 books, minus the categories from which I've actually already read (i.e. breastfeeding, birth).
Any mothers, postpartum doulas, doulas, childbirth educators, etc have any suggestions on which books I should choose to read? Or not read? Let me know!
I appreciate the help, and I'm sure other mothers and birth professionals do as well.
As a new mom myself (and I wasn't a doula at the time!) I found the Dr. Sears book to be extraordinarily helpful (only because I identified best with an AP way of parenting). Breastfeeding Made Simple was my preferred breastfeeding book that I referred to many times. However, I just recently read "Waiting for Birdy" which I WISH I had been able to read before giving birth. It's a compilation of blog posts from a blogger at Baby Centre, but honestly, one of the best pregnancy/postpartum books I've ever read!! It's not on your list, but check it out :)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Waiting for Birdy. Thanks, Misty!
ReplyDeleteI would like suggestions too. I've had people ask for postpartum help, but have never felt like I needed the certification(I worked with mothers and babies in various areas for a while as a nurse). It think I would like more info on breastfeeding too.
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