National Resources

DONA International
DONA International began in 1992, when a small group of some of the foremost experts in childbirth decided that the time had come to promote the importance of emotional support for mothers and their partners during birth and the postpartum period. Convinced by significant evidence of the importance of doulas to a mother’s (and consequently to a family’s) wellbeing, they created an association for a relatively new group of professionals steeped in timeless tradition – doulas.

Childbirth.org
Information about pregnancy, childbirth, and babies.  Includes pregnancy Q&A, prenatal exercise, birth stories, options for labor, newborn care, and more.

Birthworks International
"We believe that each woman finds her own way through birth and labors in her own unique way. Our childbirth classes and doula services honor each woman’s wholeness and individuality and encourage integration of the mind, body, and spirit through the human values of truth, right action, peace, love, and nonviolence. When put into practice these result in less fear and more self-confidence to give birth.

 We teach pelvic bodywork and optimal pelvic positioning to help facilitate movement of the baby through the pelvis, and help women grieve and heal from birth related losses. In primal health we recognize that early experiences of the baby impact his health as an adult. We offer an experiential design that is both an academic and emotional preparation for birth through interactive discussion, music, and art."

Birthing the Future
"The mission of Birthing The Future® is to gather, synthesize and disseminate the finest world wisdom about birthing and the “primal period” — from preconception until age 1 — and the development of the human brain and the mother-baby and father-family bonds that are critical to the health and well-being of families and society everywhere. We inform and inspire parents, professionals, and policy-makers about the lifelong and inter-generational impact of both giving birth and being born. Our focus is to shift the paradigm that drives our beliefs and practices from one that is based in fear and coping to one that is based in happiness and thriving. To do this we address physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions and what it means to be fully human and thrive."