CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (CAPPA) ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CAPPA ECUADOR

July 23, 2010, Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. CAPPA announced today the launch of their new branch in Ecuador, and introduces CAPPA Ecuador Executive Directors Jennifer Bertha and Priscilla Loor. More information is available at www.cappa.net/.

New CAPPA branches will recognize the common experiences of the country, and education will therefore be tailored to regional needs. Using global CAPPA standards, different regional medical models, cultural and historical practices, and experiences that are specific to each branch, as well as tailored certification and advanced programs, we will meet the client needs of the area. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Wilson Peters said, “CAPPA Ecuador will provide excellent training and certification options to those who would like to become childbirth professionals within Ecuador. Labor Doula and Lactation Educator materials presented by CAPPA Faculty living in Ecuador will have the largest impact on an entire nation of new and expectant parents, who will benefit immediately from the increase in trained childbirth and lactation professionals.”

The first step in preparing for the launch was for Executive Directors, Jennifer Bertha and Priscilla Loor to translate the training manuals and certification packets into Spanish. They will use these materials in addition to using preexisting lactation education materials. CAPPA Ecuador plans to start conducting Labor Doula and Lactation Educator trainings, on a regional level in Latin America, since this is the greatest demand for CAPPA trainings. Gradually, CAPPA Ecuador will incorporate Childbirth Educator and Postpartum Doula curricula and training. “Having the birth doula and lactation education curricula in Spanish provides the best opportunity to impact maternal child health in Ecuador.” says Ms. Peters. Positive changes can increase the health and well-being of families and also facilitate nation to nation implementation. What helps one birthing family in effect helps the global family.

CAPPA Ecuador Executive Directors
Jennifer Bertha, BA, CLE, CCCE, CLD, started her career in Corporate America as a systems analyst, after ten years she met her Ecuadorian husband and moved to Guayaquil to start a family, leaving her career behind with the intention of becoming a ‘stay at home mom’. After the birth of Ilona in 2005, and her wonderful experience breastfeeding her, Jennifer became disappointed at the fact that many of her friends were not breastfeeding their babies. Jennifer became involved in Priscilla Loor’s childbirth education classes. She then became CAPPA certified as a Lactation and a Childbirth educator, and two years later became a CAPPA certified Doula. She is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.
With Priscilla’s leadership, Jennifer started teaching childbirth education at the local hospital, and providing lactation consulting as needed. As the need became greater, the hospital Clinica Kennedy in Guayaquil became interested in their services, and formed the birth and breastfeeding center, CENIDEL (Center for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding), an independent entity with the leadership of Priscilla and Jennifer, and the backing of the hospital’s name. CENIDEL covers every need of a starting family: From natural family planning, to baby led weaning; including childbirth education courses, lactation consulting services, Happiest Baby on the Block classes (©Dr. Karp), and Infant Massage. CENIDEL also holds monthly breastfeeding support meetings, and the sale of Breastfeeding Paraphernalia, such as breastfeeding pumps, slings etc.

Priscilla Loor, IBCLC, CHBE, ICCE, CNFPE, is a certified nurse who did her practices at the local maternity hospital, where 100 babies are born every day. Bothered by the treatment the women faced, she decided to become a childbirth educator and doula to improve the experiences of women during labor and birth. Today, Priscilla has more than ten years experience teaching childbirth education, with one of the most important hospitals in the city of Guayaquil. She also became interested in breastfeeding when taking specialty courses in Costa Rica; one of the countries in Latin America with the most rigid breastfeeding laws.

Priscilla and Jennifer Bertha formed CENIDEL, the Breastfeeding and Pregnancy center of the Clinica Kennedy in Guayaquil, to formalize and centralize all of the services that for years were done informally and upon request of birthing mothers.

Ms. Peters said, “I am extremely excited about the launch of CAPPA Ecuador. Jennifer Bertha and Priscilla Loor are committed to the CAPPA vision and mission. They understand the needs within Ecuador, and are willing to do the work to make a difference,”

This new branch will increase confidence in the birth and postpartum information and resources shared with expectant and postpartum families. Promoting a culturally safe environment, recognition of changing demographics, and implementation of support strategies for growing diverse and vulnerable populations will also bring positive changes. CAPPA currently has branches in North America, Canada, India, and Israel. Each CAPPA branch is better suited to be a change agent in a local and national capacity.

CAPPA
PO Box 491448
Lawrenceville, GA 30049

Web: www.cappa.net
www.cappaecuador.com

Boy oh boy, Rihanna does that bring back memories. When I was about college age I remember saying “I’m afraid to have a baby.” Sometimes I wonder today if the reason it took me over 7 years to get pregnant, once my desire finally outweighed my fear, was because my mind was so totally freaked out for so long that my body said OK, if that’s the way you want it..  Newly wed
at 19 the thought of having a baby, well actually the thought of labor and delivery was petrifying to me.  So Rihanna, I can understand your fear, I remember it well, and you are not alone.

So, what is fear anyway? I like how Wikipedia describes it: “Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger.” (www.wikipedia.com)  That is exactly what CAPPA wants to change. CAPPA wants to change—the perceived threat of danger, to a perception of joy and happiness.

It’s funny how sick birth control pills made me, but that daily nausea wasn’t as scary to me as facing the fear of labor. Why was it so scary? Because, everyone said it hurt, that’s why? Doesn’t that sound like a “perceived threat?” Today, I know that my fear was based on a lack of knowledge or perhaps a false perception. I had no true knowledge of birth I’d never witnessed one, seen a video, attended a class or read a book. I simply didn’t understand. It was a secret society that I had not been inducted in to.  I’m not trying to say birth is painless or without hard work. It is called “labor” after all. It seems like daily the internet quotes one celebrity after another expressing a fear of labor, fear of ruining their bodies or sex lives. CAPPA’s has a
vision , “Imagine a world where women are encouraged to trust their bodies, and where myths about childbirth and breastfeeding are dispelled.”  Well, for me childbirth turned out to be amazing twice and after 7 years of worry and distress that I wouldn’t be inducted into the club, I have 2 wonderful children that wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t overcome my fear and learned
through childbirth education that I had, to coin a famous phrase, nothing to fear, but fear itself.

 Rihanna, please don’t be afraid. CAPPA would love the opportunity to share the joy of birth and remove the fear from the experience for you. Knowledge is power and CAPPA wants to change the way the world views “having a baby.”

CAPPA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THEIR TEEN EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Back by popular demand, the CAPPA Teen Program, and introducing Executive Director Chelsea Eardley

More information is available at www.cappa.net, and by emailing teendirector@cappa.net

Press Release, Lawrenceville, GA, May 24, 2010, The CAPPA Teen Program is an advanced training for related healthcare professionals who feel a strong pull to help expectant and parenting teens in the best possible way. It is open to trained or certified childbirth educators, antepartum doulas, and labor doulas, or to those with significant experience teaching childbirth education classes; those outside this list will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

About teen pregnancy and the CAPPA Teen Program
After experiencing a fifteen year decline, teen pregnancy is now on the rise. Though teen pregnancy is 100% preventable, CAPPA recognizes that it is an issue that will probably never fully disappear. Expectant teens should be afforded the same opportunities toward a healthy pregnancy that other women experience. These opportunities should include access to education regarding the realities of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and postpartum issues. The CAPPA Teen Program aims to prepare educators and support professionals to work with expectant and parenting teens. 

Expectant teens can present special challenges for a childbirth educator. The CAPPA Teen Program teaches the different ways in which the teen population learns information, thus enabling childbirth educators to effectively cater to their special needs. This includes making modifications to current curricula both in content and method of delivery, in order to teach teens in a way in which they can understand. A CAPPA teen educator understands the conflicts of pregnancy during the adolescent stage of development, she establishes the unique needs of the expectant teen, and she identifies various resources available to assist educators who work with pregnant teens.

CAPPA trained and certified teen educators work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and in private settings. The workshop curriculum has undergone a revision for 2010, and will be launched during the organizations annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, July 22-26, 2010. A Teen Program training workshop will take place at the conference host hotel, July 26-27, 2010, at the Hilton at Charlotte University Place.

About Chelsea Eardley
Chelsea Eardley, CCTE, holds a BA in Foreign Languages and Literatures with an emphasis on Spanish from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, USA. She has been working as a case manager with pregnant and parenting teens for five years, and is committed to educating and supporting this special population. Chelsea is a CAPPA-trained volunteer labor doula and lactation educator through a community health center in the Denver metro area of Colorado. Part of her work with teens also involves teaching a two-day sexual education curriculum in middle and high schools, facilitating support groups in high schools for teen parents, and staffing a teen clinic which provides confidential family planning services.

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Please visit CAPPA at www.cappa.net for more information about the Teen Program. Contact Chelsea Eardley at teendirector@cappa.net for full requirements and registration information.

Linking childbirth and postpartum professionals together for a stronger networking community

By Michelle Schnaars, Managing Editor CAPPA Quarterly

iCAPPA is the new interactive community website for CAPPA members; and it allows you to do a lot of things. iCAPPA will enable you to access your membership card, upload your facebook badge, interact via mobile phone, participate in polls, and download forms. Maximize the value of your membership and get the information you need by using the bulletin board to read and post messages.

iCAPPA has created a number of tools to help you connect to other members, learn about upcoming events; manage your online profile and much more! Everyone will reap the rewards of a strong, dynamic community of members that readily share and exchange information, and other resources for their mutual benefit.

You might wonder where to begin with iCAPPA; begin with your profile page. This is very important because this is the information that potential clients will find when looking for services. It is also the information that professionals will use to find and connect with you. Be sure to include your bio, credentials, skills, expertise, and experience. You can also upload a photo of yourself.

For over a decade, CAPPA’s mission has been to offer comprehensive, evidence-based education, certification, professional membership, and training to childbirth educators, lactation educators, labor doulas, antepartum doulas, postpartum doulas, and teen educators worldwide. CAPPA is proud to provide new and expectant families’ access to these professionals.

iCAPPA, a new empowering online directory for CAPPA members, and the birth year community.

My husband and I own a motorcycle, which is stored during the winter months. This spring, our family was blessed with a nest of small birds on the motorcycle. We watched as the mother sat on her eggs. Then we watched the babies, who had small but very wide mouths, eat while their mother fed them; all-the-while the mom fended off chipmunks, as well as a local cat from the nest. Suddenly the day arrived when we no longer saw the birds in the nest, or anywhere nearby.

Some time later, my husband witnessed a heartbreaking scene; a small struggling bird, all alone trying to make its little wings beat to reach the limbs of a small bush. Despite being without its mother or father, the baby bird was determined. The mother’s job was done, and the babies, like this one, were suddenly on their own. I had to ask myself, in what ways does a mother bird nurture? Does she inspire her babies to believe they can fly?

All is now quiet in the small nest and the motorcycle is once again ours to use. I believe in my heart that by and large most of us as mothers totally get the ‘feed and protect’ part of nurturing, and fulfill that role wholeheartedly. We are ‘mother bear hear us roar’, and we know our children must eat to grow. We watch over them to be sure they don’t come to harm and check them in the middle of the night to be sure they are still breathing, or they are cool to the touch. But is that where the nurturing stops? Do we as mothers get so involved in the day-to-day routine of our busy lives that we forget to ‘nurture the spirits’ of our children? Do we encourage and support them to be creative? To find out who they are and who they are meant to be? Do we inspire them? Arouse their minds throughout their adolescence to be creative; to sing, to dream. To believe that whatever they can dream they can achieve? Or, are we caught up in the routines of ‘feeding and protecting’, that we actually hold them back for fear they will be hurt, or that they might experience disappointment if they fail? Where do we draw the line as mothers, between protecting what is healthy and overprotecting against what is unhealthy?

Is ours a protectiveness that stifles the creativity our children are born with? Do we breathe inspiration into their little ears that they are meant for great things? Do we teach them that within all disappointment, there is a new lesson to learn that will lead them to their own greatness? As Mothers Day approaches and the cards and phone calls begin to circle the earth, I challenge all mothers to think back to your own childhood and try to remember what inspired you the most. Remember your childhood dreams. Remember the things you knew to be true; that all things were possible. The princess was always saved by the prince, the dragon always got slain by the brave, and houses and cities were built in our rooms in a day and were perfect in every way.

I encourage all mothers to realize that it is never too late to be there for our children. To inspire them to greatness, to remind them that they are meant to be anything they want to be. And, if you’re a mother who thinks that your job is done because your child has grown, or you think that somehow you didn’t remember to nurture them by supporting and encouraging them in their youth, then remember it’s never too late
to say that you were mistaken and if you sent the wrong message then begin a
new day of nurturing and inspiring.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Yesterday is only a memory and cannot be changed or even hold you back from who you and your children are meant to be. Today is all that we have at this moment to be the muse of inspiration that is wind beneath their wings, today and everyday for the rest of our lives.

Written by: Cindy Pitts Gilbert

Reference:
http://www.dicterinary.reference.com/browse/nurture

“Birth has not only reached the absurdity of having to be relearned, it also has the absurdity of becoming a criminal offense if we are to go ahead with our ideals and do things the way we desire. And so, because of the system, midwifery as practiced in this book is against the law. It has become political. We didn’t make it that way. For us it is a beautiful, personal, spiritual, sexual experience. And for us to have that, we become criminals.”

Though this quote from the introduction to Birth Book was written in 1972, it seems remarkably timely today though women’s choices in childbirth have possibly become even more politicized. In the early 70s, Raven Lang was a self-trained midwife in Santa Cruz, CA. She and her sister midwives opened a birth center and served many women before one of the midwives was arrested in an undercover sting operation by a law enforcement couple posing as homebirth clients. Birth Book was the first woman authored, empowerment model, homebirth-oriented book to come out of the childbirth and midwifery movement of the 70s (published even before the better known and also much beloved classic, Spiritual Midwifery). This book has recently been reprinted on a very limited basis and I was delighted to read it at last.

“This book is a collection of intimacies…It is not a manual for doing home birth yourself, instead it is a book proselytizing for family centered birth and self directed birth” (Introduction). The book opens with an introduction and a short history of childbirth as well as a discussion of pain and then begins to share women’s stories in words and pictures. The pictures are the highlight of this book! It contains a large quantity of descriptive, beautiful, black and white photos. The birth stories alternate between stories told by mothers and those told by midwives and partners. There are 16 women’s stories, 11 from the midwife’s perspective, and 7 from partners. Interspersed among the stories and photographs are short segments about imprinting, female sexuality, confronting fear, prenatal care, “what to watch for” (21 pages of basic Midwifery 101 type of content). There is one story of a stillbirth (midwife’s perspective) and one account of a transfer and cesarean section. The book closes with a short description of the statistics of the Birth Center from 1971-1972 and also a transcript of a “birth seminar” held there and some follow up commentary from local physicians.

There were 87 homebirths during the year captured in Birth Book. The statistics section notes that half of these births took place on hands and knees and this is reflected in the photographic content. Most of the excellent photos are of women birthing on their hands and knees. (Side note: Raven Lang’s initial publisher said they would not publish the book unless she removed all the photos of vulvas and bottoms. She did not and published the book on her own.)

There is no index, no table of contents, and the book is an atypical size—11 x 8.5. Aside from the addition of page numbers and a different cover image, this book is an exact reprint from 1972.

The birth stories and midwives’ accounts use almost exclusively slang terms for women’s genitals which is something I found a little jarring. I recognize that reclaiming language that has historically been used to demean women is empowering. However, I tend to use “proper” language and to be conservative verbally, so I found the use of slang to be crude and unsophisticated and I felt uncomfortable with it personally. I did become more accustomed to the choice of language as the book went on.

In terms of the history of the birth movement in the US and choices in childbirth, this book is an historical treasure! A little time capsule of the awakening of American women to joyful birth, the politics of birthing as one chooses, and the legal struggles of midwifery. As I read it, I imagined what it would have meant to me to discover this book as a pregnant woman in 1972 when it was occurring to more women to take back their births and when women were hungry for information. (I was actually born in 1979. At home, and yes, my mother did read this book.) Books like this were a tremendous contribution to birth change and to the expansion of choices for women in birth. Many concerns and issues that were current then are still in need of change today—the book is strikingly current, considering it has not been updated for the present day. “None of this would have happened if we had waited for organized medicine to come around, or if we had been scared of the laws we would break, or if we had waited for money. I want now to say POWER TO THE PEOPLE, AND YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU WANT.”

This classic book has been reprinted in a limited edition and Citizens for Midwifery has copies for sale.

- Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE

You may already be familiar with the history of Purim. Purim, or lots, is a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman’s plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. Haman cast lots to determine the day upon which to exterminate the Jews.

Purim is characterized by the public recitation of the Book of Esther (keriat ha-megilla), giving mutual gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (matanot la-evyonim), and a celebratory meal (se’edat Purim). Other customs include drinking wine, and wearing masks and costumes. The story of Purim is often referred to as “the Megillah”. This is publically read in synagogues twice on Purim: when the holiday begins at nightfall, and the following morning. When the name of Haman is read, people stomp their feet, hiss, boo, or shake noisemakers to obliterate his name.

The joyous holiday of Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jews from the wicked Haman, through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai. Purim takes place on the 14^th day of Adar, the 12^th month of the Jewish calendar. (In the case of a leap year, it takes place in the 13^th month, Adar II, while a minor holiday, Purim Katan, takes place in Adar I.) It usually falls in March. In 2010, Purim begins at sundown on February 27^th.

Our temple had a celebration that night. But, we were in the hospital having our little girl. It had been a long labor starting a couple of days earlier, and all of us were tired and ready for her to come. My husband, Michael, was a wonderful support for me, and a friend of ours, Heather, who would be our doula at our second child’s birth, came and visited us for a few hours. Then the time came to begin pushing, and I got a second wind. My nurse Peggy was completely wonderful. She was supportive of my wishes for an un-medicated birth, and she encouraged me when I needed it. We talked about Purim, and in between contractions, explained to her what it is. It was a special time for all of us. I would not have changed a thing from Havilah’s birth. Havilah was born healthy and happy. She had strong lungs and belted quite a scream. Now she is a happy, smart, beautiful, and an enjoyable child.

- Michelle Schnaars

Viola (Vi) graduated from Mundelein College with a degree in Economics. In college, she became involved with an organization called Young Christian Workers that sparked her interest in “doing things naturally.” Vi married her husband Bill in 1951 and they welcomed ten children into their lives (all unmedicated births and all breastfed!). Later, Vi delighted in having 18 grandchildren. Vi became interested in attending the first ever LLL meeting in 1956 because it was described to her as being about “mothering”—this caught Vi’s interest because it was a new concept at the time.

After the organization extended beyond local mother-to-mother support, Vi served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and later as LLLI Funding Development Director and still later with her role in the Alumnae Association and on the Founders’ Advisory Council.

Vi spoke to the power of breastfeeding and mothering when she said, “Breastfeeding… led me to self-discovery and to a greater appreciation of the full humanity of the babies who were entrusted to me. Each woman needs to trust her own instincts, her own feelings, and her own sense of what will work for her with each baby.”

Viola Lennon was born in 1923 and passed away in January of this year. She is remembered as a woman who had a profound influence on the entire world and she left an incredible legacy.

Primary Source: The Revolutionaries Wore Pearls by Kaye Lowman, 2007.

Molly Remer

Doulas of Georgia,

Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention’s (G-CAPP) mission is to eliminate adolescent pregnancy in Georgia by developing, establishing and supporting ideas and program innovations that build local and statewide capacity to promote the healthy development of our most vulnerable adolescents. G-CAPP’s network of Second Chance Homes helps teenage mothers become self-sufficient by providing them with a safe living environment that emphasizes high school completion, increase in parenting and life skills, a reduction of subsequent teenage pregnancies, and healthy outcomes for the children. The overarching goal of Second Chance Homes is to create self-sufficient, healthy families.

G-CAPP’s Doula Program is partnering with Second Chance Homes assisting pregnant teens with improving birth outcomes, decreasing unnecessary medical interventions, such as cesarean sections and epidurals, increasing mother-child bonding, increasing breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates and prevent rapid repeat pregnancy among teen mothers in Georgia.

G-CAPP is in the process of searching for volunteer doulas to work with our Second Chance Homes throughout Georgia. We would like to know if there are any doulas that may be interested in providing volunteer doula services to teens that are living in our Second Chance Homes or on the waiting list. There are pregnant girls located on the waiting list located in Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb, Clayton, Dekalb, Whitfield, Bibb, Paulding, Spaulding and Sumter Counties.

Please let me know if you are interested and what county you would like to service. If you know of any other doulas that may be interested please give them my email address: tia@gcapp.org. We are not limited to servicing youth in the counties listed above, so if you live in a particular county that is not listed and you are willing to volunteer your services please let me know.

Sincerely,
Tyiska Demery
Doula Program Coordinator

On 12^th January 2010, Haiti was struck by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake that was centered approximately 16 miles (25 kilometers) from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Several countries have responded to Haitian appeals for aid, including the United States, which has military relief efforts underway. A doula is a professional who provides various forms of non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical, emotional, educational) in the childbirth process. Based on a particular doula’s training and background, she may offer support during prenatal care, during labor and childbirth, and/or during the postpartum period. A birth doula provides support during labor. She may attend a home birth, or she can attend the parturient woman during labor at home, continue while in transport, and then complete supporting the birth at a hospital or a birth center.

Created following the attacks against the United States on September 11^th, 2001, OSD provides volunteer labor doulas for military families. Creator Patricia Newton, CLE, CCCE, CLD, RN realized that many women were birthing without their partners, either because they were deployed, or were killed as a result of the attacks. Newton recruited many labor doulas, and soon was receiving calls from others wanting to volunteer their services. In 2005, Newton asked the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) to take over the organization, and they were proud to do so. OSD, now under the direction of CAPPA’s MaryBeth Nance, continues to grow. OSD, with more than 600 volunteers, has met more than 840 requests for doulas since March 2005.

For information about OSD, and to find out if you qualify for labor doula services, please visit operationspecialdelivery.org or email MaryBeth Nance, Director, at osd@cappa.net.

Brenda Bach, RN, CCCE, HBCE, worked as a labor and delivery nurse before becoming a CAPPA certified childbirth educator, gaining her CAPPA certification in 2004. She was a CAPPA State and Regional representative for a few years before her promotion to Director of Regional Representatives, alongside Rena Koerner.

Brenda volunteers with a local birth advocacy group which seeks to improve maternity systems through evidence-based care, and she is finishing her Bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is the mom of an eight year old son, and has been married to her husband for eleven years.

Rena Koerner, CLD, CCBE, CHBI, is a CAPPA certified labor doula, childbirth educator, lactation educator and labor doula trainer. She is also certified as a Happiest Baby Instructor and Reiki Practitioner. Rena takes pride in being an excellent informational resource to newly expectant mothers, their partners, and rising doulas.

As a very active member in the childbirth community it is her goal to bring awareness about choices in childbirth, and to empower families to have the birth they deserve. Rena believes that knowledge is power, and it is her goal to educate families as they travel the path of parenthood.

Rena has been a representative of CAPPA since 2004, when she became a State Representative, then moving up to a Regional level, and now as a Director of Regional Representatives, alongside Brenda Bach.

The leadership of CAPPA is proud to have their experience and expertise available to our membership. Please direct all questions to Brenda at db2411@msn.com, and to Rena at doularena@integrativechildbirth.com.

Chelsea Eardley went to college with a plan to become a Spanish teacher. But after earning a BA in Foreign Languages and Literatures with an emphasis in Spanish, and leaving Chile, she had no idea what to do with it. Through a series of interesting events, she came to work in the health care field and has now been working with pregnant women and mothers (and their families), of all ages for over four years. She quickly discovered a special place in her heart for teen parents. She is a case manager for pregnant and parenting teens, as well as a CAPPA-trained volunteer labor doula and lactation educator through a community health center in the Denver metro area of Colorado. Part of her work with teens involves teaching a two-day sexual education curriculum in middle and high schools, facilitating support groups in high schools for teen parents, and staffing a teen clinic which provides confidential family planning services. Chelsea and her boyfriend are Colorado natives. She enjoys the beauty of her home state at any time of the year, with hobbies like hiking, camping, snowboarding, snowshoeing with her two black labs, and wakeboarding. Despite her love for home, she enjoys expanding her cultural and linguistic horizons by traveling. She has been to Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland, England, and Spain, and all over the U.S. Next stops: more of Europe and (hopefully) Japan!

Ana Hill, CLE, CLD, CCCE, CAPPA Faculty, and conference lecturer, has been attending births and providing parent education in the Denver Metro area of Colorado since 1998. She first fell in love with CAPPA in 2000, and served as the CAPPA State Representative for Colorado for several years. She was thrilled to help bring the 2003 CAPPA conference to Denver. Being active in the doula community has always been important to Ana. After participating in the creation committee for the Colorado Doulas Association (CDA), she served behind the scenes as an advisor for several years, and is currently serving as the CDA’s President.

Ana is certified as a labor doula, lactation educator, and childbirth educator with CAPPA. She teaches breastfeeding in several hospitals and independent locations around the Denver metro area, as well as providing in-home education. She has been training labor doulas for CAPPA certification since 2005. She brings to her work a passion for serving new families and a strong commitment to excellence in the doula profession.

Ana has been happily married for more than 20 years to the most supportive and patient man on earth! She and Stephen have two grown children and four teenagers, ensuring that life in the Hill household is busy and exciting. Ana’s adult daughter Laurie frequently assists her at trainings.

The Doula Association of Southern California, or DASC, has been recognizing the valuable contributions of their more than 200 members. This year on November 1^st, 2009, during their Annual Awards Banquet (now in its sixth year), three particular doulas that we know were honored for their extraordinary doula work within the field. Rena’ Koerner Ward received the 2009 Labor Doula of the Year award, Darla Burns received the 2009 Mentor of the Year award, and Ana Markel received Most Inspiring Doula (2009). For more than ten years, DASC has been bringing doulas together through networking and support programs. Quoting their website, “DASC is a non-profit professional community of doulas which recognizes the profundity of birth on the human experience and society at large, while respecting the individual needs of childbearing families. We provide a supportive forum for maintaining professional standards, continuing the education of birth and postpartum doulas, and informing the public of the benefits of doula care.”

In addition to being doulas, these women provide an array of services. Rena’ is both a childbirth and lactation educator. She has almost nine years experience as a labor doula. Rena’ is also a certified Happiest Baby on the Block educator, and Reiki practitioner. She provides breastfeeding support, adoption support, and birth photography. She is a CAPPA faculty member, providing labor doula training in California, and in other states without a labor doula trainer. For seven years, Rena’ has served as the DASC Secretary. Now she will be serving a two-year term as DASC President for 2010-2012.

With more than nineteen years experience, Darla provides labor and postpartum doula services, and childbirth and lactation education. She is a CAPPA faculty member, conducting postpartum doula trainings within California, and in states that are without a CAPPA postpartum doula trainer. Darla is the CAPPA Executive Director of the Postpartum Doula Program, and the DASC member and co-circle Leader for the Santa Clarita Valley.

Ana Paula Markel, ICCE, CD (DONA), is an international speaker on prenatal education, doulas, and mainstreaming birth options. With nine years experience, she is a labor doula, childbirth educator, DONA approved birth doula trainer, and the DASC Director of Public Relations. She is also the owner of Bini Birth. Ana has been an expert featured on CBS, on other television, and in film. Her clients view her as an essential investment, and among her endorsements are many local OB/GYNs. Her childbirth education classes help women to maintain a healthy pregnancy, and prepare them and their spouses for childbirth. Ana’s warm, caring, and calming demeanor helps parents through the challenges of labor, and also helps to create an environment in which they feel safe and secure.

- Michelle Schnaars

Georgia, USA, October 20, 2009. The Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) introduced today Sonali Shivlani, Executive Director CAPPA India, and Ruti Karni Horowitz, Executive Director CAPPA Israel.

The CAPPA vision is one in which women are encouraged to trust their bodies, and myths about childbirth and breastfeeding are dispelled. CAPPA asks us to imagine a world where women are given the tools they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum experiences; where women are surrounded by caring, compassionate support throughout the childbearing year.

“I am extremely excited about these two new branches. Both Sonali (Shivlani) and Ruti (Karni Horowitz) are committed to the CAPPA vision and mission. They understand the needs within their respective countries and are willing to do the work to make a difference,” said Tracy Wilson Peters, CAPPA Founder and Chief Executive Officer, when talking of the branches and their executive directors. Wilson Peters says that “healthcare outside the USA can be very different. CAPPA feels that it is important to offer our programs from within these countries, by professionals who are actually living and working there. All CAPPA members will benefit from CAPPA’s global expansion.”

Carolyn Thompson, CAPPA Canada Executive Director said, “New CAPPA branches will recognize the common experiences of the country and education will therefore be tailored to regional needs. Using global CAPPA standards, different regional medical models, cultural and historical practices and experiences that are specific to each branch will be used to create certification and advanced programs to meet the client needs of the area. This will increase confidence in the birth and postpartum information and resources shared with expectant and postpartum families.” Thompson continued, “Promoting a culturally safe environment, recognition of changing demographics, and implementation of support strategies for growing diverse and vulnerable populations will also bring positive changes. Each CAPPA branch is better suited to be a change agent in a local and national capacity. Positive changes can increase the health and well-being of families and also facilitate nation to nation implementation. What helps one birthing family in effect helps the global family.” CAPPA has produced a video called Imagine a World, which you can view here.

Meet the Directors

Ms. Ruti Karni Horowitz brings to CAPPA Israel extensive experience and knowledge, and we are honored to have her join team CAPPA as the Executive Director of CAPPA Israel. Experienced in birth classes as well as education, she is a certified childbirth and lactation educator, doula, yoga teacher and pregnancy yoga teacher. She is the Founder and Director of the Israeli leading birth professions school The Art of Birthing, and Editor and Manager of the sites The Art of Birth Support and The Art of Birthing. Ms. Karni Horowitz is the author of the books Omanut Haleida: The Art of Giving Birth, The Next Step and The Art of Birthing, and of the guided imagery relaxation CD, The Art of Birthing, and author and narrator of the audio relaxation disc for birth Omanut Haleida: The Art of Giving Birth.

For more than a decade, as a birth theoretician writing articles that embody the very heart of contemporary birth perception and managing The Birth Forum, Ms. Karni Horowitz forms a major juncture for knowledge and public opinion which helps shape birth for both mothers and professionals. Ms. Karni Horowitz is a graduate of the Israeli Center for Birth Education. She is one of the founders of the Women Taking Birth movement for freedom of choice in birth in Israel, and is one of the establishers of The Roof Organization for Accompaniment and Instruction around Birth and Life Circles Professions, and is co-founder of the Israeli organization for Free Choice in Birth, and founder of the Israeli Organization of Birth Professions. She is the creator of the system for training doulas and birth course instructors and developer of the unique curriculum which combines a huge and up-to-date body of knowledge with group and individual coaching and intensive referents. The practical and theoretical knowledge have combined into the strong ideological motivation to change the face of birth and to improve the well-being of mothers and newborns in Israel.

Ms. Karni Horowitz said of her new position, “I feel great, inspired and lucky. Israel is an intensive place. Birth is in the eye of the storm. It integrates historical, cultural, medical, political, religious, and so many other fields that affect and shape it, that only international collaboration, and the blessings the Internet brings, can change things rapidly and make it happen in our era.”

Karni Horowitz explains, “We (Israel) shall assimilate CAPPA’s manuals and features within our studies program, which contains at the moment a 350 academic hour course for training childbirth instructors and labor doulas in a one year long combined program.”

Ms. Karni Horowitz continues, “We have to act in favor of founding a unique status for birth and postpartum professionals. As the humanist oriented birth professionals, we must create that status with our bare hands; no one will recognize us as such if we won’t create it from the thin air.” She explained, “In order to enhance birth we have to be pioneers and activists. We have to aspire to be the first to formulate some detailed protocols in order to organize relationships in order to solve interpersonal communication difficulties. CAPPA has already made huge steps toward the goal of professionalism and communication protocols. By assimilation of protocols Israel and worldwide we shall promote humanistic and healthy birth more efficiently.”

We welcome Ms. Sonali Shivlani to team CAPPA as the Executive Director of CAPPA India. We are honored to have her experience and expertise. Ms. Shivlani holds a degree in business management. She is an internationally certified childbirth and lactation educator (CAPPA), and a La Leche League Leader and is in charge of the suburbs group in Mumbai, where she also introduced a training program for those women who would like to become lactation counselors. Post-certification, Ms. Shivlani put together a birth preparation program, which was suited to the urban Indian scenario. This unique course helps to prepare couples not only for the pregnancy and the birth but also for the months thereafter. She has been associated with BEAMS, a specialty hospital for women in Khar, Mumbai, since April 2004. In August 2005, she joined with the CLAY Institute for Wellness and Lifestyle Enhancement, which is based in Mumbai, and has a lactation counseling program for expectant women and moms. This program is the first out-of-hospital breastfeeding support group in India. She opened her private practice center (2005) where she introduced the concept of the same program in a work shop format which was especially suited to the working woman. 2006 saw the introduction of the program at Sujay Hospital at Andheri W. Ms. Shivlani is part of the expert panel for pregnancy and child care at INDIWO.com (CNBC TV 18).

Ms. Shivlani explains, “I live in a metro city and there are services available for pregnant families in the form of classes, although they are few in number and concentrated in only a few areas. Also I have conducted workshops in Raipur, Ludhiana, and Kolkata, etc., and my workshop was the first of its kind happening in the city. Women were so eager to attend and wanted to know when the next one will happen. They want them on a more regular basis and every location invited me to come back at least once a month. Imagine what we can do now. With CAPPA being in India, we can now offer the possibility for these remote areas to also have trained practitioners providing these services,” she continued to explain, “I would also like to look at the possibility of offering the manuals, and the option of doing the program in regional languages, but that would be at a later date. As we have more and more birth professionals, there will be more contact options for families and the information supports that will be in place, along with the emotional support will be available on a broader spectrum.”

Ms. Shivlani explains, “Birth is universal. But there are more and more instances of women going into the process uninformed, and hence they are having an unsatisfactory experience. The cesarean section rate is alarmingly high, especially in the metro cities. Myths and misconceptions are rampant. Women do things during pregnancy and in the postnatal period purely based on what they are told at home, which might not be accurate. If we can create professionals who are a one-stop resource guide providing emotional support as well as information, it will make pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period much easier.” She says, “I have seen the affect of my programs on the families with whom I have worked. I just want to make this more large scale for the entire country.”

Wilson Peters said, “These new branches mean better births—pure and simple. New and expectant parents will benefit immediately from the increase in trained birth and postpartum professionals.”

“As CAPPA grows globally we have the incredible opportunity to have a positive affect on more and more families. CAPPA India and CAPPA Israel will provide excellent training and certification options to those who would like to become childbirth professionals within these two countries. CAPPA has always been an international organization, but we feel by actually having branches within these countries we can make more of an impact,” said Wilson Peters.

Carolyn Thompson, CAPPA Canada Executive Director said, “The global expansion of CAPPA will mean a greater standardized level of professionalism in the childbirth and postpartum support fields. Each country in which CAPPA Creates a unique and individual branch will promote a national infrastructure; oversee the planning and implementation of program specific manuals and standards and recommendations are included. National organizations are also often better placed to locate funding opportunities from Federal, Regional and local sources.”

Thompson continued, “CAPPA recognizes that the unique and individual voices within each country can develop inter-professional, intergovernmental, and community-based stakeholder coalitions. Global expansion and the creation of national branches, like CAPPA Canada, can help to create a stronger nation-wide vision. A stronger local and regional organization is better positioned to network and support our world support philosophy. CAPPA professionals will be able to cooperate on a global level. Each new expansion will have the extensive knowledge and expertise of the current professional leadership and membership. We will have well-established and respected national branches with a global networking focus. It is with the growth of our international branches that we in CAPPA can work in unison towards our global vision.”

The CAPPA vision asks us to imagine a world where new mothers are equipped to embrace pregnancy, birth and motherhood with confidence. CAPPA is a volunteer organization that works every day to make this a reality. CAPPA is an international organization, with a presence in more than twenty countries with the goal to continue to add branches in countries all over the world. CAPPA was launched in April 1998, by Tracy Wilson Peters, and CAPPA Canada, under the direction of Carolyn Thompson was officially launched in December 2003. Operation Special Delivery (OSD) became a part of CAPPA in January 2005 under the direction of MaryBeth Nance. CAPPA is proud that CAPPA Israel and CAPPA India are now an extension of this journey. “We really do ‘imagine a world’”, says Tracy Wilson Peters, CAPPA Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

Please join us in welcoming Ruti Karni Horowitz, Executive Director CAPPA Israel and Sonali Shivlani, Executive Director CAPPA India.

Applying for your NPI number

The new taxonomy code is 374J00000X and is called “Doula” under the heading of “Nursing Service Related Providers Type.” Although it is listed under the “Nursing” heading, it is not required to be an RN or LPN to obtain an NPI number. The description includes the services of labor doulas, postpartum doulas, and antepartum doulas. “Doulas work in a variety of settings and have been trained to provide physical, emotional, and information support to a mother before, during, and just after birth and/or provide emotional and practical support to a mother during the postpartum period.”— NUCC.org

Application standards are in the final stages of development, but one thing is already clear. Certification credentials will be necessary to apply. Only certified doulas will be able to use this code to apply for an NPI number or for reimbursement. Application for an NPI number can be made using the new taxonomy code at the National Plan and Provider Enumerator Systems (NPPES) website. While group practices may be allowed to apply for a number, it is strongly suggested by NPPES that each individual certified doula apply for her own NPI code.

Billing for Medicaid/Insurance Reimbursement

The taxonomy code and NPI number do not guarantee reimbursement, but they do remove the major obstacles to reimbursement that have existed up to this point. Continue to use appropriate contracts with your clients. Billing your clients directly and offering them reimbursement when we receive payment from the insurance companies will create the best opportunity for consistent insurance billing to become a reality. Once everything starts working more smoothly, we may be in a better position to bill directly.

A standard billing form is in development and will be available shortly. In the meantime, a 1500 Universal Claims Form can be used to bill for reimbursement. These forms can be ordered online or purchased at any medical supply store. Billing standards for labor doulas are in the final stages of development. CAPPA will release those amounts as soon as they are finalized. We feel confident that suggested billing amounts will be much more commensurate with the work involved than is reflected in many regional fee structures.

Billing standards for postpartum and antepartum doulas are still in development and may take a little longer as they are much more complex.

In order to become a “Medicaid Provider”, a separate application process must be completed. This process varies by state, but will require the taxonomy code and NPI number. Check for application instructions on your state website.

CAPPA will be sending out further information on billing standards, forms, and other developments as they become available. We will strive to answer all your questions in a timely fashion. Please direct your questions to your program director as follows: Labor Doula program, Antepartum Doula program, Postpartum Doula program.

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Pat Burrell, RN, CD for working tirelessly over the last year to obtain assignment of this code. Pat is continuing to spearhead the effort to finalize details of this exciting development. If you have a question that cannot be answered by your program director, or if you simply wish to express your thanks to Pat, she can be reached at mindbodysp@aol.com.

Darla, Lori and Olivia are dedicated to supporting women and their families in the childbearing year, and we are honored to have their experience and expertise applied to these new positions. Please join us in welcoming them.

Darla Burns, CCCE, CPD, CLD, CLE, CAPPA Faculty, has been supporting women and families as a birth doula since 1990 and was certified by DONA in 2003. Finding that she also loved working with the families after they delivered, she then became a CAPPA certified postpartum doula in 2004, a Happiest Baby on the Block instructor, and an Infant Massage instructor. Darla was recognized in 2005 by the Doulas Association of Southern California (DASC) with an award for “Favorite Postpartum Doula of the Year”. Her thirst for learning anything and everything about birth, babies and the postpartum period inspired her to continue her education and she then became a certified childbirth educator and lactation educator. Darla says, “It is a privilege to work with families during the most important times in their lives.” Her love of working with families and sharing her knowledge with others led her to her position as a faculty member for CAPPA which allows her to conduct CAPPA Postpartum Doula training workshops throughout the state of California. She has been featured in The Signal Newspaper and the Santa Clarita Valley Magazine. Darla also owns a computer parts business with her husband where she serves as the company’s C.F.O. When she’s not working, she spends her time relaxing in sunny Southern CA with her husband and two great kids.

Lori Davis, CLD serves as the Ohio, Michigan, and W. Virginia State Coordinator for Operation Special Delivery (OSD). She became an OSD volunteer doula in 2006. Having experienced military life as an Air Force wife, given birth to her sons in an Army hospital and an Air Force hospital when her husband was in the Air Force, and now as an Army mom, she is very passionate about the organization and its mission. She finds it very rewarding to honor our military by supporting and helping to match OSD doulas with expectant military moms who will be giving birth while their husbands or partners are on military deployment in support of the war on terror or after they have been severely injured or killed in action.

Lori has always been fascinated with childbirth and babies for as long as she can remember but became especially passionate about birth support after having attended the birth of her niece. After receiving her Labor Doula training from Tracy Wilson-Peters in June of 2003, she has been enjoying providing childbirth support as a CAPPA certified Labor Doula in central and west-central OH. She has volunteered at a pregnancy care center in the past and now volunteers as a part-time substitute receptionist at New Life Nurse-Midwifery Care in Marysville, OH.

Lori has been married to her high school sweetheart since 1986. She lives in rural central Ohio along with her loving husband and teenaged son. Her oldest son is enlisted active duty Army and serves stateside as well as in periodic deployments to Afghanistan. She and her family are active in church and her hobbies include family travels, RV camping, swimming, canoeing, cross stitching, and riding gigantic roller coasters whenever she gets the chance.

Olivia Sporinsky is married to her soldier husband and they have three children. Her interest in becoming a labor doula was sparked when she learned about Operation Special Delivery (OSD). As a military spouse she loves volunteering with an organization that directly benefits those who remain at home during deployments. She trained as a Labor Doula in 2007, a Childbirth Educator in 2008 and is currently completing her certifications in both programs. She is the co-founder of the Central Texas Birth Circle, a monthly group of parents and birth professionals who meet to discuss all topics related to pregnancy and birth. Her business, Bellies, Birth & Babies Doula Support provides childbirth education, labor doula services, belly casting and teen support. Olivia’s responsibilities as the CAPPA Marketing Director will include sponsorship, advertising and introducing new products and companies to CAPPA membership. In her spare time Olivia enjoys knitting, sewing, camping and hiking.

You’re expecting a child and even though this is an exciting time in your life, you still have questions about pregnancy health, labor and birth, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and parenting. The CAPPA Parent Pages are dedicated to new and expectant parents. You will find links to a variety of websites about the topics that are most important to you.

Whether you are expecting for the first or second time (or more), the Parent Pages at www.cappa.net/parent-pages/ will help you find the resources that are available to you, including choosing a birth place, breathing techniques, breastfeeding and storage, working while breastfeeding and newborn care. CAPPA founder and CEO Tracy Wilson Peters says, “This is just one more way CAPPA is reaching parents with information they need.”

CAPPA certified professionals aim to empower, connect and advocate for families in the childbearing year. CAPPA seeks to forge positive and productive relationships between organizations that support healthy, informed family choices. The organization consists of a leadership board, regional representatives, trainers, mentors, advisors and its membership. CAPPA is the most comprehensive pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum organization available. CAPPA insures excellence in the certifying field, and enables its members to provide timely information and support that encourages and strengthens families.

- Michelle Schnaars
CAPPA Publications

In our quest to provide you with a more user-friendly site, we recently decided to implement some cool changes to the CAPPA blog! Hopefully these additions will enhance your visits to the CAPPA blog! The changes are as follows:

• The ability to search our blog entries. One important feature lacking in the old blog system was the ability to search. Not anymore! If you’re looking for a blog entry on a specific topic, all you need to do is scroll to the bottom of this page, type in your search term in the box, and hit enter. Voila! Every blog entry containing your search term will show up.
• RSS (Syndication). If you’re not able to visit the CAPPA blog on a regular basis, or you just forget to do so, you can now subscribe to our RSS feed! Use your favorite RSS reader (Google Reader, for example) to keep track of all the updates made to the CAPPA blog.
• Permanent links to entries. If you’d like to reference a particular entry in the CAPPA blog, all our entries now have permanent links! Underneath the title of every blog post is a link that says “Permanent link to this post”. Clicking on that link will take you to a page that shows just that specific blog entry. Now you can link to your heart’s content!
• Archived posts. If you’d rather see all posts in a specific month, now you can with our archive! This one is pretty self-explanatory. ;)

We hope you enjoy these new features! If you have any other suggestions to improve the usability of our website, please let us know!

- Kacy Tittle
CAPPA Webmaster

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