Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), founded in 1998, is a membership and certifying organization that offers training of childbirth educators, postpartum doulas, and labor doulas.

CAPPA instructs its training attendees to inform parents of the labor process, the advantages and disadvantages of many interventions, and how to work with the healthcare team to achieve the best possible birth experience. It also instructs its childbirth educators and doulas to recognize tension versus relaxation, how to relieve the tension, and pain relieving techniques.

The word doula comes from the Greek word for servant and refers to a woman who provides continuous support, comfort, and information to an expecting woman before, during, and immediately following the birth. Fathers present in labor appreciate the comfort, guidance, and security a doula provides.

In this day and age, when patients are many and nurses are few, having the continuous support of a doula present during labor and birth can help to strengthen a bond between the new family and strengthen the women's confidence in being a mother. "It is not our place as educators to mold parents into our birthing philosophy, but to give them the education necessary to build a sound philosophy of their own," stated Heather Thomas, RN, CCCE, CLD, the Michigan State Representative for CAPPA.

Regardless of a woman's age, she likely can recall every last detail of birthing her child or children, and unfortunately most women do not have a wonderful memorable experience. Helping women achieve the birth they desire, thus improving their memories and joys of birth, through accurate and complete information is the CAPPA philosophy.

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