CAPERS Bookstore

22/08/2025

Another very sad day in the childbirth movement, but a time too to reflect on his amazing contribution and impact. We visited Michel Odent in Pithiviers more than 40 years ago, planned his first tour of Australia and looked forward to each one, here and in New Zealand. Our condolences to partner Liliana, and all Michel's family. Michel was 95.

We are saddened to hear news of the passing of Michel Odent, whose vision and writing reshaped the way we understand human birth.

Michel Odent reminded us that birth is not a medical procedure to be controlled, but a primal rythm to be respected. He advocated for home-like maternity units, warm water births, protecting the birthing woman's privacy and honouring her instincts, undisturbed contact between mother and newborn; he was among the first to discuss the importance of the microbiome, and question many of the practices that had (and have) become normalised in overmedicalised maternity systems globally.

Michel Odent's legacy lives on in every dimmed, quiet birthing room, and in every midwife his words and work inspired to join our profession.

Thank you, Michel, for your passion, vision and committment to women and newborns.

Photo: Xavier Caré / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA

20/09/2024

2nd Anniversary Queen Elizabeth's death in the media today led me to reflect on "leading lights" in the international childbirth movement who, sadly, are no longer with us.. and noticing that Sheila and Penny, good friends, both died on 11 April, and that most lived a long long life .. Sheila Kitzinger, Penny Simkin, Diony Young, Murray Enkin, Elisabeth Bing, Grantley Dick-Read, John Kennell & Marshall Klaus, Murray Enkin.

21/01/2024

Important announcement - CAPERS Bookstore will close in 2024.

CAPERS Bookstore was established in 1988 (and online from 2001), to provide quality resources for parents and health professionals, as well as educational events for midwives, lactation consultants and other health professionals.

Until 2019, CAPERS presented 1,000 events across Australia and New Zealand and provided a valuable source for educational resources, including being the exclusive Australian supplier of many items. Through our events, support programs (eg informal free parenting groups), resources and advocacy, we are proud of the impact we had on maternity care in Australia.

We stopped presenting events in 2019, intending this to be temporary. However, the global pandemic intervened, with its repercussions on travel and educational events. In mid-2018, Jan bought Rosetta Books in Maleny, and she and Sarah managed the store until it was sold and Jan retired in late 2022.

As Sarah took a different career path, we made the difficult decision to also close CAPERS Bookstore in 2024. We are now selling the last of our stock at substantial discounts. Stock is limited and items will not be re-stocked.

We thank our customers for their support of the bookstore and our events over the last 30+ years. We would also like to thank the many presenters at our events and the authors who have entrusted us with selling their books.

Sarah & Jan Cornfoot

17/11/2022

After so many years of research and education, guidelines are finally catching up!

20/02/2022

27/03/2021

Wonderful book launch this afternoon for new book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage. Lovely to see familiar faces, new faces and lots of connections made 😊

Rachel Reed

10/01/2021

See prices on photos. Please comment Sold and title to reserve, or send PM.
Postage will be minimum $10.
Once price and postage is confirmed I'll send a link to pay online or by PayPal.

29/07/2020

New Rebozos in stock now!

Lots of gorgeous colours and patterns, but stock of each is limited so get in quick.

Our rebozos are genuine Mexican rebozos, from a small business based in Mexico. One of its many traditional uses is to assist the birthing mother. Support persons or the midwife will move the Rebozo in a wide variety of ways to achieve techniques to assist the mother as she feels pain or discomfort.

https://www.capersbookstore.com.au/product-category/teaching-resources/rebozos/