Doula Reading List
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Required Reading Lists for Doula (Labour Assistant) Certification

ALACE (Association of Labour Assistants and Childbirth Educators)

Birth Works

CAPPA (Childbirth And Postpartum Professional Association)

CEF (Childbirth Enhancement Foundation)

Childbirth International

DONA (Doula's of North America)

ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association)

Titus 2 Birthing

Back to Comparison Chart

ALACE

Required for Certification

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ALACE Labour Assistant Training Manual (included in certification package)

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Bestfeeding by Renfrew, Fisher and Arms –or- Nursing Mother’s Companion by Huggins

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Birth After Cesarean by Flamm

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Birth As An American Rite of Passage by Davis-Floyd

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The Birth Partner by Simkin

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From Start to Finish… A Practical Guide for Your Labour Support Business by Ellis (included in certification package)

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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Korte and Scaer

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Heart and Hands by Davis

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Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labour Assistant by Perez and Snedecker

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A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth by Enkin, Keirse and Chalmers *

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Understanding Diagnostic Tests in the Childbearing Year by Frye *

*These last two books are required for reference purposes. Although you are not expected to read each book cover to cover, you are required to be familiar with their layout and content and it is strongly encouraged you own or insure access to a copy once you begin your practice.

Strongly Recommended

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Active Birth by Balaskas

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After Baby’s Birth; A Woman’s Way to Wellness by Lim

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Babies Remember Birth by Chamberlain

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Becoming a Midwife by Steiger

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The Birth Book by Sears and Sears

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Ended Beginnings by Panuthos and Romeo

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Mothering the New Mother by Placksin

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Silent Knife by Estner and Cohen –or- Open Season by Cohen

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Special Delivery by Baldwin Dancy

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Spiritual Midwifery by Gaskin

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Wise Woman’s Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Weed

Recommended Reference

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Getting to Yes by Fisher and Ury

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Human Labour and Birth by Oxorn and Foote

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Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus

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Nurse-Midwifery by Varney

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Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

 

Birth Works

Book Report on Each

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Birth Reborn

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Ended Beginnings by Panuthos and Romeo

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Birthing Normally 

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Immaculate Deception by Arms

 

CAPPA

Must read CAPPA Labor Doula Manual and at least Five of the Following:

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Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant by Paulina Perez

bulletThe Nurturing Touch at Birth by Paulina Perez
bulletThe Doula Book by Klaus, Klaus, and Kennell (revised edition of Mothering the Mother)
bulletThe Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
bulletPregnancy and Birth: The Best Evidence by Joyce Barrett and Teresa Pitman*
bulletPregnancy and Birth: Your Questions Answered by Karina Reynolds, Grainne McCartan and Christoph Lees*
bulletPregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler
bulletThe Birth Book by William and Martha Sears
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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diane Korte and Roberta Scaer

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Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper

bulletThe Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Shelia Kitzinger
bulletVaginal Birth After Cesarean by Elizabeth Kaufman
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Cesarean Birth and VBAC by Elizabeth Kaufman

bulletThe VBAC Companion by Diana Korte
bulletBirth as an American Rite of Passage by Robbie Davis-Floyd
bulletThe Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins
bulletThe Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Anwar Fazal
bulletDr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Newman and Pitman*
bulletThe Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Newman and Pitman (US edition of the above book)
bulletObstetric Myths vs. Research Realities by Henci Goer
* Canadian author and publisher specifically for Canadian readers

 

CEF

Required Reading

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Special Women by Perez

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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin et al

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Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus

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Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by LLLI

 

Childbirth International

Required Reading

One book from each topic:

Listening Skills, Language & Teaching

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Antenatal Education: Mary Nolan   

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Leading Antenatal Classes: Priest, J., Schott, J.

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The Effective Use of Roleplay: van Merts Morry

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Once Upon a Group: Kindred, M.

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A Woman In Your Own Right, Dickson, A.

Pregnancy

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Natural Pregnancy: Balaskas, J.

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The Encyclopedia of Pregnancy and Birth, Balaskas, J., Gordon, Y

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The Tentative Pregnancy: Rothman, B.K.

Labor & Birth

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Birth Without Violence: Leboyer, F.

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From Mother’s to Daughters: Warloe, C.

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Gentle Birth Choices: Harper, B.

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Sensitive Midwifery, Flint, C.

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Birth - Eight Women's Stories: McKenna, N. D. (video)

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Myles Textbook for Midwives: Bennett, V. R., Brown, K.

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Mayes Midwifery: Sweet, B. R., Tiran, D.

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Birth Stories: Kutzinger, S.

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Giving Birth: Challenges & Choices: video

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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth: Korte, D., & Scaer, R. 

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Spiritual Midwifery: Gaskin, I. M.

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Easing Labor Pain: Lieberman, A.

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Childbirth Without Fear, Dick-Read, G.

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Pain Relief in Childbirth: Bradford, N., & Chamberlain, G.

Cesarean Birth

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Immaculate Deception II: Arms, S.

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The VBAC Companion: Korte, D.

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Silent Knife: Cohen, N. W., & Estner, L. J. 

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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: Kaufman, E

Labor Support

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Special Women: Perez, P., & Snedeker, C.

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The Birth Partner: Simkin, P

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The Doula Book: Klaus, Klaus & Kennell

Evidence-Based Care

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Home Birth and other alternatives to hospital, Kitzinger, S.

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Where to be born – the debate & the evidence: Campbell, R., Macfarlane

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Birth Matters: Claxton, R.

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A Guide to Effective Care: Enkin, M., Keirse, M., & Chalmers, I.

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Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities: Goer, H.

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Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding Pure & Simple: Gotsch, G.

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Breastfeeding Your Baby: Kitzinger, S.

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So That’s What They’re For: Tamaro, J.

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Bestfeeding: Renfrew, M., Fisher, C., & Arms, S

Postnatal Life

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The Year After Childbirth, Kitzinger, S.

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The First Year, Ranking, G.

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Preparing for Birth and Parenthood: Wilberg, G. M.

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Beyond the Blues - Prenatal & Postpartum Depression: Bennett, S.S., & Indman, P.

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Baby & Child: Leach, P.

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Toddler Taming: Green, C.

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Sleep & Wakefulness: Welford, H.

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Crying Baby, Sleepless Nights: Jones, S.

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Postnatal Depression: Nicolson, P.

Grief

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Ended Beginnings - Healing Childbearing Losses: Panuthos, C.

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When a Baby Dies: SANDS

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When a Baby Dies - A Handbook for Healing and Helping: Limbo R.K., & Wheeler, S.R.

Birth & Culture

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Asian Childcare: Lyen, K., Thein, M.M., & Ang, J.

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Birth in Four Cultures: Jordan, B. 

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Childbirth and Authoritative Knowledge: Davis-Floyd, R.E., & Sargent, C.F.

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Ethnography of Fertility and Birth: MacCormack, C.P.

Working With Men

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Fatherhood: Howarth, P.

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The Expectant Father: Haslam, D.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Fatherhood: Bowles, C.

 

 

DONA

At least one of the following

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Special Delivery by Baldwin

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Methods of Childbirth by Bean

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The Complete book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Kitzinger

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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler

At least two of the following

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Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus

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Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labour Assistant by Perez and Snedeker

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The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Simkin

At least one of the following

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Gentle Birth Choices by Harper

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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Korte and Scaer

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An Easier Childbirth: A Mother’s Workbook for Health and Emotional Well-Being During Pregnancy and Delivery by Peterson

 

ICEA

Required for Certification

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Family Centered Maternity Care by Philips

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The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Simkin

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From Start to Finish... A Practical Guide for Your Labor Support Business

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Special Women by Perez and Snedeker

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Maternity and Women's Health Care by Loudermilk et al

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Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell, Klaus

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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin et al

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You and Your Newborn Baby by Todd

 

Titus 2 Birthing

Read and submit a short review of both of the following

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The Joy of Natural Childbirth: 5th Ed. of Nat. CB & The Christian Family by Wessel

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Under the Apple Tree by Wessel

Read and submit a short review of at least two of the following

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Methods of Childbirth by Bean

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Childbirth Without Fear by Dick-Read

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The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Kitzinger

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The Birth Book by Sears and Sears

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The Pregnancy Book by Sears and Sears

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Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Simkin et. al.

Read and submit a short review of at least two of the following

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Mothering the Mother by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus

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Special Women by Perez

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The Nurturing Touch at Birth by Perez

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The Birth Partner by Simkin

Read and submit a short review of at least two of the following

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Alternative Birth by Jones

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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Korte and Scaer

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An Easier Childbirth by Peterson

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Gentle Birth Choices by Harper

Read and submit a short review of at least one book in each of the following topics

C/S and Prevention

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Immaculate Deception or Immaculate Deception II: A Fresh Look at Childbirth by Arms

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Silent Knife by Wainer Cohen and Estner

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Open Season by Wainer Cohen

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Birth After Cesarean: The Medical Facts by Flamm

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Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities by Goer

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Male Practice: How Doctors Manipulate Women by Mendelsohn (out of print)

Breastfeeding

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The Nursing Mother's Companion by Huggins

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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League Int.

Birth Losses and Grieving

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Empty Arms: Coping after miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death by Ilse

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Ended Beginnings by Panuthos

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The Bereaved Parent by Schiff

View at least 2 of the following and submit a short review

Visual Aids

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Special Women Video

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Comfort Measures for Labor

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Comfort Measures in Childbirth Video

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Gentle Birth Choices Video

 
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