WHAT IS A DOULA?

In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. For a birthing mother and her partner, a Doula is an advocate, a listening ear, and an assistant present to facilitate the couple’s preferences.

WHY USE A DOULA?

Doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period.  Doulas are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. Doulas offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

•tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

•reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

•reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum  

                    extraction and cesareans

•reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

•Feel more secure and cared for

•Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics

•Have greater success with breastfeeding

•Have greater self-confidence

•Have less postpartum depression

•Have lower incidence of abuse

Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow.  They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.

References:

Doulas of North America, www.dona.org

In research studies doulas have been proven to*...

    •Reduce the need for cesarean by 50%

    •Reduce the length of labor by 25%

    •Reduce the use of synthetic oxytocin by 40%

    •Reduce pain medication use by 30%

    •Reduce the need for forceps by 40%

    •Reduce epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were**:

    •Less anxious and depressed

    •More confident with their baby

    •More satisfied with their partner (71% vs 30%)

    •More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

*Nugent. “A Doula Makes the Difference” Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998

**Klaus, “The Doula” Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995.

The above information is the first stepping stone to deciding if a birth doula is correct for you.  Armed with this information, I welcome the opportunity to answer your specific questions.