What Is A Doula?
The role of the birth doula is to provide emotional, physical and informational support to Mom, facilitate Dad's desired level of participation, and to help both have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience. Her level of involvement is determined solely by Mom and Dad. Continuity of care, even subtly, from someone who has the skills, training, and knowledge necessary can completely change the birth experience. The service usually begins a few months before the birth to establish a relationship that gives complete freedom to ask questions and express fears and concerns. However, the benefits of a doula have been shown even when there have been no prior visits.
According to Kennel and Klaus (1993), the presence of a doula during birth has been associated with:
- Reduced overall cesarean rate by 50%
- Reduced length of labor by 25%
- Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
- Reduced use of pain medication by 30%
- Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
- Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
- Reduced incidences of maternal fever
- Reduced number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit)
- Reduced amount of septic workups performed on newborns
- Higher rates of breastfeeding
- More positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
- More positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
- Decreased rates of postpartum depression
Why Are Doulas So Important?
