Birth Well Doula

A Doula is a woman who attends the birthing family before, during, and just after the birth of a baby. She is also called a “birth assistant” or “labor support specialist.” She provides emotional, physical, and informational support.

A Doula is trained as an advocate, labor coach, and support partner. She helps ease the transition from laboring at home to the hospital environment of changing shifts and medical monitoring. During labor, a Doula assists in physical comfort, emotional encouragement, labor progression through suggestion of various positions, support to the dad/partner, and better communication between the birthing family and caregivers.

A Doula’s support is non-medical. She empowers the laboring women and her partner, who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by the powerful forces of labor, the sytemetized care in most hospitals, and the amazing miracle of childbirth. The Doula’s goal is to support the parents in the birth preferences they choose toward the goal of a wonderfully satisfying welcome of their new baby.

Doula is a Greek word that means “woman’s helper” and the term was used to refer to the female servant of the woman of the house. The labor Doula is a servant to the needs of women giving birth.

Benefits of Labor Support

Evidence-based research shows that having continuous companionship of another woman (a doula) during labor offers the following benefits:

• Reduction in cesarean rates (up to 50%)
• Fewer requests for epidurals (up to 60%)
• Shorter Labor (25% - 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours)
• Reduction in oxytocin/pitocin use
• Neonatal hospitalization and rate of complications reduced
• Fewer forceps/vacuum deliveries
• Increased rate of breastfeeding
• Reduction in postpartum depression

References
1.) Kennell, J.H.; Klaus, M.H.; McGrath, S.K.; Robertson, S.S.; Hinkley, C.W. “Continuous Emotional Support during Labor in a U.S. Hospital.” Journal of the American Medical Association 265(1991):2197-2201
2.) Sosa, R.; Kennell, J.H.; Robertson, S.; Urrutia, J. “The Effect of a Supportive Companion on Perinatal Problems, Length of Labor and Mother-Infant Interaction.” New England Journal of Medicine 303(1980):597-600

Adding a doula to your birth team provides greater satisfaction, and can often reduce health care costs.