The season of pregnancy and birth is a unique and transformative time in your life—a time that you will remember vividly, forever. It is wise to consider using a birth doula, as all research reflects positively and significantly on the doula’s presence in modern maternity care.

Studies on doula care have show women cared for during labor by a birth doula, compared to those receiving usual care were:

• 26% less likely to have a cesarean
• 41% less likely to give birth with forceps or vacuum extractors
• 28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia
• 33% less likely to be dissatisfied or negatively rate their birth experience
• more likely to have shorter labors

Doula care at birth has also been associated with better postpartum outcomes such as:
• less postpartum depression
• better assessments by the mother of her newborn’s temperament, appearance, health, and competence
• more successful breastfeeding
• greater satisfaction with birth experience

Researchers state that doulas help women feel comfortable, nurtured, and better cared for because doulas remain with the women continuously and have no responsibility other than attending to the women’s emotional well-being and physical comfort.

Fear and stress are lessened when a doula is present, and this alone may be responsible for the improved outcomes. Furthermore, women may be better prepared to take on the mothering role when their own needs for nurturing are met during the vulnerable period of labor.

-Hodnett E, Gates S, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003. Issue 3, Art. No. CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.

-Simkin, Penny, Janet Whalley, Ann Keppler, Janelle Durham, and April Bolding. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn. New York: Meadowbrook Press, 2008. 176-77.