What is a Doula?
A Doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
A Doula:
Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers.
Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.
Benefits of Having a Doula
Studies have shown the use of a doula during labour and delivery can have the following beneficial effects:
50% reduction in the caesarean rate
25% shorter labour
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery
Long Term Benefits:
Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours.
Better breastfeeding outcomes
Increase in mother/infant interaction
Decrease in postpartum depression and anxiety
A higher self esteem
A greater satisfaction with the birth experience
Summarized from:
Mothering the Mother – How a Doula Can Help You Have A Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth by M.H. Klaus, J.H. Kennell, and P.H. Klaus; Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., New York
