Benefits of Doula Care
CC2.0 Robert Whitehead - "Danielle and Lilliyan"
What is a doula?
Per DONA International, a birth doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous support before, during, and immediately after labor.
Doulas are knowledgeable about birth, the physiological process, and the emotional needs of a woman during labor. A doula provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and factual information and resources to assist with decision-making. The doula nurtures the mother and her personal needs, and recognizes childbirth as a key experience.
What does a doula do?
A doula enhances the birth experience by:
What are the benefits of doula care?
Research has revealed that doula care can have numerous benefits for both mother and baby (1). Women who are supported by a doula during labor are less likely to request pain medications (2,3), require labor induction/augmentation drugs (4), require vacuum or forceps assisted births, require Cesarean sections, or experience postpartum depression (1). In addition, they tend to experience shorter labors (1), are more likely to report positives feeling about their birth experience(1,2), have an easier time breastfeeding, and experience greater self-esteem (3). Furthermore, their babies tend to have higher apgar scores and are less likely to be admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after birth (1).
More information about these and other benefits of doula support can be found in the references listed below.
How is a doula different from a labor & delivery nurse or midwife?
A doula provides non-clinical support during labor, as described above. A doula does not diagnose or prescribe treatment, provide medical advice, perform vaginal exams, check fetal heart tones, deliver the baby, take blood pressure readings, or any other clinical tasks. Many clinical care providers work in shifts or must attend multiple patients at a given time. Thus, women are often attended by multiple nurses or midwives during labor and birth. A doula's role is to provide continuous support during labor and thus will remain with the woman throughout labor and into immediate postpartum.
How is doula support different from that of a partner/spouse?
Partners and doulas make a great team! There is no doubt that partners play an absolutely valuable role in providing support during birth. A doula does not replace the partner in any way, but rather complements and even enhances the partner's role. Doulas assist partners with options in supporting the laboring mother. Many partners feel unsure about birth and how to provide support, or they may feel uncomfortable watching their loved one experience labor. The doula can provide reassurance and provide emotional support to the partner, as well as to the mother. A doula is highly knowledgeable about birth and can explain information to the partner to help informed decision making. Partners will need breaks to eat, drink, and use the bathroom. He/she will likely feel more comfortable knowing that the mother will be well-supported while he/she is away.
I am not sure if I want to hire a doula. How can I learn more?
A number of objective resources exist that can help you decide whether or not you want to hire a doula. Evidence-Based Birth and Childbirth Connection are two online sources that specialize in delivering objective, evidence-based information about a variety of topics pertaining to childbirth. You may also like to access the peer-reviewed publications sited below. Please consider scheduling an interview with one or more doulas to decide which options feel right for you.
Per DONA International, a birth doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous support before, during, and immediately after labor.
Doulas are knowledgeable about birth, the physiological process, and the emotional needs of a woman during labor. A doula provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and factual information and resources to assist with decision-making. The doula nurtures the mother and her personal needs, and recognizes childbirth as a key experience.
What does a doula do?
A doula enhances the birth experience by:
- Providing emotional support
- Providing evidence-based information and resources to facilitate informed decision-making
- Assisting the mother in learning and using comfort techniques (breathing, relaxation, movement, position changes, etc)
- Assisting in preparing and carrying out a birth plan
- Facilitating communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and care providers
- Remaining with the woman throughout labor and immediately postpartum
- Supporting with the initiation of breastfeeding
- Enabling the partner's participation to the degree in which he/she feels comfortable
- And more!
What are the benefits of doula care?
Research has revealed that doula care can have numerous benefits for both mother and baby (1). Women who are supported by a doula during labor are less likely to request pain medications (2,3), require labor induction/augmentation drugs (4), require vacuum or forceps assisted births, require Cesarean sections, or experience postpartum depression (1). In addition, they tend to experience shorter labors (1), are more likely to report positives feeling about their birth experience(1,2), have an easier time breastfeeding, and experience greater self-esteem (3). Furthermore, their babies tend to have higher apgar scores and are less likely to be admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after birth (1).
More information about these and other benefits of doula support can be found in the references listed below.
How is a doula different from a labor & delivery nurse or midwife?
A doula provides non-clinical support during labor, as described above. A doula does not diagnose or prescribe treatment, provide medical advice, perform vaginal exams, check fetal heart tones, deliver the baby, take blood pressure readings, or any other clinical tasks. Many clinical care providers work in shifts or must attend multiple patients at a given time. Thus, women are often attended by multiple nurses or midwives during labor and birth. A doula's role is to provide continuous support during labor and thus will remain with the woman throughout labor and into immediate postpartum.
How is doula support different from that of a partner/spouse?
Partners and doulas make a great team! There is no doubt that partners play an absolutely valuable role in providing support during birth. A doula does not replace the partner in any way, but rather complements and even enhances the partner's role. Doulas assist partners with options in supporting the laboring mother. Many partners feel unsure about birth and how to provide support, or they may feel uncomfortable watching their loved one experience labor. The doula can provide reassurance and provide emotional support to the partner, as well as to the mother. A doula is highly knowledgeable about birth and can explain information to the partner to help informed decision making. Partners will need breaks to eat, drink, and use the bathroom. He/she will likely feel more comfortable knowing that the mother will be well-supported while he/she is away.
I am not sure if I want to hire a doula. How can I learn more?
A number of objective resources exist that can help you decide whether or not you want to hire a doula. Evidence-Based Birth and Childbirth Connection are two online sources that specialize in delivering objective, evidence-based information about a variety of topics pertaining to childbirth. You may also like to access the peer-reviewed publications sited below. Please consider scheduling an interview with one or more doulas to decide which options feel right for you.
References:
- Hodnett, E. D., S. Gates, et al. (2012). “Continuous support for women during childbirth.” Cochrane database of systematic reviews: CD003766.
- Hodnett, E. D. (2002). “Pain and women’s satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: a systematic review.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 186(5 Suppl Nature): S160-172.
- Hofmeyr, G. J., V. C. Nikodem, et al. (1991). “Companionship to modify the clinical birth environment: effects on progress and perceptions of labour, and breastfeeding.” British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 98(8): 756-764.
- Caton, D., M. P. Corry, et al. (2002). “The nature and management of labor pain: executive summary.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 186(5 Suppl Nature): S1-15.