03/15/2023
Let's talk about another important member of your birth team: your birth doula!
A doula is a trained labor support person, providing continuous care to a laboring woman and her partner through physical, emotional, and informational support.
A doula DOES:
✅ Help with unexpected outcomes
✅ Help navigate challenges in pregnancy and birth
✅ Give you pep talks
✅ Suggest labor positions
✅ Provide comfort measures
✅ Facilitate relaxation
✅ Meet physical needs
✅ Encourage communicate with providers
✅ Help with breastfeeding
✅ And so much more!
A doula does NOT:
❌ Perform clinical tasks (blood pressure, vaginal exams...etc)
❌ Make decisions for you
❌ Speak to your provider or medical staff in your behalf
❌ Deliver babies
But why would someone hire a doula in the first place?
Some amazing statistics from Evidence Based Birth:
👉 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
👉 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
👉 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
👉 Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
👉 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
👉 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff
Did you hire a doula for any of your births? What benefits did you notices from having her there?
