Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
Specifically, the presence of a doula reduces the overall cesarean rate by nearly 50%, length of labor by 25%, oxytocin/pitocin use by 50%, pain medication by over 30%, the need for forceps or vacuum extraction by 34%, and requests for epidurals by up to 60%. Doula-attended mothers also report less pain during labor and postpartum show significantly less anxiety, fewer signs of depression, and a higher level of self-esteem. (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus, The Doula Book)
A birth doula:
- Recognizes childbirth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life.
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for the birth.
- Stays with the woman throughout her labor.
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions.
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers.
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience.
- Allows the woman's partner to participate at comfort level.
Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or mother/fetal heart rates. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. Most importantly, doulas do not make decisions for their clients; they do not project their own values and goals onto the laboring woman.
The aforementioned information courtesy of DONA International.