What is a Doula?

Regardless of the route your birth takes, and your birthing choices, Doulas are very beneficial to the Laboring Mother and Families!

The benefits of a doula have been studied. One of the largest studies carried out by Drs. John Kennell and Marshall Klaus found that labor support provided these benefits:
60% decrease in requests for epidurals
50% decrease in cesarean surgery
40% decrease in requests for pain medication
40% decrease in the use of Pitocin (Oxcytocin)
30% decrease in use of forceps
25% decrease in length of labor
information obtained from Mothering the Mother, Klaus Klaus & Kennell 1993

The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)

Doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. Trained Doulas understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. Generally, Doulas believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural and healthy processes. This includes preparation for birth helping the laboring woman with encouragement, comfort measures, relaxation techniques, and an objective viewpoint, as well as support after childbirth, such as help with breastfeeding.

A new study on labor support "Continuous support for women during childbirth" carried out through the cochrane collaboration 2003 had these findings:

26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia and
36% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience

You can read this study in it's entirety at: http://www.maternitywise.org/prof/laborsupport/

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 careproviders...

Perceives her role as one who nutures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.

The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.

Many Doulas work in thier own practice, with organizations, and some hospitals. Doulas are also referred to as "Professional Labor Assistants". Doulas are beneficial to the laboring mother and family regardless of birthing choices ( Natural, or using pain medication etc).!