Birth Partners & Doulas

A doula (DOO-LUH) is a companion who supports a birthing person’s transition before, during, and after birth. They are trained to provide continuous, one-on-one care, as well as emotional, physical, and educational support for the birthing person and their partners (if applicable).  A doula’s purpose is to help birthing families have an informed, nurtured, and empowered birthing experience. 

benefits

A worldwide 2017 study, including more than 15,000 people, made clear that if a birthing person has continuous labor support, both mothers and babies are statistically more likely to have better outcomes (Bohren, 2017). The clinical benefits include:

• Fewer requests for pain medication, including epidurals

• Reduced use of pitocin

• Less likely to need vacuum and forceps-assistance

• Shorter labor, by about 40 minutes

• Better APGAR scores for baby at birth

• Greater satisfaction with the overall birth experience

Researchers also found that the presence of a doula, as opposed to a partner, friend, nurse, midwife, or physician, directly resulted in:

• 39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean

• 15% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth

Doulas provide emotional and physical support that decreases anxiety, increases confidence, boosts self esteem, and improves postpartum mental health in the birthing person (Lunda, 2018). Research has also shown that doula support improves the birth experience for partners. For example, fathers reported a better grasp of the birth process during labor and felt that their own support efforts were guided and effective (Johansson, 2015).

Providing labor support to birthing people is both risk-free and highly effective. A doula is equipped with knowledge, experience, and confidence, and thus may have a stronger influence than other types of birth support.