Benefits of Having a Doula
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
- Reduces incidence of Cesarean
- Reduces the need for pain medication
- Increases positive feelings about one's childbirth
- Less post-partum depression
When a doula is present
during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their
birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have
fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum
depression.
Studies have also shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have
shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries,
breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum
period.
Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.
A doula does not make decisions
for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational
and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.
A doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a
crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the
extent he/she feels comfortable.