Research proves the positive impact of doula support
The presence of a Doula reduces a woman’s need for interventions:
Having a doula attend your birth reduces the chances you'll have a cesarean birth the journal Birth, 2008
Research has shown that women attended by a Doula:
A joint statement of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, focused on reducing the soaring C-Section rates in the USA and published in March 2014 had as one of it's conclusions: “Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.” (Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery)
The number of women exclusively breastfeeding their babies at four and six weeks of age increases nearly two-fold when women are attended by a Doula during labor (Hofmeyr, Nikodem, Wolman, Chalmers, & Kramer, 1991; Langer, Campero, Garcia, & Reynoso, 1998).
Research has also shown that the presence of a Doula can decrease epidural use five fold, and decrease the need for pitocin augmentation and the rate of birth by cesarean section each by over 50% (Kennel, Klaus, McGrath, Robertson, & Hinkley, 1991; McGrath & Kennel, 1998; Scott, Berkowitz, & Klaus, 1999; Zhang et al., 1996).
A Cochrane Review of 22 randomized controlled trials including over 15,000 women concluded that "continuous support during labor has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labor and birth." and that "continuous labor support appears to be more effective when it is provided by caregivers who are not employees of an institution (and thus have no obligation to anyone other than the laboring woman) and who have an exclusive focus on this task…" (Continuous support for women during childbirth, Ellen D Hodnett, Simon Gates, G Justus Hofmeyr, Carol Sakala 2013)
References:
Gordon, N. P., Walton, D., McAdam, E., Derman, J., Gallitero, G., & Garrett, L. (1999). Effects of providing hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals.Obstetrics & Gynecology, 93(3), 422-426.
Hodnett, E. D., & Osborn, R. W. (1989). A randomized trial of the effects of monitrice support during labor: mothers' views two to four weeks postpartum. Birth, 16(4), 177-183.
Hofmeyr, J. G., Nikodem, C. V., Wolman, W.-L., Chalmers, B. E., & Kramer, T. (1991). Companionship to modify the clinical birth environment: effects on progress and perceptions of labour, and breastfeeding. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 98, 756-764.
Landry, S. H., McGrath, S., & Kennel, J. H. (1998). The effect of doula support during labor on mother-infant interaction at 2 months. Pediatric Research, 43(4: Part II), 13A.
Langer, A., Campero, L., Garcia, C., & Reynoso, S. (1998). Effect of psychosocial support during labour and childbirth on breastfeeding, medical interventions, and mothers' wellbeing in a Mexican public hospital: a randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 105, 1056-1063.
Sosa, R., Kennel, J., Klaus, M., Robertson, S., & Urrutia, J. (1980). The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interaction. The New England Journal of Medicine, 303(11), 598-600.
Zhang, J., Bernasko, J. W., Fahs, M., & Hatch, M. C. (1996). Continuous labor support from labor attendant for primiparous women: A meta-analysis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 88(4 (part 2)), 739-744.
- Artificial Oxytocin (Pitocin) use17% with a Doula and 43.6% with out one
- Epidural rate 7.8% with a Doula and 55.3% with out one
- Forceps used 8.2% with a Doula and 26.3% with out one
- Cesarean Section rate 8% with a Doula and 18% with out one
Having a doula attend your birth reduces the chances you'll have a cesarean birth the journal Birth, 2008
Research has shown that women attended by a Doula:
- rate their level of self-esteem higher,
- score lower by half on measures of Postpartum Depression, and
- exhibit improved interaction with their babies right after birth and two months later (Landry, McGrath, & Kennel, 1998; Sosa et al., 1980)
- are more likely to rate their birth experience as “good” (83% vs. 67%) and to say they coped well with labor (60% -vs- 24%) (Gordon et al., 1999; Hodnett & Osborn, 1989; Hofmeyr et al., 1991; Langer et al., 1998; Zhang, Bernasko, Fahs, & Hatch, 1996)
A joint statement of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, focused on reducing the soaring C-Section rates in the USA and published in March 2014 had as one of it's conclusions: “Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.” (Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery)
The number of women exclusively breastfeeding their babies at four and six weeks of age increases nearly two-fold when women are attended by a Doula during labor (Hofmeyr, Nikodem, Wolman, Chalmers, & Kramer, 1991; Langer, Campero, Garcia, & Reynoso, 1998).
Research has also shown that the presence of a Doula can decrease epidural use five fold, and decrease the need for pitocin augmentation and the rate of birth by cesarean section each by over 50% (Kennel, Klaus, McGrath, Robertson, & Hinkley, 1991; McGrath & Kennel, 1998; Scott, Berkowitz, & Klaus, 1999; Zhang et al., 1996).
A Cochrane Review of 22 randomized controlled trials including over 15,000 women concluded that "continuous support during labor has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labor and birth." and that "continuous labor support appears to be more effective when it is provided by caregivers who are not employees of an institution (and thus have no obligation to anyone other than the laboring woman) and who have an exclusive focus on this task…" (Continuous support for women during childbirth, Ellen D Hodnett, Simon Gates, G Justus Hofmeyr, Carol Sakala 2013)
References:
Gordon, N. P., Walton, D., McAdam, E., Derman, J., Gallitero, G., & Garrett, L. (1999). Effects of providing hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals.Obstetrics & Gynecology, 93(3), 422-426.
Hodnett, E. D., & Osborn, R. W. (1989). A randomized trial of the effects of monitrice support during labor: mothers' views two to four weeks postpartum. Birth, 16(4), 177-183.
Hofmeyr, J. G., Nikodem, C. V., Wolman, W.-L., Chalmers, B. E., & Kramer, T. (1991). Companionship to modify the clinical birth environment: effects on progress and perceptions of labour, and breastfeeding. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 98, 756-764.
Landry, S. H., McGrath, S., & Kennel, J. H. (1998). The effect of doula support during labor on mother-infant interaction at 2 months. Pediatric Research, 43(4: Part II), 13A.
Langer, A., Campero, L., Garcia, C., & Reynoso, S. (1998). Effect of psychosocial support during labour and childbirth on breastfeeding, medical interventions, and mothers' wellbeing in a Mexican public hospital: a randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 105, 1056-1063.
Sosa, R., Kennel, J., Klaus, M., Robertson, S., & Urrutia, J. (1980). The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interaction. The New England Journal of Medicine, 303(11), 598-600.
Zhang, J., Bernasko, J. W., Fahs, M., & Hatch, M. C. (1996). Continuous labor support from labor attendant for primiparous women: A meta-analysis. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 88(4 (part 2)), 739-744.