Effects on birth outcomes:

• Labors are shorter
• There are fewer complications
• Cesarean rates are reduced
• There is less need for oxytocin to speed up labor
• Need for forceps is reduced
• Women request less pain medication and epidurals

Effects on the mother:

• Greater satisfaction with the birth experience
• More positive assessments of their babies
• Less postpartum depression

Effects on the baby:

 

• Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries
• Babies breastfeed more easily
• Mothers are more affectionate to their babies postpartum

 

The benefit of continuous support in labor is recognized by:

• The World Health Organization (WHO)
• The Medical Leadership Council (an organization of over 1200 US hospitals)
• The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada

 

Couples are sometimes concerned that if the birthing woman has her partner present then having a doula would be redundant or might even make the partner feel as though they are not needed - on the contrary. The doula can actually bring the couple closer and enhance the birthing team. Fathers, too, need the support, guidance, and relief that a doula can bring to labor. By making sure the partner’s needs are met (food, drink, and reassurance), the couple can work more closely together. Having a doula present allows the partner to participate at a level that is comfortable for them. Some partners may not want to play an active role and do not want to be solely responsible for the woman’s comfort and emotional security – this can be extremely overwhelming for some partners. Fathers often have a feeling of relief when there is also continuous support provided by a doula. This allows them to be much more relaxed, loving, and emotionally available than when they feel totally responsible for providing all of the labor support. On other occasions when the partner chooses to be the major source of emotional support and the couple is working well together, the doula can step back and be unobtrusive. She can supplement their efforts by running errands, making suggestions for comfort measures, and offering words of reassurance, and comfort. During a long tiring labor, the doula can give the partner a break for a brief rest or change of scenery. While the doula probably knows more than the partner about birth, hospitals and maternity care, the partner knows more about the woman’s personality, likes and dislikes, and needs. Even couples who attended quality childbirth classes have expressed relief that a doula was present so that they could relax a bit more knowing the doula would remind them of what they learned in childbirth class. The combined efforts of a loving partner, a knowledgeable and caring doula, and a competent and considerate medical staff will give the woman the best chance of an optimal labor and delivery experience.

The answer is – absolutely yes. A doula can help mom to manage her labor longer, reducing the amount of drugs that she and the baby are exposed to. She can help minimize many of the undesired side effects of medications used in labor. Often, after an epidural is given, hospital staff and even loved ones pay more attention to the monitors and less attention to the laboring woman. When the signs of physical discomfort are gone, they may feel that all of mom’s needs are being met. This is not the case. A laboring woman still needs and deserves sensitive and appropriate labor support, because even though the pain may be alleviated, emotional distress and anxiety may still be present. In addition to providing this emotional support and encouraging loved ones to stay involved, the doula continues to provide informational support so that the couple can make informed decisions. The doula will also help the woman get into favorable positions and help her to push appropriately during the second stage. Recent studies have found that even with the use of an epidural, the presence of a doula reduces the cesarean section rate, which otherwise tends to be higher when an epidural is used.

A doula can have a tremendous effect on how a woman feels about her cesarean birth experience, regardless of whether it was planned or an emergency. If a woman is informed, well supported, and cared for throughout the experience, she is more likely to come away from it with a positive feeling. A doula can help explain hospital procedures and she can describe the birth to the mother as it is happening if the partner prefers to be by the mother's face rather than watch the operation. The doula can remain with the mother after the birth while her incision is being repaired and accompany her to the recovery area so that the partner can be with the baby during the initial newborn procedures. In addition, the new mother may require extra assistance in getting her baby latched on to breastfeed after having the operation. Giving birth is a momentous event in a woman’s life. With the right education and support, it can be a joyous and empowering one.