What do doulas do?
Doulas nurture and support the birthing person throughout labor and birth. Their essential role is to provide continuous labor support to the mother, no matter what decisions the mother makes or how she gives birth. Labor support is defined as the therapeutic presence of another person, in which human-to-human interaction with caring behaviors is practiced (Jordan, 2013).
Evidence & Support for Doulas
Higher likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
Women who receive continuous support during labor are more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births than those who don’t.
Less likely to have forceps or vacuum assisted births
Women who receive continuous support during labor are shown to be less likely to have a forceps or vacuum assisted birth.
Less likely to use pain medication & epidurals
Women who receive continuous support during labor are less likely to use all forms of pain medications, including epidurals.
Have more positive birth experiences
Women who receive continuous support during labor are more likely to report having positive experiences from the birth, than those who don’t.
Positive Outcomes
Shorter Labors
Women who receive continuous support during labor, on average, have shorter labors by about 40 minutes
Better Apgar Scores
It has been shown that when women receive continuous support during labor, their babes are less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth.
How did doulas compare to the other types of continuous support?
“The researchers also looked to see if the type of support made a difference. They wanted to know- does it matter who birthing persons choose for continuous support? Does it matter if they choose a midwife, doula, or partner for continuous support?
The researchers were able to look at this question for six outcomes: use of any pain medication, use of Pitocin during labor, spontaneous vaginal birth, Cesarean, admission to special care nursery after birth, and negative birth experiences.
For two of these outcomes (designated with asterisks”), the best results occurred when a birthing person had continuous labor support from a doula- someone who was NOT a staff member at the hospital and who was NOT part of their social network. The researchers found that overall, people who have continuous support during childbirth experience a:”
“25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference.
Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference.
38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference.
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff.
All information is from https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
