I understand what a doula is, but do they really make a difference?
Absolutely…
A doula’s support is constant, personalized, and focused on you.
Doctors and midwives are amazing, necessary elements to the birth team, but they have other patients. They simply cannot provide the continuous care that a doula can.
A doula has the tools to prepare you to
get the most out of a visit to the fertility clinic
catch the subtle shifting of Baby Blues to Postpartum Depression or Anxiety
advocate for yourself during your labor and are a constant, source of knowledge and support in the birthing room
Doulas have been linked to
shorter labors
less trauma on the body and mind of the mother
a more positive view of the birth from the entire birthing support system, including hospital staff.
“I have been told by multiple nurses and midwives how much they love to see a fully trained, certified doula come in with their mothers because of how easy it will inevitably make their jobs.”
Okay, Show Me the Evidence…
“Of all the ways we can find to give someone pain relief during child birth, providing a doula seems like one of the most important ways that we can manage pain. Doulas provide physical support, emotional support, information about child birth and advocacy, all of which can work together to decrease your pain”
The results of the study showed that doula's presence has positive significant effects on labor pain and anxiety reduction; also, doula-supported mothers reported considerably lower pain and anxiety compared with those experiencing physiological delivery (without doula).
"The evidence suggests that it is likely more than the emotional, physical, and informational support doulas give to women during the birthing process that accounts for the reduced need for clinical procedures during labor and birth, fewer birth complications, and more satisfying experiences during labor, birth and postpartum”
—PMC
“Continuous support from a person who is present solely to provide support, is not a member of the woman's own network, is experienced in providing labour support, and has at least a modest amount of training (such as a doula), appears beneficial.”
“A postpartum doula provides evidenced-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. Research shows that moms, dads, and babies have an easier time with this transition if a good support team is in place.”
—American Pregnancy Association
"Doula" comes from a Greek term meaning "a woman who helps." Although doulas are trained to assist expectant mothers through labor, delivery and beyond, they are not medical providers, as midwives are. Dona International, which calls itself the largest doula-certifying organization in the world, said doulas help mothers achieve "the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible”. "
