Ten Reasons You Need a Doula
A doula...
Views your birth as one of the most important experiences in your life, and understands the importance of creating positive birth memories.
Is familiar with the routines, procedures, and interventions that are a part of hospital birth and can help you learn the risks, benefits, and options involved. She can help you write a birth plan listing your preferences in giving birth.
Provides emotional support for you and your partner before, during, and after your birth experience.
Provides or suggests to your partner comfort techniques that may help you during labor and birth such as massage, patterned breathing, various kinds of touch, and position changes.
Is objective about your labor and helps your partner be the same. A doula has experienced many different labors and can help you and your partner understand how labor is progressing.
Knows how to help a long or difficult labor progress. She can help you with coping strategies and can suggest labor stimulation techniques.
Helps your birth partner help you through communication. She can help your partner understand what is happening and can offer many suggestions on how to support you.
Helps you communicate your desires and wishes to your doctor, midwife, or nurse, and helps you understand what they are trying to communicate to you.
Helps you get off to a great start as a new parent. Studies show that women who feel cared for during labor exhibit more mothering instinct.
Gives you one-on-one, continuous attention. Her only role is to be there for you, helping you have the best possible birthing experience.
A doula mothers the mother.
Research done with thousands of women shows that the presence of a doula (regardless of whether there is another support person there or not):
Reduces the need for a cesarean section by 50%
Shortens the length of labor by 25%
Reduces complications with the mother and baby before birth
Reduces the use of labor-stimulating drugs (like Pitocin) by 40%
Reduces the use of pain medications by 30%
Reduces the need for forceps assisted birth by 40%
Reduces request for epidurals by 60%
These benefits don't come from the doula saying things like "No, you can't have an epidural or pain medication" but from the fact that doulas know how to help avoid complications, and how to prevent or reduce pain non-medically, so that some of the things listed simply are not needed.
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FOR MERCOLAS STATEMENTS ON HOW A DOULA BENEFITS BIRTHS
