The Birth Doula: Serving the Mother and Partner
Enjoying one of the blessings of being a doula!
"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use one."
-John H. Kennell MD 1998
Doula means "a woman who serves" in ancient Greek.
That is exactly what a doula is! A doula is a "trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period". *
Many studies confirm that when a doula is present...
Mothers are
Babies are
*information taken from DONA International website
-John H. Kennell MD 1998
Doula means "a woman who serves" in ancient Greek.
That is exactly what a doula is! A doula is a "trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period". *
Many studies confirm that when a doula is present...
Mothers are
- 50% less likely to have a ceserean birth
- 41% less likely to need forceps or vacuum extraction
- 28% less likely to need pain medication (like an epidural)
- Less likely to need their water broken artificially or have an episiotomy
- Less likely to experience anxiety in labor or postpartum depression
- More satisfied with their birth experience
- More likely to have faster labors
Babies are
- More likely to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries
- More likely to breastfeed easier and longer
- Less likely to have a low APGAR score or experience decreased heart rate or labored respiration
*information taken from DONA International website