Evidenced-Based Doula Care
A labour doula does not diagnose medical conditions, will not give medical advice or second
opinions, and will not project her own agenda and values onto the laboring woman. Doulas encourage and support self-advocacy for the couple. Labor doulas work to help the woman have a safe and satisfying
birth experience, according to the mother's goals she has set for herself. When
a doula is present, many women find there is less need for pain medication,
while other women may choose to utilize pain medication to assist them as they
labor. A labor doula is also very beneficial to a woman who has chosen pain
medication as she continues to labor. Doulas can help minimize the undesirable
side effects of pain medications by providing emotional care, maternal
positioning, reassurance, comfort measures, and information.
Labor doulas do not replace the mother's partner - her husband, the baby's
father, or other friends or loved ones. They work together with family and
friends of the mother's choosing and many times this support allows those
present to be more actively involved. The partner provides love and support
that the labor doula can never provide, as he/she knows the mother intimately
and possesses a love that can come from no one else. The labor doula can offer
unique help to the partner and friends by providing suggestions for him/her,
and allow the partner, loved ones, and friends to participate at their comfort
level. The labor doula and the partner, in conjunction with the medical
caregivers, form the perfect support system for the laboring mother.
- CAPPA
Canada position paper
Doulas make a Difference
Benefits of having a Birth Doula attend your
birth:
•36% less likely to use pain medications
•41% less likely to
give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
•51% less likely to give birth
by caesarean section
•36% less likely to be dissatisfied with their birth
experience
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics No. 5, 1999:
1054-1059
Benefits of Postpartum Doula care:
•Increases success of breastfeeding
•Facilitates parent-infant bonding
•Decreases
incidence of postpartum depression
•Encourages
appropriate well-baby and mother care
•Increases
parents' confidence in their parenting skills
Source: Nurturing Beginnings by Debra Pascali-Bonaro
The review of studies
undertaken in 2011 included 21 trials, from15 countries, involving more than
15,000 women in a wide range of settings and circumstances. They came to the
following conclusion:
"Women who received continuous labour support were more
likely to give birth ’spontaneously’, i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor
vacuum nor forceps. In addition, women were less likely to use pain medications,
were more likely to be satisfied, and had slightly shorter labours. Their babies
were less likely to have low 5-minute Apgar Scores."
A labour doula does not diagnose medical conditions, will not give medical advice or second
opinions, and will not project her own agenda and values onto the laboring woman. Doulas encourage and support self-advocacy for the couple. Labor doulas work to help the woman have a safe and satisfying
birth experience, according to the mother's goals she has set for herself. When
a doula is present, many women find there is less need for pain medication,
while other women may choose to utilize pain medication to assist them as they
labor. A labor doula is also very beneficial to a woman who has chosen pain
medication as she continues to labor. Doulas can help minimize the undesirable
side effects of pain medications by providing emotional care, maternal
positioning, reassurance, comfort measures, and information.
Labor doulas do not replace the mother's partner - her husband, the baby's
father, or other friends or loved ones. They work together with family and
friends of the mother's choosing and many times this support allows those
present to be more actively involved. The partner provides love and support
that the labor doula can never provide, as he/she knows the mother intimately
and possesses a love that can come from no one else. The labor doula can offer
unique help to the partner and friends by providing suggestions for him/her,
and allow the partner, loved ones, and friends to participate at their comfort
level. The labor doula and the partner, in conjunction with the medical
caregivers, form the perfect support system for the laboring mother.
- CAPPA
Canada position paper
Doulas make a Difference
Benefits of having a Birth Doula attend your
birth:
•36% less likely to use pain medications
•41% less likely to
give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
•51% less likely to give birth
by caesarean section
•36% less likely to be dissatisfied with their birth
experience
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics No. 5, 1999:
1054-1059
Benefits of Postpartum Doula care:
•Increases success of breastfeeding
•Facilitates parent-infant bonding
•Decreases
incidence of postpartum depression
•Encourages
appropriate well-baby and mother care
•Increases
parents' confidence in their parenting skills
Source: Nurturing Beginnings by Debra Pascali-Bonaro
The review of studies
undertaken in 2011 included 21 trials, from15 countries, involving more than
15,000 women in a wide range of settings and circumstances. They came to the
following conclusion:
"Women who received continuous labour support were more
likely to give birth ’spontaneously’, i.e. give birth with neither caesarean nor
vacuum nor forceps. In addition, women were less likely to use pain medications,
were more likely to be satisfied, and had slightly shorter labours. Their babies
were less likely to have low 5-minute Apgar Scores."