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What is a Doula?

The word "Doula" is an ancient Greek word.  It means, "woman who serves."  A person who supports and serves a woman through childbirth physically, mentally and emotionally. 
A Labor Doula is a trained birth companion who is knowledgable of the stages of labor and ways to comfort a woman and her family through childbirth.  She helps the family to think over options, and plan their birth and postpartum transition.  She can help mothers find further information, and resources.  By educating women on their healthcare rights and options, a doula shows women how they can advocate for themselves by taking a more active role in their healthcare and their Baby's healthcare.  
A Doula offers continuous labor support before, during, and just after childbirth.

Benefits of having a Doula

Studies have shown that when a laboring mother has continuous labor support, by someone she knows and trusts, the following outcomes are more likely to occur:

 

  • Labor is 25% shorter

  • Fewer Complications

  • Cesarean Rates are reduced by 50%

  • 40% less need for Pitocin to speed up labor

  • 40% reduction in use of Forceps

  • Reduced requests for Pain Medication and Epidural

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  • Greater satisfaction with birth experience

  • More positive assesments of their baby

  • Less postpartum depression

  • More affection given to the baby

  • Babies are breastfed more easily 
     

Statistics taken from Better Birth Network: 
http://www.beginswithbirth.net/statistics.shtml

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