Do You Doula?

Why Do You Need a Doula?

Research found that women who received continuous labor support were less likely to experience:

• epidural or other regional analgesia
• any analgesia/anesthesia, including epidurals and opioids
• birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• birth by Cesarean 
• dissatisfaction or negative rating of their experience

The same study also found the following statistics with mothers having a doula present:

• 26% less likely to give birth by Cesarean section
• 41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• 28% less likely to use any analgesia and 
• 33% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience.

Other studies show that postpartum outcomes for mothers were much better when a Doula attended their birth experience. Finding show the following results of mothers:

• enhanced breastfeeding
• better maternal-infant interaction
• less postpartum depression, anxiety, and greater self-esteem
• higher maternal assessments of their baby when compared to the "standard baby"
• greater satisfaction with the birth experience

(From a press release from Maternity Center Association, NY Sept. 2003)

Want to know more about using a doula at your next birth? Contact Katie! katie@waukeewellness.com or Katie's Doula Care.