Doula is a Greek word for woman servant. It has come to mean a specially trained person who provides support during labor and childbirth. A doula helps women who are having births in hospitals, homes and birth centers. She helps the woman advocate for the choices that the woman would like for her birth. A doula does not try to influence a woman towards a specific way to give birth or a specific type of birth.
Typically you will hear women say a lot of things about their doula. She came to the house to help them in early labor. She rubbed mom's back in just the right way and in just the right spot - for hours. But is the benefit of a doula quantifiable?
- More likely to have a vaginal birth.
With the cesarean section rate standing nationally at nearly a third of all births, it seems that have a doula to help provide you with a slight edge in the area of a vaginal birth would be a good thing. - Less likely to need forceps or vacuum extraction.
No one wants to think about forceps or vacuum extractions being necessary at their births. Using a doula can help lower your need. Perhaps it's the labor positioning being used or that it happens when some of the other factors are met, like less use of anesthesia. But not having to use the dreaded "salad tongs" sounds like a winner in my book. - More likely to be satisfied with their birth.
Satisfaction is for all the women, not just ones who had natural childbirth or a vaginal birth. Is it the fact that a women is encouraged to make her own choices? Is it that she feels like she was in control of the decisions made in her labor? Having a good birth means a lot of things, and it looks very different to different women. It can also help lower the risks of postpartum depression. - Have a shorter labor.
Who wouldn't want to shave even a few minutes off the length of labor? Is it the relaxation? Is it the positions? Is it the comfort of knowing that someone is there with you?
Source
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub2.
