Why a Doula?

Research suggests that continuous support is most effective when the provider was neither part of the hospital staff nor the woman’s social network. Studies also state that the support given by the provider does not have the same positive impact on the outcome as does that of experienced doulas.

With a doula, the birthing person will have loving support from their partner, which gives her strength and confidence, but also the guidance and expertise from the doula on all things relevant to birth.

Some more evidence outlining the benefits of having a doula

Studies identified that women who had independent continuous birth support (specifically a doula, neither part of the hospital staff nor the woman’s social network) were:

• More likely to have spontaneous vaginal birth;

• Less likely to ask for medication for pain relief;

• More likely to be positive about their birth experience;

• More likely to have shorter labours;

• Less likely to have a caesarean;

• Less likely to have an instrumental vaginal birth (vacuum or forceps assisted birth);

• Less likely to have feeding problems;

• More likely to breastfeed;

• More likely to report greater self-esteem;

• Less likely to have depression;

• More likely to feel more satisfied with their partners;

• More likely to report positive perceptions of their infants;