Benefits of a doula on the mother
A review on the obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth.
Scott KD, Klaus PH, Klaus MH. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 1999 Dec;8(10):1257-64 Division of Public Health, County of Sonoma Department of Health Services, Santa Rosa, California 95404, USA.
States:
~ Doula-supported mothers rate childbirth as less difficult & painful than do women not supported by a doula.
~ Positive feelings about the birth experience
~ Increased rates of breastfeeding initiation
~ Decreased symptoms of depression
The purpose of the above mentioned article is to review the evidence regarding the effectiveness of continuous support provided by a trained laywoman (doula) during childbirth on obstetrical and postpartum outcomes. Twelve individual randomized trials have compared obstetrical and postpartum outcomes between doula-supported women and women who did not receive doula support during childbirth. The results of these twelve trials strongly suggest that doula support is an essential component of childbirth. A thorough reorganization of current birth practices is in order to ensure that every woman has access to continuous emotional and physical support during labor.