 Worldwide doulas become more and more recognised as
professional carers and their presence has been
shown to increase the
safety of birth, enhance a woman’s strength and
her creative capacity to give birth.
Randomized controlled
trials and systematic
reviews have shown that women supported by a doula are:
- less likely to use pain medication
- less likely to have an epidural or spinal anaesthesia
- less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction
or forceps
- less likely to give birth by caesarean section
- less
likely to be dissatisfied with or give a negative
rating to their birth experience
Other benefits are:
- reduced use of a syntocinon drip (artificial oxytocin)
- reduced chances of maternal
fever and infection
- reduced maternal bleeding following
birth
- reduced chances of health complications and
hospitalisations of the baby
- new mothers bond more
easily with their babies
- increased chances of successful
breastfeeding
- reduced incidence of post-partum depression
- A doula
stays with the woman at all times during the birthing
process.
- Being a professional she can be
more objective than a family
member and
she doesn’t
have to work under hospital policy.
- In
a homebirth a doula can assist
the midwife and add an extra
set of skilled
hands to
nurture and
care for
the
mother and her partner.
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