Throughout time, in almost every culture, women have been cared for by women during labor. Studies
have shown that women who are supported emotionally during their labors by doulas are:
•26%
less likely to give birth by cesarean section
•41% less likely to give birth requiring vacuum extraction or forcepts
•28% less likely to use anesthesia
•33% less likely to rate their birth experience as negative
The
role of the birth doula is to provide emotional support to the laboring woman and her partner, so the laboring woman is more
likely to achieve the birth she desires.*
Doula services include:
•one or two prenatal home visits
•prenatal phone consultations
•labor support during active labor,at home and the birthplace
•one
hour immediately after baby's birth
•one week postpartum visit
*©DONA International:The
Position Paper: The Birth Doula's Contribution to Modern Maternity Care. Copyright DONA 1998,2005.
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Postpartum Doula Services
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New mothers face many challenges;getting to know their babies,learning how to breastfeed, adjusting to
their new role and learning to balance the needs of everyone in the new family. The Postpartum Doula supports the
new mother in her home during those first few weeks. Having emotional support, as well as practical knowledge from an experienced
mother, can help gently ease the mother into her new role.
