Doula

Benefits of Doula Care

Doula care has been demonstrated to have many positive benefits for women and babies. Births supported by doulas have been documented to show considerable reductions in caesarean rates, duration of labor, epidural requests, the use of oxytocin and analgesia, and forceps delivery, as well as higher Apgar scores for newborns. After birth, mothers who had doula care were shown to have less postpartum depression and anxiety, be more confident with their baby, and be more satisfied with their partner. Doula care is also more likely to result in breastfeeding.

There are three types of doulas, although one doula can perform all or some of the related care. Antepartum doulas provide various types of care and support prior to birth. They might demonstrate relaxation techniques; help around the house, including with other children; and run errands. More likely to be professionally trained, birth doulas provide encouragement, reassurance, and support during childbirth, enabling the birthing woman and her partner to relax [Page 302]and focus on birthing as the labor progresses. Like birth doulas, postpartum doulas also provide breastfeeding support. They are also likely to be trained to provide various kinds of after-delivery care such as assistance with housework and childcare.

It is becoming more common for doulas to specialize in antepartum, birth, and postpartum care.

Isolating birthing women from their female support network marks a profound change in childbirth practices beginning in the 20th century, although doula care has remained a common practice for First Nations families. While women who share their experiential knowledge have continued to assist pregnant and birthing women in developing countries, it is interesting to note that in developed countries, where pregnancy and childbirth have become more medicalized and technologized, there has been an increased demand for doula care. Given that a highly technologized provision of pregnancy and childbirth care has decreased human interaction in care, it is not surprising that the care provided by doulas has helped to counter the distancing affects of technology during pregnancy and childbirth.

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