In their book, Mothering The Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis Klaus summarize scientific studies which have been carried out on the advantages of doula-assisted births. The evidence cited is drawn from six randomized, controlled studies. Two studies were carried out in Guatemala, the first one with 136 women, and the second with 465 women. One study took place in Houston (Texas) in the United States with 416 women. A further study involving 192 women was carried out in Johannesburg, South Africa. The fifth and sixth studies were done in Helsinki, Finland and in Canada.
All participants were primiparas (a medical term used to describe women who are giving birth to their first child). All participants were in good overall health and had had uneventful pregnancies. They were invited to participate when they were admitted into the hospital in labor. The Guatemalan doulas were trained in a 3 week course. In the South African study the women were untrained lay-women. The doulas were asked to stay with the laboring women constantly. They were instructed to use touch and verbal communication focusing on three primary factors: comfort, reassurance and praise. All of the doulas in the study had experienced regular labors and vaginal births.
In all the above studies, the doulas used soothing words, touch and encouragement. They explained the procedures as they occurred and translated medical terms into laymen’s terms. The results of the studies were as follows:
- Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%
- Reduced the length of labor by 25%
- Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
- Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
- Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
- Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
- Reduced incidences of maternal fever
- Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant care unit)
- Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
- Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
- Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression
Klaus and Kennel speculate that the mere presence of a doula had a beneficial effect on the emotional state of the mother, resulting in a decrease in catecholamines (adrenaline). This relaxed state allows uterine contractions to be more effective and reduces the occurrence of compromised uterine blood flow.
Insurance companies are taking note of the proven benefits of doula-assisted births. As a result, some providers have started to reimburse for doula care. If your company health care plan covers in-home care, nursing care, lactation consulting, or similar fields, doula care is most likely covered as well.
You can learn more in the book “Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth” by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus
——————————————————————————–
MATERNAL PERCEPTION OF BABY IN POSTPARTUM PERIOD:
Of Baby (Labored with Doula):
- 55% Cries less than others
- 91% Special
- 65% Easy to manage
- 78% Clever
- 89% Beautiful
- 100% Regard baby as separate, sociable person by 6 wks
Of Baby (No Doula):
- 17% Cries less than others
- 71% Special
- 65% Easy to manage
- 47% Clever
- 67% Beautiful
- 80% Regard baby as separate, sociable person by 6 wks
Of Self (Labored with Doula):
- 97% Feels close to baby
- 97% Pleased to have baby
- 91% Managing well
- 91% Communicates well
- 45% Becoming a mother was easy
- 72% Can look after baby better than anyone else
Of Self (No Doula):
- 80% Feels close to baby
- 65% Pleased to have baby
- 65% Managing well
- 68% Communicates well
- 11% Becoming a mother was easy
- 31% Can look after baby better than anyone else
“The Doula Book”, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (2002).
In short, women that hire doulas have better birth outcomes, a more positive experience and a healthier baby as well as a healthier attitude going into motherhood which benefits all of her relationships but especially those of her partner and her beautiful new baby!
