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Doulas are, in a way, a modern reimagining of the traditional community of care that used to surround birthing people, providing support and nurturing from pregnancy through post-partum. While this sentiment may be convincing enough, there is plenty of research that supports the benefits of doulas in the 21st Century by demonstrating improved clinical and emotional outcomes for both the birthing person and their baby.

Positive Birth Experience: The Role of a Doula

An analysis of  51 studies from 22 countries showed that continuous labor companions such as doulas appear to help women to have a more positive birth experience by fulfilling a number of roles, including providing informational support about the process of childbirth, bridging communication gaps between clinical staff and women, providing practical support, including encouraging women to remain mobile during labor, emotional support and non-pharmacological pain relief such as massage and meditation. Labor companions act as advocates for the women, speaking up in support of her and her preferences and helping women feel in control and build their confidence through praise, reassurance, and continuous physical presence.

Positive Birth Outcomes: Duration, Pain, Interventions, APGAR Score

Randomized, controlled trials assessing the role of the doula show the following benefits:

    -Shorter labors

    -Reduced need for pain medication

    -Fewer episiotomies

    -Fewer operative vaginal deliveries

    -Fewer cesarean sections

    -Improved neonatal outcomes

    -Better mother-infant interaction

    -Improved breastfeeding rates

    -Greater maternal satisfaction

In a randomized controlled trial of 600 women, the research team found that those who had the support of a doula had a significantly shorter length of labor, greater cervical dilation at the time of an epidural, and higher Apgar scores at both 1 and 5 minutes. There was also a trend toward lower cesarean delivery rates in the doula group.

Another study shows that after controlling for clinical and sociodemographic factors, odds of cesarean delivery were 40.9% lower for doula-supported births than not. Mothers are more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth and less likely to have pain meds or to report dissatisfaction. Again, their labors were shorter, they were less likely to have a caesarean, or instrumental vaginal birth, regional analgesia, or a baby with a low 5-minute Apgar score (source).

Positive Post-Partum Outcomes: Breastfeeding, Emotions, Role of Father

One study looking at new parents 6 weeks after delivery showed a greater proportion of doula-supported women were breastfeeding, reported greater self-esteem, less depression, higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them compared to the mothers without doula support. Observations during labor showed that fathers remained farther away from mothers than doulas (when one was not present), and talked and touched less. However, when the doula was present with the couple during labor, the father offered more personal support. The father-to-be’s presence during labor and delivery is important to both parents, but it is the presence of the doula that results in significant benefits in the outcome.

“The use of doulas as lay providers who can successfully impact the birth and postpartum experience is an effective way to improve maternity care, birth outcomes, and, potentially, long-term family well-being.”

–Ann Fulcher, CLE, CD