A labor support person, also called a birth doula, provides:
- a continuous presence
- emotional support
- physical comforting
- assistance with non-pharmacological coping measures
- non-medical information
- anticipatory guidance for both the mother and partner
Women who had continuous labour support from a non-hospital staff doula:
- had 26% fewer cesarean section births;
- had 41% fewer instrumental vaginal deliveries;
- were 28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia;
- were 33% less likely to be dissatisfied or to rate their birth experience negatively, and
- had increased likelihood of being satisfied with their birth experience as measured by:
-- overall satisfaction and feeling that one coped well
-- finding labour to be as expected or better than one expected
-- feeling of personal control
Having a labor support person may help the labouring woman to delay, reduce or avoid the use of pain relieving medication, thereby reducing the likelihood of experiencing the adverse effects that can be associated with these methods.
For postpartum benefits...
Postpartum benefits of having continuous support in labor found that women are:- more likely to be fully breastfeeding at four to six weeks post birth;
- more likely to display more positive mother-baby interaction at eight weeks post birth;
- more likely to find mothering easy and to feel they were managing well;
- more likely to have good self-esteem; and
- less likely to experience anxiety and postpartum depression.
Adapted from Midirs' Informed Choice Leaflet Non-Epidural Coping Strategies written by April Bolding.
