The Evidence of Birth Support

Numerous clinical studies* have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for Pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

 Research* shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

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 (Cited from DONA International's website: www.dona.org)​

*An updated systematic review of the effects of continuous labor support that summarizes the results of 21 randomized controlled trials involving over 15,000 women was published in The Cochrane Library in 2011, issue 2, and is available on the Childbirth Connection website (www.childbirthconnection.org). Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Weston J. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003766. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub3.