Giving birth can be one of the most transformative and meaningful experiences of a mother’s life. With a doula by your side, you will be on your way to making this momentous day a positive memory.
The presence of continuous support during labor and birth can make all the difference in a woman’s experience. Women who had continuous labor support compared to women who did not have been shown to be:
- 28% less likely to have a cesarian section
- 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor
- 9% less likely to use any pain medication
- 34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively
I already have an attentive significant other/mom/friend who will be with me in labor, and I’ll be in a highly-rated hospital. Do I really need a doula?
Surrounding yourself with a great birth team is an important step in planning your birth. It’s wonderful to have a loving significant other with you to cheer you on. But a doula adds a level of knowledge and experience about childbirth that your other loved ones might not bring to the table. A doula can help provide specific comfort measures for laboring and pushing, reassure you if you’re nervous or fearful, and help talk through unexpected turn of events. Unlike hospital nurses, who probably work in shifts during your labor, your doula is completely dedicated to you during your entire labor, and won’t be attending to anyone else’s needs during this important time in your life.