Birth Doula
Birth doulas provide informational, physical, and emotional support. Birth doulas are hired prenatally, and spend time with families developing a relationship and helping to make connections to resources and information. During labor a doula is there as a continuous presence as active labor begins, remaining with a family until the birth, staying a few hours afterwards. After the birth a birth doula continues to check in on the family, providing 1-2 postpartum visits, as well as some email/text support, again helping to make connections to resources and information. All doulas in the collective provide birth doula services.
THE EVIDENCE ON DOULAS
Evidence shows lower rates of cesarean, pain drug use, vacuum/forceps delivery, and low Apgar scores for families who had the continuous support of a doula. Families also had higher rates of spontaneous birth, shorter labors, and generally reported more positive feelings about their birth experiences. There is no evidence of adverse effects.
