Why use a Doula?

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."
- Dr. Marshall Klaus -

Nurturing Birth carried out a large survey of doulas working in the UK in 2008. Here are some of the results. The full results and conclusions were published in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest June 2009.

165 surveys were returned and helped us get information from 735 births supported by a doula. All births were in the UK in 2008.

* 48% - Primiparous women (first time mums)
* 45% - Natural births (no induction, medicated pain relief, augmentation or instrumental deliveries)
* 15% - Caesarean section (versus 24.3% nationally)
* 20% - Epidurals (versus over 30% nationally)
* 10% - Inductions (versus 20% nationally)
* 70% - Vaginal birth after a caesarean section success rate
* 23% - Labour in a pool
* 19% - Successful home births (no transfer)
* 86% - Breastfed at birth (versus 76% nationally)
* 11% - Doula was single birth partner

The survey also included data from postnatal doulas:

* 88% of women who had a postnatal doula were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks
* 67% were still breastfeeding at 6 months

This compares with 21% at six weeks and 7% at three months according to the Infant Feeding Survey of 2005 (Bolling et al 2007).

Goedkoop V. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 19, no 2, June 2009, pp 217-218

Research carried out across the world has shown that having a doula alongside you during the birth process can lead to:

• 50% reduction of cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labour
• 60% reduction in epidural request
• 30% reduction in analgesia used
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Findings from "Mothering the Mother" Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993

Here are some vital statistics:

Kennell J, Klaus M, McGrath S, Robertson S, Hinkley C. JAMA 1991 May 1;265(17):2197-201

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

• Less anxious and depressed
• Had more confidence with baby
• More satisfied with partner (71% vs 30%)
• More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

These statistics appear in A Doula Makes the Difference by Nugent in Mothering Magazine

Celebrities and doulas

There are a number of celebrities that have had their babies with the support of a doula. Here is a list: