The benefits of hiring a Birth or Postpartum Doula has been proven through various studies done.
These randomized, controlled studies for Birth Doula showed the following:
- Reduced cesarean rate by 50%
- Reduced the length of labor by 25%
- Reduced oxytocinoxytocin use by 40%
- Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
- Reduced forcepsforceps deliveries by 40%
- Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
- Reduced incidences of maternal fever
- Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant care unit)
- Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
- Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
- Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression
Other studies for Postpartum Doula care have shown that a Postpartum Doula
- Encourages appropriate well-baby and mother-care.
-
Is trained to
provide breastfeeding and bottle feeding support
- Enables new parents to feel confident in their ability to care for their infant
- Teaches new parents to recognize and appreciate their infant's special abilities
- Supports the mother and father/partner emotionally and physically
- Brings back the honor and care new mothers deserve
- Makes sure mom gets enough rest, food and drinks
- Creates a safe place for the mother emotionally
- Lessens the anxiety since all the questions that arise can be answered
- Leaves parents free to focus on their newborn and their recovery since she cares for the household
- Helps other siblings feel more included and less jealous
- Increases parent's understanding of infant development, states of consciousness and normal newborn behavior
- Gives mothers and fathers more time for bonding
- Supports Mothers to breastfeed longer and more successfully
- Mothers have greater self esteem and less postpartum depression
- Infants are less fussy
-
- Increased maternal satisfaction with birth experience
- Increased parents confidence in their parenting skills.
- Facilitates parent-infant bonding.
|
