WHY DO I NEED A DOULA?
I think the question should be why wouldn't I WANT a Doula? There are so many reasons but if you answer "yes" to any of these, then you already know that you do not want to go through labor and delivery without a Doula by your side.
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I would like additional support for myself and my partner as we go into this birth experience since we do not know or understand all that happens
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I want someone who is with me throughout my pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. The continuous care from someone on my birth team is important to me.
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I want someone I can connect with emotionally and maybe even spiritually.
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I want to be informed on all of the latest information so I can make the best choices medically for me and my baby.
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Even if I choose hospital birth, I would like to create an atmosphere that is warm and cozy to counteract the sterile room.
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I want to use all the comfort measures and labor movements to help me cope without pain medications or labor augmentations.
What does the evidence say?
​If you're thinking to yourself that having a Doula seems more like a luxury and not something you NEED, think again. Here are some of the latest statistics of birth outcomes where Doula's are present.
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25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
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8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
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10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
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Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average
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38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score
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31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience;
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Dekker, PhD, RN, Rebecca. “Evidence on: Doulas.” Evidence Based Birth®, 19 Mar. 2021, evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/.
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