dou.la [doo-luh]

A Greek word meaning "woman's servant". A doula is a woman who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Research shows that doulas help women have faster, safer, and more natural births.


Why Birth With a Doula?

Studies have shown that the presence of a doula improves birth in the following ways:

  • 50% reduction in cesarean birth
  • 30% reduction in requests for pain medication
  • 60% fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
  • 25% decrease in the length of labor
  • Lower postpartum depression rate for mothers
  • Increased breastfeeding success
  • Greater overall satisfaction from the mother about her birth
(Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother, 1993)

Eleven empirical studies also showed the following effects of doula support:

Effects on Birth Outcomes

  • Labors are shorter
  • There are fewer complications
  • Cesarean rates are reduced
  • There is less need for oxytocin to speed up labor
  • Need for forceps is reduced
  • Women request less pain medication and epidurals

Effects on the Mother

  • Greater satisfaction with their birth experience
  • More positive assessments of their babies
  • Less postpartum depression

Effects on the Baby

  • Have shorter stays in the hospital
  • Fewer admissions to special care nurseries
  • Breastfeed more easily
  • Mothers are more affectionate to their babies postpartum

Effects on the Father

  • More involved in birth and labor
  • Greater satisfaction with birth experience

(DONA 2002)

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