6 benefits of having a doula at birth proven by science

I want to share with you evidence based data of benefits of having a professional birth support.
Numbers are talking better then any arguments, but let’s first discover the conditions of the studies!

Published in 2017 an updated of Cochrane review* on the use of continuous support for women during childbirth shows interesting picture! In this study they combined the results of 26 trials that included more than 15,000 people.

The birthing people in these studies were receiving continuous, one-on-one support during labor or “usual care.”

Overall, people who received continuous support were more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals, negative feelings about childbirth, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, and Cesareans.

In addition, their labors were shorter by 40 minutes average and their babies were less likely to have low Apgar scores at birth.

So here is what exactly the research shows us:

1. Less likely to end up with C-section – 39%
2. More likely to start labor naturally, without any drugs – 15%
3. 10% less likely to use medication for pain relief
4. Shorten labor for almost 1 hour average
5. 38% less likely for baby to have low Apgar score
6. 31% less likely to be unhappy with birth experience

Not bad, right?

And looks like having a doula is not just a support for birthing woman, but also for her baby. If you want to know more about what exactly is a “doula” and what kind of help a doula offers – read my post “What is a doula”.

*Read more details about Cochrane review here.

-Anfisa