The Essential Ingredient: Doula
Benefits of a Doula
For centuries women have been attending the births of women in their communities to provide support and comfort measures. Only in recent history have we been giving up the power of this sisterhood to industrial hospital practices and doctors that show up for a small percentage of the process. The benefits of having a doula are well documented and proven.
Medical Benefits include:
- Decreased use of analgesia and anesthesia
- Lower rates of operative birth
- Increased breastfeeding
- Increased infant attachment
- Decreased postpartum depression
Additional benefits are psychosocial:
- Higher satisfaction of birth experience
- Improved self-esteem
- Increased likelihood of improved perinatal outcome