Evidence on Doulas

28%

Less likely to undergo a c-section

14%

Less likely for baby to go to the NICU

31%

Less likely to receive Pitocin

That's great! But how?

Choosing the Right Provider for You

Doulas can help you make informed decisions about the provider you choose to work with based on your goals. Your provider can play a huge role in the outcome of your delivery!

Avoiding Induction and Augmentation

Doulas provide evidence based knowledge and recourses to help parents determine if an induction or augmentation (intervention to speed labor along) is elective or medically necessary. Additionally, we encourage parents to allow labor to start and progress on it's own, if possible! While doulas will not make decisions for you, we can help you ask questions so you feel confident about your choices.

Avoiding or Delaying Epidurals

Doulas provide comfort measures and techniques to help cope with labor. Research shows that having a doula lowers the rates of pain medication by 9%. Avoiding or delaying pain medications can encourage the natural progression of labor.

Hormone Balance

There are an incredible amount of hormones flowing throughout labor and delivery. In the right circumstances, these hormones progress your labor. Creating a safe, calming environment encourages the production of the labor hormones, oxytocin, prolactin, beta-endorphins and catecholamine, and helps avoid hormones that can stall or slow labor.

Cited Source -The Doula Difference: Lowering Cesarean Rates

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it"

- Dr. John Kennell, Founder, DONA International