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 

  • 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. 

  • I want someone I can connect with emotionally and maybe even spiritually. 

  • I want to be informed on all of the latest information so I can make the best choices medically for me and my baby. 

  • Even if I choose hospital birth,  I would like to create an atmosphere that is warm and cozy to counteract the sterile room. 

  • I want to use all the comfort measures and labor movements to help me cope without pain medications or labor augmentations. 

​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. 

What does the

evidence say?

25%

Decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*

8%

Increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*

Shorter

Labor

by 41 minutes on average

38%

Decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score.

10%

Decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief

31%

Decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience.

Dekker, PhD, RN, Rebecca. “Evidence on: Doulas.” Evidence Based Birth®, 19 Mar. 2021, evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/.

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With Alabama's Cesarean rates reaching 34.4% in 2016, and the evidence from Cochrane Review which indicated that Doulas increased positive labor outcomes and did not present any negative labor outcomes, it is no wonder that women across the country are choosing to enter their birth experience with a Doula by their side.