What exactly is a Doula?
“A trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible”
What Does the Research Say About the Benefits of Doulas?
Dozens of scientific trials “examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people and their baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family” (DONA)
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The U.S. maternal mortality rate has been steadily increasing over the years. This rate is especially high among non-Hispanic black women. "Specifically, the pregnancy-related mortality ratios (PRMR) for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are 41.7 and 28.3: more than 3 and 2 times higher, respectively, than the ratio of 13.4 for white women" (Stryker et. al., 2023). Mortality risks do not cease to exist once a woman gives birth; it actually increases (53% of deaths occur 7 days - 1 year postpartum, 25% birth - 7 days, 22% during pregnancy). Approximately 60% of these deaths are preventable. "Factors contributing to these pregnancy-related deaths include lack of knowledge of warning signs and when to seek care, missed or delayed diagnoses, lack of continuity of care, and case coordination or management issues extending up to 12 months postpartum" (Stryker et. al., 2023). Black women are more likely to be dismissed than their white counterpart. Postpartum doulas can help the birthing person to recognize these life-threatening warning signs and help advocate for care.
There are endless sources on these facts. Here are just a few to get you started in your research:
The Role of Doulas in Addressing Black Women's Maternal Mortality
The U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis Continues to Worsen: An International Comparison
How Can We Solve the Black Maternal Health Crisis?
*This link also has several resources and additional readings at the bottom of the page.Fact Sheet on Maternal Mental Health: Black Women and Birthing People
This self-paced learning tool teaches about the history of these disparities and "how systems of power and legacies of structural oppression impact their care for patients. Learners will consider how to leverage their privilege to create change on a clinical, community, and systemic level."
*If you are one of my clients:
Please see the resource library with resources for BIPOC families. If you are not one of my clients but would like to learn more, please reach out to me, and I would be happy to send you resources. -
Check out this infographic summing it all up.
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"Life with a new baby or babies doesn’t have to be overwhelming. DONA International’s postpartum doulas help families nestle in and find their groove. Studies show that this kind of support can help in the following ways:
help reduce postpartum mood disorders
improve breastfeeding success"
(DONA)
Postpartum Doulas also:
Help birthing mothers recognize the physical warning signs that can be life threatening. See "Maternal Mortality" above
Facilitate parent-infant bonding
Encourage appropriate well-baby and mother care
Reduce the rates of child abuse and neglect
Increase new parents' confidence in their parenting skills
(Pascali-Bonaro, et. al., 2014)
Read this position paper to learn more.
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...The largest systematic review of continuous labor support, published in 2011, reported the combined findings from 21 randomized controlled trials, including over 15,000 birthing people. (7) The trials compared "usual care" in the hospital with various types of providers of continuous labor support: a member of the hospital staff (i.e., a nurse); a family member or friend; and a doula (not a hospital employee, family member or friend) whose sole responsibility was to provide one-to-one supportive care. While overall, the supported people had better outcomes than the usual care groups, obstetric outcomes were most improved and intervention rates most dramatically lowered by doulas. According to a summary of the findings of this review (15), the doula-supported people were:
28% less likely to have a cesarean section
31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor
9% less likelv to use an pain medication
34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively
Obstetric outcomes were most improved and intervention rates most dramatically lowered by doulas in settings where:
The people were not allowed to have loved ones present epidural analgesia was not routine (when compared to settings where epidurals are routine)
Intermittent auscultation (listening to fetal heart rate) or intermittent (versus continuous) electronic fetal monitoring was allowed"
(DONA)
Read this position paper to learn more.
*Please note: I am not currently offering birth doula services. I am only sharing data with you! (:
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The term "Doula" derives from Ancient Greece and means, "A woman who serves".
Check out this great article from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & CultureCheck out this great NPR article talking more about the history of the Doula.