Ep. 76 Five Benefits of Labor Doula Support

There are many benefits to having a birth doula as part of your birth support team.  Some of these benefits are well-known and some may be new to you. The goal is for doula care to become the norm and to achieve teamwork between all care providers. Doula Rachael and Dr. Shannon discusses the many benefits to having birth doula support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond. In this episode, you will hear about how doulas provide:

1. Informational support
2. Physical support
3. Emotional support
4. Support for the partner
5. Teaching advocacy (to decrease fear and instill confidence)

Having this type of support and with a doula present increases:

1. The likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
2. Satisfaction with the birth experience (for both the birther and their partner)
3. Rates of breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum
4. The birther’s self-esteem.

Having a doula present, decreases the likelihood of:

1. Utilizing medicinal pain relief, including an epidural
2. Labor induction and augmentation with synthetic oxytocin
3. C-section birth
4. Vacuum or forceps assisted birth

Additional resources:

Episode 56: Who to Invite Into Your Birth Space

Episode 40: Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices

Episode 38: Heart-Centered Work: Building a Sustainable Doula Business

Episode 20: Interview with LaToya Murray-Johnson: Owner/Founder Doula View 

Episode 17: All About Birth Doulas with Rachael Hutchins

Episode 3: Building Your Birth Support Team

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