A doula can help with a home or hospital birth. As childbirth has moved from home to hospital, a vital element of care has been lost from the whole process. Gone are the days where a woman would have continuous support from one carer throughout her labour. It used to be the case that the womenfolk within the immediate and extended family (mothers/sisters/grandmother etc...) would be on hand to provide the nurturing role for the new mother, to guide by experience and help with the practicalities that need to be performed before, during and after a woman gives birth to a baby.

Later the concept of the community midwife developed, but due to lack of resources, this service is steadily declining in many areas. Nowadays many women feel that they have to be in hospital to give birth to their baby where it is much more likely that a birth will be medically managed and intervention methods, such as caesarean section or forceps, will be used. A doula can provide the continuity of care now lacking due to the chronic shortage of midwives.

RESEARCH has shown that having a doula present at a birth ;

    · Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours
     · Decreases the chance of caesarean section by 50% 
     · Decreases the need for pain medication    
     · Helps fathers participate with confidence
     · Increases success in breast-feeding
       ( Findings from "Mothering the Mother" Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993) 

©Doula UK 2001-4