WHY USE A DOULA?

In addition to medical care and the love and companionship by your partner, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect during their birth experience. With a doula you get individualized care and support towards the birth you want!

Doulas often use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. According to physicians Marshal Klaus and John Kennell, massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream which causes uterine contractions and also secretes it to the brain, which results in a feeling of well being, drowsiness and a raised pain threshold. Synthetic IV oxytocin cannot cross into the blood stream and brain, so it increases contractions without the positive psychological effects of natural oxytocin.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doulas presence at birth tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications, less interventions, a greater success with breast-feeding and an overall feeling of a more positive birth!

For more research sources, click here