Should you have a doula?

Numerous scientific studies, researchers, health organizations, and doula clients agree:

Birthing people feel better and do better when they have continuous support during labour, especially from a doula—and so do their babies.

  • "Women with labor support have less negative feelings about childbirth. They are happier. These positive results are sometimes referred to as 'the doula effect'."

    Angela Garbes
    Like a Mother

  • "...continuous one-to-one support provided by support personnel, such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor."

    American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

  • "Many people think a doula is helpful only for people who are trying to go without the epidural...studies suggest this is not the case. The C-section rates [are] lower even among women who use an epidural."

    Emily Oster
    Expecting Better

  • "My doula really instilled the strength and capabilities in my body that I never knew I had and that I still carry with me to this day."

    Jen McLellan
    Plus Mommy Podcast, Episode 215

  • "Ask any woman who has invested in a postpartum doula, and she will tell you it was the best investment she ever made."

    Kimberly Ann Johnson
    The Fourth Trimester

  • "Women attended by doulas...were also more alert and interactive with their newborns than the women who laboured alone."

    Tina Cassidy
    Birth: The Surprising History of How We are Born

  • "ACMN supports the collaborative role doulas play in the support of pregnant and birthing people and recognizes their skill set as a positive addition to the healthcare team."

    American Association of Nurse-Midwives

  • "My husband was cautious about hiring doulas...he didn't want to be replaced. After we hired our team he said it was the best decision, as he could support me emotionally and not worry about anything else."

    Kristin Revere & Alyssa Veneklase
    Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby

Overall, continuous support during birth leads to:

  • 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)

  • 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference

  • Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference

  • 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference

  • 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; this risk was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff

Source: a 2024 Evidence Based Birth article on the findings of the 2017 Cochrane review of 26 randomized trials, with 15,000 participants, across 17 countries

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