Benefits of a Doula’s Presence at Birth

Effects on the Mother:
• Greater satisfaction with her birth experience
• More positive assessments of her baby
• Less postpartum depression

Effects on the Baby:
• Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries
• Better mother-infant connection and bonding
• Babies breastfeed longer

Effects on Birth Outcomes:
• Shorter labors
• Fewer complications
• Fewer Cesareans
• Less need for Oxytocin
• Less need for forceps or vacuum extraction
• Less requests for pain medication and epidurals