There are three really well known studies on Doulas. There were two studies of Guatemalan women, and one study in Houston.
Doulas came about because a researcher sent women in to record information about typical labors, and the researcher became aware that the presence of the women in the room drastically changed the labor outcomes. That is the first Guatemalan study, and all the women did was sit there with a clip board. Imagine how much more helpful a trained doula is!
Length of Labor
Natural Vaginal Deliveries
Epidural Rate
Use of Forceps
Use of Pitocin
Cesarean Birth Rate
Maternal Fever and Epidural Anesthesia
Effects After Delivery
Infant Problems at 6 weeks
Satisfaction with Partner at 6 weeks
Length of Labor
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
1st Guatemalan Study
(40 Women: oxytocin or cesarean births NOT included)
|
19 Hours
|
9 hours
|
2nd Guatemalan Study
(225 Women: oxytocin or cesarean births NOT included)
|
15.5 Hours
|
7.7 Hours
|
Houston Study
(416 Women: oxytocin and cesarean birth ARE included)
|
9.4 Hours
|
7.4 Hours
|
Natural Vaginal Deliveries
(no analgesia, pitocin, forceps)
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Houston Study
(212 Women WITH a Doula and 204 women WITHOUT a Doula)
|
12%
|
55%
|
Epidural Rate
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Houston Study
(416 Women)
|
55%
|
8%
|
Use of Forceps
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Houston Study
(416 Women)
|
26%
|
8%
|
Pitocin Use
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Guatamalan Study
(225 Women with uncomplicated labor and delivery requiring no intervention)
|
13%
|
2%
|
Houston Study
(416 Women)
|
44%
|
17%
|
Cesarean Birth Rate
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Guatemalan Study
(225 Women)
|
17%
|
7%
|
Houston Study
(416 Women)
|
18%
|
8%
|
Maternal Fever and Epidural Anesthesia
Houston Study
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Infant kept more than 2 days in hospital (suspected due to epidural fever)
|
24%
|
10%
|
Maternal Fever
|
10%
|
1%
|
Effects After Delivery
Johannesburg Study
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Breastfeeding Only
|
29%
|
51%
|
Demand Feeding
|
47%
|
81%
|
Feeding Food other than Milk
|
53%
|
18%
|
Feeding Problems
|
63%
|
16%
|
Average Number of Days of Breastfeeding Only
|
24 days
|
32 days
|
Infant Health Problems at Six Weeks
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Vomiting
|
28%
|
4%
|
Colds or Runny Nose
|
69%
|
39%
|
Poor Appetite
|
25%
|
0%
|
Diarrhea
|
33%
|
19%
|
Average Number of Days of Breastfeeding Only
|
24 days
|
32 days
|
Satisfaction with Partner at Six Weeks
| |
No Doula |
Doula |
Before Pregnancy
|
63%
|
65%
|
During Pregnancy
|
48%
|
49%
|
Since the Baby was Born
|
49%
|
85%
|
Relationship After Birth
|
30%
|
71%
|
|
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