Abstract:Postpartum doula support helps women breastfeed longer, no matter what the doula's attitude about breastfeeding is. This study, which looked at 40 low-income women, showed that women with postpartum doula support breastfed almost twice as long as women who had no doula.

Abstract: Fathers are almost always too stressed and emotionally involved in the birth experience to be good labor coaches. This study looked at the behavior of 40 new fathers during their spouses' labors. They only coached their spouses with their breathing exercises at the peak of labor. Fathers spent more time trying to hide their feelings and worrying about their usefulness.

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Abstract:In this Mexico City study, the women who had doulas felt they were treated better by hospital staff; they understood the information they were given better; they had a stronger sense of control and they felt better about themselves and their labor.

Abstract: Of all the kinds of people to provide support to women during labor, the support given by doulas is the most helpful. Doula support, either by a trained or an untrained doula, was shown in this review of several studies to be better than support by fathe rs, professional medical staff, family, or friends.

Abstract: Continuous, one-to-one professional support during labor helps women have fewer episiotomies, less medication for pain relief, and a higher sense of control over their situation during labor.

Abstract: Women attended in labor by a monitrice use less medication, use stirrups in delivery, and remember receiving more emotional and physical support during labor than those who are attended only by hospital nurses. These women are also more likely to have intact perineums.

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Abstract:Women who were supported emotionally during labor by volunteers with no nursing experience experienced lower diastolic blood pressure, less use of analgesia, and lower anxiety during labor. They breastfed longer and at more flexible intervals.

Abstract: The landmark study in Houston, TX which is quoted everywhere, citing incredible reductions of cesearean rate (50%), forceps delivery (40%), requests for epidural (60%) or other pain medications (40%), length of labor (25%) and need for Pitocin (50%).

Abstract: This is a review and meta-analysis of eleven studies on doulas. Results show that doulas help first-time moms have shorter labors, use less medication, have fewer operative interventions and fewer c-sections. One study also showed that doula-supported w omen breastfed longer, had higher self-esteem, less depression, were happier with their babies and felt better able to care for them. When doulas were present, fathers offered more personal support to the laboring women.

Abstract: In Mexico City, a 1998 clinical trial provided some first-time mothers with a doula partway through their labors (at 6 cm dilated). These moms had shorter labors, breastfed longer and said they felt more in control of their delivery experience.

Abstract: First-time moms who have doulas are better parents, even compared to other women who have had childbirth preparation classes like Lamaze. They show better caregiving strategies, more security and less emotionally distressed than women who did not have a doula during birth.

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Abstract: This Toronto study shows how little time nurses spend with laboring women on supportive care (emotional support, physical comfort measures, instruction/information, and advocacy). The proportion of time that nurses spent in supportive versus all other activities was 9.9%.

Abstract: This is a brief article explaining the role of the doula and its benefits. It addressed the idea that doula support "may reduce catecholamine levels, thus shortening the duration of labour." It also addressed the help doulas provide to fathers during la bor, and the potential cost savings to hospitals.

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Shearer, B. 1989. Birth Assistant: new ally for the parents-to-be. Childbirth Educator Spring:26-31.

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Sosa, R, Kennel, J, Robertson, S, Urrutia, J. 1980. The effect of a supportive companion on perinatal problems, length of labor, and mother-infant interaction. The New England Journal of Medicine. 303(11):597-600.

Abstract: This Guatemalan study of 33 women with doulas and 103 without showed that doula-supported women had much shorter labors (8.8 vs. 19.3 hours), were more awake after delivery, and related to their babies in a more physically close way (stroking, smiling and talking to them).

Wang D; Mao X; Qian S. 1997. [Clinical observation on Doula delivery] Chung Hua Fu Chan Ko Tsa Chih 1997 Nov;32(11):659-61. (In Chinese.)

Abstract: The presence of a doula significantly reduces the rate of cesarean section. One 1997 study in China of 46 first-time mothers showed a 6.5% c-section rate in women with doulas, and a rate of 20.8% in women without doulas. The doula-attended women also ha d much shorter labors and much less postpartum bleeding.

Abstract: This is a review and meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials on doulas from 1965 through 1995. Results show that low-income, young, first-time moms attended by doulas have shorter labors (average of 2.8 hours shorter), and have half the number of pitocin-induced labors, deliveries with forceps, and c-sections. Women with labor support were more satisfied with their deliveries and did better postpartum.