Evidence in Support of Doulas

The benefits of continuous doula support were highlighted in the Cochrane Review (updated in 2019) involving research of more than 15,000 women and birthing people found that

"several health outcomes for both the woman and her baby were improved."

and doulas were responsible for

"increasing equity directly through improved women’s empowerment and provision of culturally responsive care, and indirectly by reducing the over-medicalisation of childbirth."

These positive outcomes reflect what happens when doula support successfully holds a safe space for the mother or birthing parent, contributing to their ability to cope with and participate in their birth and postnatal experience positively. It isn’t the aim of a Doula UK doula to prevent interventions such as pain medication, but these are the tangible results of doula support which increase confidence, encourage self-agency, and create a feeling of safety.

As doulas we are campaigners for the improvement in maternity and postnatal care for everyone.