Bradley Method® Childbirth Classes

Doulas (or labor support/ assistants) are an excellent way to help a pregnant couple achieve the birth they desire.  The goal of the labor support person is not to replace the father's loving, supportive care during pregnancy and labor.  Rather, the role of the doula is to assist both mom and dad and to enhance the care that dad provides during labor.  Labor is always hard work for both mom and dad and any way the doula can serve the couple will have a positive effect on the outcome of the baby's birth.  Truly, there are no known disadvantages to having a doula for your labor.

Known advantages of doula care for pregnant women include: (found as a result of extensive randomly assigned trials*) 

• Less pain and anxiety in labor
• Feeling in control and able to cope well with labor
• Greater overall satisfaction with labor
• Higher self-esteem associated with satisfaction with their bodies' strength and performance during labor   
• More positive feelings toward baby
• Easier time mothering
• Better relationship with the father
• Breastfeeding longer
• Less postpartum depression

The continuous presence, support, and encouragement of a doula during labor can also reduce:

• The length of labor
• The need for artificial augmentation of labor with pitocin
• The need for an episiotomy
• The need for forceps delivery or vacuum extraction 
• The cesarean rate

[*Information was obtained from studies recorded in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus(1993).]