Potential benefits of increased access to doula support during childbirth.

Swedish women's experiences of doula support during childbirth.

OBJECTIVE to describe women's experiences of having a doula present during childbirth. DESIGN AND SETTING a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach in two large Swedish cities. Data were collected via open-ended taped interviews 1-2 months after childbirth. The analysis of the text of transcripts included search for meaning units sorted into clusters for a final expression of the e...

Explaining the Childbirth Experience with the Support of a Doula in an Iranian Setting: A Qualitative Study

‘The greatest feeling you get, knowing you have made a big difference’: survey findings on the motivation and experiences of trained volunteer doulas in England

BACKGROUND Support from a doula is known to have physical and emotional benefits for mothers, but there is little evidence about the experiences of volunteer doulas. This research aimed to understand the motivation and experiences of volunteer doulas who have been trained to support women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. METHODS A postal questionnaire survey was sent to volun...

A randomized controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle-class couples: effect on cesarean delivery rates.

BACKGROUND Previous randomized controlled studies in several different settings demonstrated the positive effects of continuous labor support by an experienced woman (doula) for low-income women laboring without the support of family members. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the perinatal effects of doula support for nulliparous middle-income women accompanied by...

Evaluation of trained volunteer doula services for disadvantaged women in five areas in England: women's experiences.

Disadvantaged childbearing women experience barriers to accessing health and social care services and face greater risk of adverse medical, social and emotional outcomes. Support from doulas (trained lay women) has been identified as a way to improve outcomes; however, in the UK doula support is usually paid-for privately by the individual, limiting access among disadvantaged groups. As part of...