OBJECTIVES The annual costs of US maternity-related hospitalizations exceed $27 billion. Continuous labor support from a trained doula is associated with improved outcomes and potential cost savings. This study aimed to document the relationship between doula support, desire for doula support, and cesarean delivery, distinguishing cesarean deliveries without a definitive medical indication. S...

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...

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...

In this study, we examined factors that influenced doula use among adolescent mothers in a community-based childbirth education and doula program. We used a qualitative case study approach to gather perspectives from adolescent mothers and doulas through semistructured interviews, field observations, and a focus group. These women collectively revealed multiple themes related to doula use among...

Birth outcomes of two groups of socially disadvantaged mothers at risk for adverse birth outcomes, one receiving prebirth assistance from a certified doula and the other representing a sample of birthing mothers who elected to not work with a doula, were compared. All of the mothers were participants in a prenatal health and childbirth education program. Expectant mothers matched with a doula h...

OBJECTIVE To compare labor outcomes in women accompanied by an additional support person (doula group) with outcomes in women who did not have this additional support person (control group). DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING A women's ambulatory care center at a tertiary perinatal care hospital in New Jersey. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS Six hundred nulliparous women carrying a singlet...

OBJECTIVE To examine associations between doula care, early breastfeeding outcomes, and breastfeeding duration. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Regional hospital in northern California. PARTICIPANTS Low-income, full gestation primiparae receiving doula care (n=44) or standard care (n=97). MEASURES Birth outcomes and newborn feeding data obtained from the hospital record. Follow-up in...

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...

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to estimate the immediate cost savings per delivery with in-hospital professional doula labor support in Wisconsin. This is the first study that calculates the estimated cost savings of professional doula labor support specific to Wisconsin. METHODS This analysis used results presented in and derived from the Cochrane Review of continuous labor suppor...

OBJECTIVES Despite recent efforts to increase breastfeeding, young African American mothers continue to breastfeed at low rates, and commonly introduce complementary foods earlier than recommended. This study examines the effects of a community doula home visiting intervention on infant feeding practices among young mothers. METHODS Low-income, African American mothers (n = 248) under age 22 ...