Effects of Labor Support on Mothers, Babies, and Birth Outcomes

Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes

“…Studies examining the impact of continuous support by doulas report significant reductions in cesarean births, instrumental vaginal births, need for oxytocin augmentation, and shortened durations of labor (Campbell, Lake, Falk, & Backstrand, 2006;Klaus & Klaus, 2010;Newton, Chaudhuri, Grossman, & Merewood, 2009;Papagni & Buckner, 2006;Sauls, 2002). Continuous support also has been associated with higher newborn Apgar scores (greater than 7) and overall higher satisfaction by mothers with the birthing process (Sauls, 2002).…”

“…Continuous support also has been associated with higher newborn Apgar scores (greater than 7) and overall higher satisfaction by mothers with the birthing process (Sauls, 2002). Others report that many of these effects occurred when support was provided by someone other than an attending nurse (Rosen, 2004;Sakala, Declercq, & Corry, 2002;Sauls, 2002).…”

Stressful events and support during birth: The effect on anxiety, mood and perceived control

“…Support during birth has been found to have positive effects on physical outcomes of birth (Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyr, & Sakala, 2003;Sauls, 2002;Scott, Klaus, & Klaus, 1999;Zhang, Bernasko, Leybovich, Fahs, & Hatch, 1996). Support during birth also appears to influence emotional responses and appraisals of birth.…”

Professional Support in Pregnancy Influence Maternal Relation to and Feelings for the Baby after Cesarean Birth: An Intervention Study

“…The regression analysis also showed that professional support had impact on the "Taking in baby" factor at three days after birth. These results may depend on the healthcare professionals' personal attitudes which affect how they act in patient-care situations [29]. In order to improve professional support, an approach that addresses the attitude of the professionals is needed [45].…”

“…Professionals' personal attitudes affect how they act in patient-care situations [29] and attitudes are based on feelings to and a varying degree of knowledge about a specific phenomenon [30]. Healthcare professionals altered their attitudes towards more facilitating less regulating behaviour, which tended to be stable over time, one year after the training program [26,27].…”