Women who receive support from doul...

Women who receive support from doulas (ie, labor assistants) while giving birth require significantly les epidural use and are more likely to view the experience as positive, according to a meditation published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology The vicinity of doulas, however, does not alter the ne for operative deliveries or the incident of postpartum depression, according to the study's findings.

The randomized application of mind involved 314 women giving birth in hospitals managed from a health maintainence organization. Doulas, who provide praise, reassurance, comfort, and companionship during labor, were provided to 149 women; the remaining 165 women received no special treatment. Of the women with doulas, 54% had an epidural compared to 66% of those in the have charge of group, according to the article. solely 67% of the control cluster rated the experience as positive, as compared with 82% of the doula form into groups The study also showed that the doulas had positive validitys on how the women felt they cop with labor, in succession whether they viewed labor as having a positive tenor on their feelings as women and forward how they perceive their bodies' vigor and performance.

N P Gordon et al, "Effect of providing hospital-based doulas in health maintenance organization hospitals," Obstetrics & Gynecology 93 (March 1999) 422-426

COPYRIGHT 1999 Association of Operating expanse Nurses, Inc.

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