We Celebrate Doulas: Empowering Evidence Shows Doulas Optimize Outcomes
The World Doula Week initiative started in Israel as the first Doula Day which took place on March 22, 2011. Ruti Karni Horowitz, the entrepreneur of the project, suggested that CAPPA join the project and CAPPA agreed with great passion and enthusiasm. It has since been agreed that this collaboration should not be exclusive to just one doula organization, but instead, include ALL doulas and doula organizations around the world.
Photo Source: One Love Doula Services
The purpose of World Doula Week (WDW) is to empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns, and families during birth and in the postpartum period.
Source: worlddoulaweek.com
How doulas optimize birth outcomes
As humans, we do better when we are surrounded by those we love and trust, with people who are positive and encouraging. Historically, women were helping other women as they labored and gave birth. Since most births were happening in the home with a local midwife delivering the baby, the laboring mother took comfort and support from her female relatives or close friends.
As we moved away from home births and into hospitals, this tradition wasn't as common. Your support person became your doctor or nurse. In modern hospitals, however, it is difficult for staff to offer the continuous support that you need during labor and delivery. According to the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, people expect their labor nurses to provide information, comfort, and support, but research shows less than 5 percent of a nurse's time is spent doing that.
Continuous labor support is an essential component of safe, healthy care during labor and birth. All birthing people should be allowed and encouraged to bring a loved one, friend, or doula to their birth. It may be your first or your fourth time, but when you’re pregnant and considering your baby’s birth, having the proper support team is critical in ensuring you and your baby get off to the right start. Did you know a birth doula can help with that?
The evidence shows continuous support can significantly decrease the risk of cesareans, NICU admissions, Pitocin, and medications for pain relief, as well as increase satisfaction with the birth experience altogether. Read now: 5 Reasons to Hire a Birth Doula.
The true value of having a doula is that a doula knows birth. They bring a quiet confidence in the process of birth, which allows you and your support team to relax and find strength as you do the hard work of meeting your baby. Research has shown doulas to be so effective that neonatologist and researcher John Kennell says, “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”
Join us as we celebrate doulas during World Doula Week on March 22nd-28th, 2024. The Tampa Bay Birth Network’s mission is to encourage and educate a community of individuals, families, and professionals that support holistic and well-informed pregnancy, birth, and parenting for all. If you would like to learn more about becoming a member, visit our membership page.
2023 Presentations Made Especially For Doulas!
Contributed by TBBN’s Board President, Cynthya Dzialo, founder and owner of The Happiest Doulas. Cynthya holds certification with Hypnobabies as a Hypno-Doula and as a labor doula with Childbirth International for 15 years. She is a birth photographer, doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and professional member of Evidence Based Birth.