Women preparing to give birth have many decisions to make regarding their birth plan, including whether to use a doula. A recent Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota study suggests doulas may help reduce premature births and costly cesarean section deliveries among low-income women, according to the Star Tribune.
The researchers conducting the study compared nearly 2,000 births among low-income women who had help from a doula with births from a comparable population of low-income women throughout the Midwest.
Technically, a variety of birth attendants who provide emotional and medical support during a birth can be considered doulas. The University of Minnesota study, however, focused on doulas who had received professional certification and been registered with the state.
doula refers to a broad range of birth attendants who provide emotional and medical support in about 6 percent of U.S. births. But the study focused on outcomes involving doulas who obtained professional certification and registered with the state — a level of training and competence required before they can serve women covered by Medical Assistance.
Ultimately, the study revealed women who used a doula had a lower rate of cesarean section deliveries as well as a significantly lower rate of preterm births — 4.7 percent versus 6.3 percent among women who didn't use a doula.
According to the report, lead researcher Katy Kozhimannil, PhD, suggests the study findings support expanding public coverage of certified doula care, because it could pay for itself by reducing costly birth complications.
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