• 50% reduction of cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labour
• 60% reduction in epidural request
• 30% reduction in analgesia used
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Findings from "Mothering the Mother" Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993

Here are some vital statistics:

Kennell J, Klaus M, McGrath S, Robertson S, Hinkley C. JAMA 1991 May 1;265(17):2197-201

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

• Less anxious and depressed
• Had more confidence with baby
• More satisfied with partner (71% vs 30%)
• More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)
  

165 surveys were returned and helped us get information from 735 births supported by a doula. All births were in the UK in 2008.

• 48% - Primiparous women (first time mums)
• 45% - Natural births (no induction, medicated pain relief, augmentation or instrumental deliveries)
• 15% - Caesarean section (versus 24.3% nationally)
• 20% - Epidurals (versus over 30% nationally)
• 10% - Inductions (versus 20% nationally)
• 70% - Vaginal birth after a caesarean section success rate
• 23% - Labour in a pool
• 19% - Successful home births (no transfer)
• 86% - Breastfed at birth (versus 76% nationally)
• 11% - Doula was single birth partner

The survey also included data from postnatal doulas:

88% of women who had a postnatal doula were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks

67% were still breastfeeding at 6 months

(This compares with 21% at six weeks and 7% at three months according to the Infant Feeding Survey of 2005 (Bolling et al 2007).)