Sara Ailshire, a Doctoral candidate in anthropology, discusses the transformative role of doulas in maternity care. She explains the various types of doulas and their distinct roles compared to medical professionals. The conversation highlights research showing that continuous doula support can lead to better birth outcomes, including lower C-section rates and higher satisfaction. Ailshire also addresses the challenge of hospital policies that may not support labor companions and offers tips for finding a doula.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Interview Doulas Carefully
Use the interview guide at ebbirth.com/doulas to find a doula whose approach matches your needs.
Meeting several doulas before choosing helps ensure a respectful and satisfying birth support.
insights INSIGHT
Doula Support Lowers Cesareans
Continuous labor support with a trained doula significantly improves birth outcomes.
It reduces cesarean risk by 39% and improves spontaneous vaginal birth rates by 15%.
insights INSIGHT
Doulas Support Partners Too
Doulas provide support that complements, not replaces, partners during labor.
They help partners cope emotionally and guide them to better support the birthing person.
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What is a doula, and what are the different types of doulas? How many people use doulas during childbirth, and what does a doula actually do? Are there any randomized, controlled trials on doula support? What are the benefits and risks of having a doula, if any? And if the evidence shows that doulas improve health outcomes… then why are some hospitals around the world unsupportive of labor companions? And how can you find a doula if you’re interested in having one at your birth?
Today’s podcast episode with Dr. Dekker and Sara Ailshire, MA, is chock full of research from our peer-reviewed Evidence Based Birth® Signature Article: The Evidence on Doulas.
To learn more, download a free one-page handout, and view all the research references, go to ebbirth.com/doulas.
EBB Resources:
Access all the scientific references and a free 1-page handout at the EBB Signature Article: Evidence on Doulas here.
If you’re a visual learner, watch a video about the Evidence on Doulas on the EBB YouTube channel here!
Join the EBB Pro Membership and get access to contact hours, a doula mentorship program, live trainings, and a PDF Library with exclusive handouts (including a full-length printable PDF on "Evidence on: Doulas") by joining here.
Learn comfort measures and advocacy techniques through the EBB Childbirth Class.
EBB Podcasts:
EBB195 – Grief & Healing through Pregnancy and Infant Loss with Full Spectrum Doula, Rose Rankin
EBB 207 – Gender Affirming Birth Work and Education with Full-Spectrum Doula and Childbirth Educator, Moss Froom
EBB 211 – Supporting Expectant Families through Birth and Lactation with Birth Doula and EBB Instructor Coordinator, Rikki Jenkins
EBB229 – Evidence on Doulas with Community-Based Models and Reimbursement
EBB 252 – A Candid Conversation about Doula Advocacy with Doula and EBB Instructor Leslie Greene
EBB285 – Creating a Sustainable Career in Birth Work with Jessica Diggs, Doula Mentor and Co-Founder of Centered.
Evidence Based Birth® 