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DoulaAka: Continuous Labor Support

Definition
1. Continuous non-medical labor support
Efficacy
1. Groups with greatest benefit
  1. Women who would otherwise labor alone
  2. Low-income patients
2. Continuous Doula support improves outcomes
  1. Reduces labor duration
  2. Reduces use of Analgesics, Oxytocin and forceps
  3. Reduces chance of cesarean section
  4. Intermittent support does not offer same benefits
  5. Scott (1999) Am J Obstet Gynecol 180:1054
3. Continuous nursing does not offer same benefit as Doula
  1. Hodnett (2002) JAMA 288:1373
Resources
1. Doulas of North America (DONA)
  1. http://www.dona.org
2. Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
  1. http://www.cappa.net

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.