Women who have had Midwives at their births or who hire doulas to assist them can testify to the fact that having a female birth attendant is extremely valuable. Midwives and/or doulas can support the birthing couple and ease Mom’s discomforts, or even replace Dad’s help if he is unwilling or unable to assist at the birth.

A study by the New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and The Journal of the American Medical Association show that when a female labor support person (whether a doula or a Midwife) attends your birth, you are in a much better position to have the birth experience you set out to have.

Numerous studies have now proven that having a female labor support professional can mean the following benefits:

1.      You are 50% less likely to have a Cesarean Section
Cesarean section is major surgery that requires a lengthy period of recuperation and needless health and emotional risks to Mom and baby.

C-sections and artificial inductions with drugs also interfere with the natural production of the hormone oxytocin, necessary for bonding and breastfeeding.

Additionally, Michel Odent, a world renowned Obstetrician who went on to become an advocate for home birth, states that C sections make it harder to bond with baby. Moms who birth naturally also have less cases of postpartum depression. The role oxytocin plays in the birth and postpartum experience may have something to do with this.

2.      Your labor will be 25% quicker
The benefit of this is pretty self explanatory

3.    You are 40% less likely to have your labor augmentedwith Pitocin (a synthetic form of the natural hormone Oxytocin, often used to “speed up” labor).

This is noteworthy because Pitocin use is associated with a higher incidence of C-section birth. Use of Pitocin also causes labor to be faster and more painful, and therefore more difficult for Mom to handle without pain medications.

4.      Use of narcotic pain medications in labor decreases by 30%
This is no small thing, since the use of pain relief in labor is associated with several risks to both Mom and baby.

Babies born to moms who use painkilling drugs are more likely to experience health problems including jaundice, sucking/breastfeeding difficulties, breathing difficulties, and fever and are more likely to need painful or needless medical intervention (such as spinal tap for fever)

5.      Forceps assisted delivery is reduced 30%. Why is this important?

In one study, the risk of third-or fourth-degree perineal tears increased 12-fold in women who had forceps-assisted deliveries. Additionally, babies born with the help of vacuum extraction are more likely to have a cephalohematoma (large raised bruise) on the top of their head. This can take weeks or months to resolve, and leaves baby more likely to become jaundiced.

6.      Use of epidural with its associated risks is reduced by 60%

(See benefit #3)
 
Read part 1 of this article: preparing for breastfeeding before baby's birth

Continue to part 3 of this article: childbirth and preparation for breastfeeding part 3