March 24, 2023: NICHQ Discusses How Doula Support Improves Maternal and Child Health Outcomes
To kick-off World Doula Week (March 22-28), NICHQ sat down with LaToshia Rouse, CD/PCD(DONA), owner of Birth Sisters Doula Services to discuss the health benefits of doulas. Excerpt: “Studies examining the impact of continuous support by doulas report significant reductions in cesarean births, instrumental vaginal births, need for oxytocin augmentation, and shortened durations of labor. Additionally, doula-assisted mothers were four times less likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding.”