Supporting women in labour: the doula's role.

A doula is a woman without medical experience who guides and assists a new mother in childbirth and babycare tasks. The doula's role is to hold the woman, breathe with her, smile at her and provide encouragement and reassurance. Doula support for the labouring woman may reduce catecholamine levels, thus shortening the duration of labour. Doula support can increase self-esteem in the labouring woman and facilitate her transition to motherhood. Rates of oxytocin augmentation, epidural anaesthesia and caesarean section can be reduced by doula support. Fathers may find it hard to provide doula-type support during labor because of their own emotional involvement in the birth. The introduction of doulas into labour wards could lead to reduced costs for maternity services.