The Purpose and Value of Labor Support Essay
by Kellay Wiley

    Labor support is of great benefit to the mother and her family as it enhances the parent-infant relationship and provides enhanced communication and understanding between the mother, her family, and care providers. Also, as shown by current research such as that found in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth  (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus 1993) having a doula present reduces the chance of Cesarean delivery by 50%, the duration of labor by 25%, epidural requests by 60%, oxytocin use by 40%, analgesia use by 30%, and forceps assisted delivery by 40%. Beyond that mothers who have doulas present at their births view their childbirth experiences more positively and have higher self-esteem as stated in the DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper.
    The purpose behind providing labor support is to foster good relationships between parents and infants as this leads to healthier families and in turn a healthier society as a whole as described in the DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper. In addition to that the purpose of providing labor support is to improve the psychological outcomes of birth as also stated in the DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper.  Another purpose of providing labor support is to foster good communication between mothers, their families, and care providers so that mother’s wishes are respected during labor and birth.  All of these factors culminate to the ultimate purpose of labor support, which is to help women achieve the birth they want.
    The doula’s primary responsibility is to her client as outlined in the Birth Doula Code of Ethics. This means always treating clients with professionalism and respect. This also means keeping all client information confidential. The doula is also responsible for completing continuing education and being involved with other doulas and related organizations as outlined in the Birth Doula Code of Ethics. As stated in the Birth Doula Standards of Practice, the doula has a responsibility to continuity of care for her clients meaning that the doula must have a back-up doula her client is familiar with in the event that the primary doula cannot fulfill her role. The doula also has the responsibility to offer her services for free or at reduced rates when appropriate to further the DONA vision of “A Doula For Every Woman Who Wants One” as also expressed in the Birth Doula Code of Ethics.  The doula is responsible for helping to make the mother’s wishes happen without ever imposing her own goals or views on her client to foster the most self -determination possible as stated in the Birth Doula Code of Ethics.
    The doula’s role is to offer continual physical and emotional support throughout the labor and birth process. This support is strictly non-medical as outlined in the Birth Doula Standards of Practice. The doula is also to help garner information helpful to women and their partners throughout the birth process and to advocate for their client’s wishes without speaking for their clients as expressed in the Birth Doula Standards of Practice. The doula’s role is not to replace a client’s partner, but to be a support to the client in addition to her partner as mentioned in the DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper. During labor the doula’s role includes suggesting comfort measures to her client and her partner to help the client cope with labor. The doula’s role also often includes providing emotional and practical support to the mother’s partner and family as appropriate. In short the doula’s role is to be an active or behind the scenes help to her client and her client’s family always reassessing what her client needs to achieve the birth she wants.