Welcome to Peaceful Beginnings Doula Service

Providing Doula Services to Berks County and surrounding areas.

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Dou·la

[ doola ] (plural dou·las) noun:

A woman who assists in childbirth: a woman who is experienced in childbirth and who provides physical, emotional, and informational assistance and support to a mother before, during, and/or after childbirth.

The following is a summary of the impact a Doula has on labor and early parenting, adapted from a handout by Penny Simkin, PT, CD (DONA). Support in Labor from a Doula:

• Decreases anxiety and tension
• Increases acceptance of the baby
• Shortens labor
• Enhances the maternal/infant bond
• Increases positive feelings about labor
• Decreases neonatal problems
• Decreases need for medication
• Increases feelings of control
• Decreases intervention
• Decreases postpartum depression
• Decreases cesareans
• Enhances self-confidence & self-esteem

The benefits of continuous Doula support during labor have been shown in data from meta-analyses of twelve trials and cited in numerous books, including Mothering the Mother by Marshall H. Klaus, M.D., Phyllis M. Klaus, M.Ed., and John Kennell, M.D. These sources report that the use of a Doula can result in increased breastfeeding success, greater partner confidence, and higher maternal satisfaction. Furthermore, the results show the following:

• 71% decrease in pitocin use
• 60% decrease in epidural use
• 57% decrease in forceps use
• 51% decrease in cesarean birth
• 35% decrease in narcotic use
• Labor length is reduced by an average of 98 minutes