International Doula Month

International Doula Month

At Twin Cities Midwifery, we love having doulas at births! Thanks to doula Kathy Chinn for writing and sharing this post about International Doula Month!

Photo by Megan Crown Photography

written by Kathy Chinn

The month of May is the International Doula Month. It was established in 1998 to promote the value of doula support; International Doula Month was selected to coincide with Mother’s Day.

Women and men across the globe appreciate and value the experience of having a doula– a knowledgeable, experienced companion – who stays with them through labor, birth and beyond. Birth doulas offer emotional support, encouragement and wisdom throughout labor and birth. Postpartum doulas support women and families through the transformation that a new baby brings to a family. Families in the Twin Cities have access to the most doulas per capita in North America! There’s ample research that supports the positive impact of doula care. According to Childbirth Connection, compared with women who have no support in labor, women who have support from a companion who is neither a member of the hospital staff nor a friend or family member are:

• 28% less likely to have a cesarean section
• 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) to speed labor
• 9% less likely to use any pain medication
• 34% less like to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

If you are interested in locating a doula, becoming a doula, or simply learning more, check out the Childbirth Collective.