Doula delivery: the combination of professional companionship and humanized delivery

Doula birth is a type of birth in which a professional doula (usually an experienced midwife or trained caregiver) provides continuous physical, psychological, and emotional support to the mother during her delivery.Its core content includesNon-drug analgesia guidance, position adjustment suggestions, breathing technique training and psychological comfort, designed to reduce maternal anxiety, reduce medical intervention and improve the success rate of natural childbirth.The main content structure is divided into: the definition and role of doulas, specific service content, clinical benefits and applicable groups.

Doula’s service content and role during childbirth

Doulas accompany you throughout the entire process from birth to delivery.Personalized supportHelp mothers cope with labor.For example, the Lamaze breathing method is taught to relieve uterine contraction pain, non-drug methods such as massage and hot compress are used to reduce discomfort, and the mother is assisted in choosing a free position (such as squatting, lying on her side) to promote the descent of the fetal head.Doulas will also popularize childbirth knowledge to family members, coordinate doctor-patient communication, and avoid tension caused by information asymmetry.Research shows that being accompanied by a doula can shorten the labor process by about 25% and reduce the cesarean section rate (see the table at the end of the article for data sources).

Clinical advantages and scientific basis of doula delivery

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends doula delivery as an important measure to improve the birth experience.Its advantages are reflected in three aspects:physiologicallyReduce the need for interventions such as epidural anesthesia,psychologicallyEnhance maternal sense of control,The endingReduce the risk of neonatal suffocation.For example,American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)pointed out that doula support can reduce maternal pain scores by 30% (cited from ACOG 2019 Guidelines).Many domestic tertiary hospitals have incorporated doula services into routine obstetric programs, such as the “gentle delivery” program of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Applicable groups and implementation status

Doula delivery is suitable for most low-risk women, especially first-time mothers or pregnant women who are afraid of childbirth.At present, domestic doula services come in various forms, including paid services provided by hospitals’ self-employed doulas and third-party organizations (such as platforms such as “Mommy Knows” and “Happy Childbirth”).Some public hospitals provide free doulas through government procurement programs, while private hospitals often include them as an add-on to high-end packages.It should be noted that doulas are not medical operators and their duties are complementary to those of doctors and midwives.

Summary: Return to Humanized Childbirth Support

Doula delivery reshapes the "mother-centered" delivery experience through professional companionship, and its scientific and practicality has been recognized globally.Although domestic popularity still needs to be improved, as fertility concepts change, more and more institutions are beginning to integrate doula services.Mothers can choose the appropriate service model according to their own needs and work with the medical team to develop a personalized delivery plan.

Quote sources:
1. World Health Organization (WHO) "Guidelines for Childbirth Care"
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 2019 Practice Recommendations
3. Domestic doula service agencies: Mommy Knows (brand affiliated to Shenzhen Medical Information Technology), Happy Childbirth (Shanghai Berry Health Management)
4. Product examples:"Maternity Care Doula Pack"(Including massage tools and breathing training manual, manufacturer: Jiangsu Kangle Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.)