Common Doula Questions

Why is my hospital not on your list?

We have over a dozen local hospitals and some of them I do not enjoy attending births in. Sometimes it is because of hospital policies or care provider conflicts or disrespect for birth plans or incredibly high cesarean rates... or they are simply too far away from my home! The good news is for every hospital I don't attend births at, there are plenty of doulas who do. I am happy to refer clients to other doulas who will be able to serve them with enthusiasm. The hospitals I do not attend births at are: Evergreen, Overlake, Swedish, Group Health & UW (plus all hospitals south of Seattle). I may make exceptions for friends, family and repeat clients. And, of course, if you transfer from a home/birth center, I will support you wherever we go.

Do you take clients who aren't learning Hypnobabies?

Yes, I do assist clients who haven't chosen to use hypnosis techniques for birth. However, I feel that being a Hypno-Doula suits me and is very fulfilling, so that is what I like to focus my time on. Beginning this winter I will be working in a doula partnership and we will be sharing equal on-call time for non-hypnosis births. You can read more about my doula partner, here: Serena O'Dwyer.

Is there any research about doulas?

Some people love statistics (that's me!) and if it's you too, this might impress you. In research studies doulas have been proven to:

Decrease medical intervention in labor*:

  • Reduce the need for cesarean by 50%
  • Reduce the length of labor by 25%
  • Reduce the use of oxytocin by 40%
  • Reduce pain medication use by 30%
  • Reduce the need for forceps by 40%
  • Reduce epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

  • Less anxious and depressed
  • More confident with their baby
  • More satisfied with their partner (71% vs 30%)
  • More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998. **Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995.