Doulas offer continuous emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. That continuous one-on-one presence — whether through prenatal visits, labor support, or postpartum follow-up — helps people feel seen, heard, and empowered at every step of their pregnancy journey. Research shows that continuous support from someone in a doula role is linked with better birth experiences and higher satisfaction. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical evidence supports real health benefits: people receiving continuous labor support are more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births, experience shorter labors, and are less likely to have cesarean or instrumental deliveries or to use regional analgesia. In short, doulas help lower interventions and improve clinical outcomes while increasing positive feelings about childbirth. 

​

​

 

 

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doulas also play a meaningful role in addressing racial inequities in maternity care. Non-Hispanic Black women in the U.S. face dramatically higher risks: recent CDC analyses show Black women are roughly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Community-based and culturally matched doula programs have been shown to improve outcomes (for example, lowering primary cesarean rates and improving birthweight in some programs) and can help reduce the harmful effects of bias, lack of access, and mistrust in the healthcare system. Offering doula access to more Black birthing people is one practical step toward safer, more equitable care. 

 

Beyond numbers, doulas are advocates and navigators — they translate medical information, help families shape birth plans, support informed consent, and assist with postpartum recovery and breastfeeding. That mix of clinical-informed advocacy and compassionate presence is why many hospitals, insurers, and community programs are expanding doula access as part of a strategy to improve maternal health for everyone.