Ireland’s cesarean section rate continues to climb while Irish hospitals refuse the admission of birth doulas an option clinically proven to reduce the cesarean risk by 26%. Currently only Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is supportive of additional birth partners such as doulas.

Birth assistants or ‘doulas’ bring essential added emotional support not only to the mother, but also to the doctor or midwife and, especially the father, during the birth experience. A doula provides emotional and informational support to the couple before during and after the birth of their baby.
The value of providing laboring women with continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and encouragement has been recognized worldwide.
Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with intrapartum support, every effort should be made to ensure all labouring women receive support, not only from those close to them but also from specially trained caregivers such as doulas. This support should include continuous presence, the provision of hands-on comfort, and encouragement. Hodnett, E.D. Support from caregivers during childbirth (Cochrane Review) in Cochrane Library, Issue 2. Oxford Update Software, 1998. Updated Quarterly.

Facing unprecedented pressures to reduce expenses, many hospitals are targeting the largest single budget item – labour costs…
(An) unintended consequence of healthcare cutbacks may be an increased cesarean rate; the inability of pared down midwifery staff to provide continuous coverage to labouring mothers (has been) shown to increase the chance of a cesarean…

Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing interventions. Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing Cesarean Rates. Medical Leadership Council, Washington D.C. 1996
Doula services which are now available throughout Ireland and gaining popularity worldwide are being prevented from entering many hospitals as part of the hospitals one birth partner only policy.

When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.
Studies have also shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period
There have been more than 15 randomized worldwide studies over 20 years on the effects of doulas on labour.

* 26% reduction of cesarean rate

* 25% shorter labour

* 60% reduction in epidural requests

* 30% reduction in analgesia use

* 40% reduction in forceps delivery

In a 2002 JAMA study of 7000 women (Hodnett) found that continuous support by hospital employees had no effect on reducing the caesarean rates.

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