Birthing women supported by birth/labor doulas experience shorter labors with fewer complications and require less labor inducing drugs and pain medication. Their labors result in fewer forcep, vacuum extraction and cesarean section deliveries. To include doula services in health care coverage would enable more women to use this service and therefore lower the overall cost of maternity care for these women.
Women who are supported also have more success with breastfeeding, have greater self-confidence, adapt better to motherhood and experience less post-partum depression.
Support women's right to a better birth. Support women, mothers and families AND reduce maternity care costs by requiring insurance companies cover directly or through reimbursement, the cost for doula care services.