Does continuous labor support by midwife make a difference in delivery outcomes?

Abstract

Introduction: Continuous labor support by a doula is one of the most important ways to improve the delivery process. Regarding this, the present study aimed to compare delivery outcomes between two groups receiving continuous support delivered by doula and those having no such support. Method: In this descriptive-analytical study, the outcomes of 220 deliveries were evaluated in two groups of mothers living in Bandar Abbas, Iran, in 2016. In the supportive group, the mothers were provided with emotional, physical, and informational supports in addition to routine care. In the non-supportive group, only routine labor care was delivered. Childbirth outcomes, including the duration of active phase of labor, oxytocin consumption, severity of pain, type of delivery, perineal rupture, Apgar score, skin-to-skin contact, and the beginning of breastfeeding, were recorded using a researcher-made observation checklist. The data were analyzed in SPSS (version 20) using t-test, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and two-way logistic regression. P-value less than 0.0 was considered statistically significant. Results: According to the results, there was a significant difference between the two study groups in terms of the skin-to-skin contact (P<0.001) and breastfeeding the first hour of birth (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the other variables. The odds of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding the first hour of birth were 6 and 9 times higher in the mothers provided with supportive care than those in the mothers receiving no such support. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the provision of mothers with continuous support during labor and delivery by the doula improved skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding the first hour of birth.

Keywords

• continuous support
• doula
• delivery outcomes
• skin-to-skin contact
• breastfeeding