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Abstract

The CDC recorded an increase from 7.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 18.0 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014 with 60% of those being preventable (Reproductive Health, 2018). Birthing a child can be a significant and emotional experience (Hans et al., 2013). Unfortunately, continuous support during labor and delivery has become a privilege instead of a basic right in a hospital setting (Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyr, & Sakala, 2005). A study on doula support during labor and delivery showed that women feel there is a lack of information being provided by medical staff in a hospital (Campero et al, 1998).

The goal of the present study is to determine whether there is a difference in delivery outcomes between mothers that utilize a doula and/or midwife during childbirth versus those who only used standard physicians. The study included a sample of approximately 50 adult women that had at least one personal experience with childbirth. Participants were recruited via Facebook and through personal relationships. Participants were asked to complete an online survey including the following measures: Scale of Women’s Perception for Supportive Care Given During Labor (Uludag, & Mete, 2015), Childbirth Perceptions Questionnaire (Padawer, Fagan, Janoff-Bulman, Strickland, & Chorowski, 1988), Birth Satisfaction Scale (Jefford, Hollins Martin, & Martin, 2018), and Fear of Birth Scale (Stoll, & Hall, 2013). I hypothesize that women who utilized a doula and/or midwife during labor and delivery, had a more pleasant birthing experience, felt more prepared, and were less likely to have a cesarean birth than women who only used western medicine support.

Department

Psychology

Faculty Advisor

Veronica Fruit, PhD

Publication Date

2019

City

San Rafael, CA

Keywords

emotional support, informational support, labor and delivery, childbirth

Disciplines

Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychology

Informational and Educational Support for American Women During Labor and Delivery


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