Continuous emotional support during labor in a US hospital. A randomized controlled trial. Export

@article{citeulike:988193, abstract = {The continuous presence of a supportive companion (doula) during labor and delivery in two studies in Guatemala shortened labor and reduced the need for cesarean section and other interventions. In a US hospital with modern obstetric practices, 412 healthy nulliparous women in labor were randomly assigned to a supported group (n = 212) that received the continuous support of a doula or an observed group (n = 200) that was monitored by an inconspicuous observer. Two hundred four women were assigned to a control group after delivery. Continuous labor support significantly reduced the rate of cesarean section deliveries (supported group, 8\%; observed group, 13\%; and control group, 18\%) and forceps deliveries. Epidural anesthesia for spontaneous vaginal deliveries varied across the three groups (supported group, 7.8\%; observed group, 22.6\%; and control group, 55.3\%). Oxytocin use, duration of labor, prolonged infant hospitalization, and maternal fever followed a similar pattern. The beneficial effects of labor support underscore the need for a review of current obstetric practices.}, address = {Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.}, author = {Kennell, J. and Klaus, M. and McGrath, S. and Robertson, S. and Hinkley, C.}, citeulike-article-id = {988193}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2013951}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=2013951}, day = {1}, issn = {0098-7484}, journal = {JAMA}, keywords = {birth, doula}, month = {May}, number = {17}, pages = {2197--2201}, posted-at = {2006-12-10 23:48:46}, priority = {4}, title = {Continuous emotional support during labor in a US hospital. A randomized controlled trial.}, url = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2013951}, volume = {265}, year = {1991} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:988193 L3 - citeulike-article-id:988193 N2 - The continuous presence of a supportive companion (doula) during labor and delivery in two studies in Guatemala shortened labor and reduced the need for cesarean section and other interventions. In a US hospital with modern obstetric practices, 412 healthy nulliparous women in labor were randomly assigned to a supported group (n = 212) that received the continuous support of a doula or an observed group (n = 200) that was monitored by an inconspicuous observer. Two hundred four women were assigned to a control group after delivery. Continuous labor support significantly reduced the rate of cesarean section deliveries (supported group, 8%; observed group, 13%; and control group, 18%) and forceps deliveries. Epidural anesthesia for spontaneous vaginal deliveries varied across the three groups (supported group, 7.8%; observed group, 22.6%; and control group, 55.3%). Oxytocin use, duration of labor, prolonged infant hospitalization, and maternal fever followed a similar pattern. The beneficial effects of labor support underscore the need for a review of current obstetric practices. IS - 17 JF - JAMA SN - 0098-7484 AD - Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. EP - 2201 TI - Continuous emotional support during labor in a US hospital. A randomized controlled trial. VL - 265 SP - 2197 KW - birth KW - doula AU - Kennell, J AU - Klaus, M AU - McGrath, S AU - Robertson, S AU - Hinkley, C PY - 1991/05/01/ UR - http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2013951 ER -