"The presence of a doula at birth was linked to an almost 60 percent reduction in women's odds of having a C-section, and 80 percent lower odds of having a nonmedically indicated C-section compared with women who had no doula. (Overall, 10 percent of the women in the survey said they had no clear medical need for a cesarean delivery, yet delivered via C-section anyway.)
Women with doulas also had significantly lower odds of having a C-section -- both for clear medical reasons and otherwise -- than those who wanted a doula but did not have one.
"What our study showed is that [lower odds of a C-section] don't come with wanting a doula; it's having a doula that is actually associated with important and substantial risk reductions," Kozhimannil said."
Read the full text of the article here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/29/doula-benefits_n_5730720.html