Many birth professionals have noticed what is called the "cycle of fear" or what I prefer to call the "fight or flight syndrome".  This is a simple problem that can be seen by any rancher or pet owner in the world.  When an animal goes into labor it seeks out a place of quiet, usually a dark place and a place where it can labor alone - without distractions or fear of attack.  The only exception I know of is the Elephant - who goes off alone but is followed by experienced elephants who then coach the new mother in her labor!!!  A cat will often go under a bed, behind a stack of boxes, inside the closet - to build her nest and give birth.  Nearly all animals do this.  BUT, what happens when they are startled?  What happens when you walk up to a birthing cow or burst in on a laboring dog?  That animal gets a fight or flight response to you!  AND normally they will run away - labor stops completely and they leave the scene in search of the perfect place to birth in safety. 

Women are very similar.  A woman needs a place of quiet, darkness, peace and safety to birth well.  This is very hard to accomplish in a hospital setting so she is forced to labor in a very un-private, loud, bright place.  A feeling of danger is often the result - even when there really is no danger at all.  The body responds to that feeling with a SLOWING or STOPPING of labor!!!  Some women have been recorded to actually have a closing of the cervix if they are feeling unsafe or threatened.  It doesn't seem to matter if the threat is real or not, if a woman perceives that there is some kind of danger she will have a much harder time laboring well.  The pain will be increased, the anxiety will lead to more tension and the tension will lead to more pain. 

What can be done to defuse this potentially serious situation?  Hiring a labor support person allows the mother to have a continuity of care - someone who's with her the whole time, talking her though contractions and basically providing her with the safety of feeling safe!!!  The results are traceable, women labor better when they have a doula with them, even women who have a loving and patient, helpful partner along! 

You need to feel very private and safe as you birth – just like you need to feel very private and safe when you’re making love.  All the same hormones are in play and they can’t do their job effectively if you’re unable to relax and let go!!!

SEE:  Medical Benefits page

Also see Ina May Gaskin's video on this: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQn_nTia7FY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKDqnAktGiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCfSZn28FgM