There is research that indicates there are significant benefits to both mother and baby during pregnancy, birth and postpartum when a doula is a part of your birth team. A study done by The Dona International Data Project showed that when a doula is a part of your care team there was a 5.01% drop in prematurity (4.9% versus 9.91% nationally), reduced anxiety and stress during the labor period, 7.8% drop in birth by cesarean surgery (12.6% versus 20.4% nationally - though since that study, the rate of birth by cesarean surgery has risen to 32.1%). The study also showed that mothers who have a doula are less likely to use epidural/pain medication during labor (72% versus 83%). Mothers reported increased confidence and autonomy throughout labor. Additionally, doula care was associated with a shorter stage 2 of labor, an earlier onset of lactogenesis (initiation of lactation), within 72 hours postpartum, mothers who had doulas were more likely to initiate breastfeeding (81% versus 74%), experienced improved breast feeding success and babies who were born to mothers who had the support of a doula had increased Apgar scores at one and five minutes.