What is the best evidence about the benefits of continuous support during labor?

http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10174&ClickedLink=257&area=27

What is the best evidence about the benefits of continuous support during labor?

The review found that, in comparison with women who had continuous support, women who labored without continuous supporthad longer labors and were less likely to have a “spontaneous” birth (with neither cesarean section nor vacuum extraction, nor forceps). Women without support were more likely to:

• have an epidural or other “regional” analgesia to manage pain
• use any type of pain medication (including narcotics)
• give birth by cesarean section
• give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• give birth to a baby with a low Apgar score rating of well being 5 minutes after birth
• be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their childbirth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2011).

(click to read article)