What is a DOULA?

The word Doula is Greek for women's servant. It is the word we now use to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who provides the woman and her husband [or partner] continuous emotional support and physical comfort and information before, during and just after childbirth.

A Birth Doula ...

• recognizes birth as a precious life experience that the mother will remember the rest of her life ...
• understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor ...
• assists the woman and her husband [or partner] in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth ...
• stays by the side of the mother-to-be and her husband [or partner] throughout the entire labor ...
• provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective point of view, and assistance to the mother-to-be in getting the information she needs to make good decisions ...
• facilitates communication between the laboring mother, her husband [or partner], and the clinical/medical care providers ...
• perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the mother's memory of her birth experience.

A Postpartum Doula provides care to the family with a newborn baby [or babies].

The acceptance of Doulas in maternity care is rapidly growing with the recognition of their important contributions to the improved physical outcomes and the emotional well being of both mothers and infants.