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What is a doula?

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According to DONA International, a doula is a professional who is trained in childbirth and provides continuous support to a mother before, during, and just after birth (postpartum doulas are not covered in this article). Doula comes from a Greek word that means “a woman who serves” or “handmaiden.”

 

The role of the doula is a calm, quiet, confident, reassuring, supportive presence for the mother.  A doula is her advocate, but the doula does not speak for her.  The doula is there to help ensure her desires and needs are met so that she may experience her child’s birth as she envisions it.

The doula is always there to comfort, encourage, support, and inform, helping to make your pregnancy and birth experience a joyous journey to new life.

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Further Reading

 

https://www.dona.org/

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

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