WHAT IS A DOULA?

The Greek word doula means woman caregiver. We now use the word to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who provides the woman and her partner continuous emotional support, physical comfort and assistance in obtaining information before, during, and just after childbirth.

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A birth doula...

• recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life

• understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

• assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their labor plans for birth

• stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor

• provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions

• facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers

• perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience