What is a doula?

The word doula comes from the Ancient Greek , and means “a woman of service”. She assists the mother in numerous ways during the childbirth year. Some examples of the things doulas do are help the mother determine her personal birth philosophy, help her write a birth plan, suggest prenatal exercises and relaxation techniques, provide continuous physical, emotional, and spiritual support during labor, birth, and the early postpartum period, and provide breastfeeding support. Simply put, doulas are there to support the mother in any way that will help her have the most satisfying birth possible.