What
is a Doula?
Doula (doo’-luh) is a Greek word
meaning 'servant'. It was adopted by the labor support profession, and
today the word is used to refer to a trained person (usually a woman) who
provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and
families before, during and after childbirth.
A birth doula assists the pregnant woman and her family during pregnancy,
birth, and early postpartum. She stays with the laboring mother throughout
the entire birth process, providing emotional, physical, and informational
support. She helps her clients get the information they need to make
informed decisions.
The birth doula recognizes childbirth as a normal, physiological process
as well as a transformative life experience. Her primary purpose is to
nurture and protect a woman’s memory of her birth experience.
Doulas are a recognized professional group and may be certified by
various doula organizations, but are not currently a licensed or regulated
profession at the State level.
Traditional
doula training
includes two components:
1) Basic
information about pregnancy and birth. Topics include:
