What is a Doula?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves." A doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional and informational support to the mother as well as her partner before, during and just after birth.

 

 

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience

• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction

• reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans