What is Doula?

"Doula" is an ancient Greek word. 
Loosely translated, it means
assistant to women. In past centuries, 
a woman during pregnancy, birth,  
and postpartum was supported
and attended by other women
in her family and surrounding community. Until the 1900's women were typically attended by midwives for medical care, and birth took place at home
with the woman surrounded
by family and friends.
    In recent years the word Doula has come to mean a person,
generally a woman,
who supports women, couples,
and families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
Doulas are individuals and each of us
has our own strengths
and areas of expertise. There are assistants with different specialties
such as fertility, high-risk pregnancies, difficult birth circumstances, adoption,breastfeeding,
postpartum depression and so on.
Many assistants attend births;
however there are Doulas that contract exclusively for postpartum support.

A Doula provides physical, emotional, 
and informational support.
They are not midwives or doctors, 
and are not trained for clinical skills.
The Doula works for the client, 
but should complement the caregiver
and birthplace services.

"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action. "
Mother Teresa 

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What is a Doula?