What is is Doula?

Doula is an ancient Greek word meaning “slave to the Mother”. In ancient times in most cultures birthing women were tended to by women of the household, family or women in the community. It has been this way since the beginning of time.

Times have changed however and often women birthing in Western society today are in hospitals with routine medical interventions and not enough support. We hear stories of horror births, 40 hour labours, pain, terror, abandonment and fear. This is certainly an influence of our society today, if it were not, our population would not have survived thus far.

A doula is employed by you to tend to your needs (and that of your partner) during birth. A doulas role is not to replace the father or other chosen birth partner. A doula helps you to prepare mentally and physically for birth. She supports your emotional needs and understands the excitement and apprehension that go hand in hand with birth and motherhood.

A doula is not a doctor or a midwife or a nurse, she has no clinical responsibility therefore will not make medical decisions for you. She mothers the mother in her time of need. She is compassionate, sensitive, discreet and understanding. Whether you chose a homebirth or a hospital birth, whether you choose to have pain relief or a natural birth or whether you have a caesarian birth or a vaginal birth, she will be there to support you and your partner.

The mother-to-be’s needs are immediate and often many in birth so having a doula present reassures the father that he is not the only one responsible for ensuring the mother-to-be’s needs are met and he is therefore more relaxed and able to absorb the birthing experience.

The results of recent research of employing a doula to be present during your babys birth are found on the benefits page.