The concept of the doula has been around for a long time. For many centuries, other women have been providing assistance to expectant mothers during labor and delivery. As a practice, it has been appropriated in modern pregnancy and childbirth support methods. Today, the doula has become an important part of the continuum of care provided to the expectant mother.

What Is a Doula?

The term doula comes from a Greek word which means “servant woman.” In ancient times, the pregnancy support role was usually provided by a female family member or a close family friend. Today, the labor companion role is usually provided by professional doulas who are trained to deliver these types of support services. The doula is not a medical provider so they cannot recommend nor administer medication to the mother. While they do not provide medical services, they offer other forms of assistance to the expectant … Read More