The doula defined...

noun: doula; plural noun: doulas

From the Greek word doulē.

a woman, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed or volunteers to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor.

You may think that having a doula present at birth is a relatively new thing but this could not be further from the truth. In fact, doulas have been present since ancient times. Evidence by archaeological findings of stone carvings and statues, as well as anthropological studies suggest that doulas have been around for centuries. However, the role of doula first originated during the ‘grassroots natural birth movement’ in the United States in the 1960s when women began desiring unmedicated, low-intervention births and began to have friends and others with formal and practical knowledge about childbirth whom provide them with support during pregnancy.

Research suggests that overall, people who have continuous support during childbirth experience:

• 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
• 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
• 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
• Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
• 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
• 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff.
• Increased breastfeeding success rates.

In short: a doula is a nurturer, protector, educator, companion, listener, space holder, evidence seeker and sharer.

 As doulas like to say, “we mother the mother.”