What is a Doula?

I should get good at answering this as I am sure I will need to answer it alot!

The word “doula” comes from a greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient greek household. This woman probably helped the lady of the house through childbearing. The word has come to mean now “a woman experienced in childbirth who provided continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth”

There have been many studies done on doulas and how they can help a laboring mother. Some that were very interesting to me were the ones where the mothers had hard labors and births, yet felt it was a positive experience because someone was there to encourage her through it all. One study said that they have found women will remember their childbirth experience the rest of their life, even when the other memories fade, except for women who were given drugs which altered their memory. Also, not only the laboring woman felt better, but their companion felt better and more sure of himself to support and care for her in labor. They did not feel like they were in competition, but like they were guided and felt appreciated when they felt helpless.

The rates of c-section, epidurals and other interventions go dramatically down with the use of doulas, although if these happen, they are there to help you through them also.

Anyhow, I hope that answers a few of your questions!