What is a Doula?

As defined by Doulas of North America (DONA) a doula . . .

• Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Helps the woman get the information she needs to make informed choices, both before and during the labor
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and the clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of her birth experience
• Allows the woman’s partner to participate at their comfort level