The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek, meaning “a woman who serves”.  A birth doula is someone who has been trained to provide physical, emotional and informational support to another woman before, during, and after labour.  A doula is not a doctor, nurse or midwife; she is a birth companion.  She does not provide medical advice, but rather assists the labouring woman with comfort measures for childbirth.  These measures and techniques allow the woman to cope with the intensity of labour.

A doula’s training helps her explain to the pregnant woman and her partner the entire labour process, reducing in this way their anxieties and helping them cope with their fears.  “Human support relieves pain, reduces fear of the unknown, and makes labour manageable in a way that isn’t possible when that support is removed.  In fact, throughout most of history, human support was entirely what women relied on to ease the way through childbearing (pain drugs simply were not available)” (Amanda Lowe and Rachel Zimmerman)

The ongoing support from a doula during labour can help a woman get through it.  That support has been proven to be beneficial for the mother, the baby and the family in general.

One of my goals, is to help women be fully informed about the different birth choices, and to teach them different techniques that can help them prepare for the marathon of labour, so they can have a fulfilling birth experience.