The word “Doula” comes from ancient time of Greece. It refers to a woman who is trained and experienced in assisting a woman in labor. Doula also means slave or servant to a woman in labor.

What is the role of a Doula?
A doula supports a woman and her partner in labor wherever she chooses to birth; whether it is in a hospital, at home with a private midwife or in a birthing centre.

What support can a Doula give?
A Doula provides continuous physical, emotional and educational support that begins during the pregnancy, leading on through to the birth-day and for a duration after the birth. The postpartum care duration does vary from Doula to Doula but it is usually for a period of two weeks or four – 6 visits.

Why have a Doula?
A Doula's continuous care of a pregnant and birthing woman is often referred to as “The Missing Link in Maternity Care”. This because a Doula can offer ongoing and continuous support to both the expectant woman and her partner before, during and after the birth. The greatest benefit of this being that a strong support network and bond with a Doula can be established prior to the birth-day, so she and her partner proceed into the labor feeling well educated, supported and confident about the imminent birth experience.

Another benefit and aim of Doula pre birth contact and support, is that women will often attain a strong belief that her body is strong, and can do the job it is designed to do. Through ongoing pre-birth contact women become more mentally prepared for the birth experience also. Women are incredibly powerful during pregnancy and particulary during labor and birth; they have just have forgotten that they are. This is why a woman should be allowed and honored to have the right space, freedom, right of choice and be empowered to really trust herself and her body with this natural process.

Childbirth is a physical, emotional and spiritual journey which should be remembered as a loving and beautiful experience, which leads couples into Motherhood and Fatherhood. In order for this to occur the environment and surroundings need to nurture and support this transition. It is after all a mother/baby’s right of passage to be brought into the world in the best possible way; starting with the birth experience free of fear and with positive excitement and unconditional love being promoted.

With increased responsibilities placed on hospital midwives, Doulas are needed now more than ever before.Statistics confirm that the presence of a Doula at a birth can significantly decrease the need for pain relief, shorten a labor duration and also increase the confidence in partners to get them more involved and be more supportive and comfortable during the labor.