What is a doula?
Possibly the most common question I hear is "what is a doula?" And while having a doula attend your birth may seem like a new, modern luxury, the concept of a doula actually dates back to ancient Greece.
Doula or "doule"
The word doula comes from the ancient greek "doule," or female servant. While some may scoff at this, this lowly term is actually what gives me a heart for doula work. When Mary, mother of Jesus was visited by an angel in Luke 1:38, to be informed of God's plan for her pregnancy, she called herself a "servant," of God and the word she used was the greek word doule. This word she chose is distinctive of her devotion to God and is committed to His interests above her own.
Doula in modern day
Today the word doula means something a little different. A doula is a professional trained in childbirth that provides physical and emotional support for women and their families in all birth settings (home, birth center, or hospital) during and around birth. They also help facilitate decision making for mothers and their birth partner(s). Many birth doulas are cross-trained in photography, advanced comfort measures, aromatherapy, or other helpful skills that can be utilized in birth.
How could a doula change your birth?
The presence of a doula at birth is actually astounding in how impactful they are for positive outcomes- in both mom and baby. Having a doula present has been shown to decrease rates of c-section by 50%, decrease need for pharmaceutical pain relief by 60%, shorten the length of labor by 25%, and increase overall maternal satisfaction in their birth. Having a doula is the way to go if you're looking to have a good experience when giving birth.