Doula" is an ancient Greek work which has come to mean the woman who mothers a mother.  A Doula stay's with a laboring woman throughout her entire labor and birth experience, helping her to cope with this major life event.

"The presence of a supportive woman during labor and delivery significantly shortens the labor and may reduce complications"
                                   Judith Walzer Leavitt
                                                      Author of Bought to Bed



Why a Doula?

trained and experienced in providing emotional support, physical comfort, and non-clinical advice.  She draws on her knowledge of, and experience with births as she reassures, encourages and empathizes with the mother.  A Doula cannot and does not take over the role of Birth Partner, but there are times when a woman needs more than one helper in labor
                              Penny Simkins, P.T.
                                  Arthur of The Birth Partner


                                       Emotional Support In Labor Can:

                            Shorten first-time labor by an average of 25%

                          Reduce the need for a Cesarean section by 50%

                       Reduce the use of drugs to stimulate labor by 40%

                         Reduce requests for epidural anesthesia by 60%

                         Reduce the need for forceps-assisted births by 40%
                                                   Info obtained from

                                             "Mothering The Mother"
                                        by, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus

                  How do Birth Partner's and Doula's work together?

A Doula can never replace the Love and Caring that a birth partner provides during the birth experience.  No one else can fill this special role.  A Doula's knowledge and experience can help the birth partner to participate comfortably in the birth.  They work as a team.  A Doula gives the birth partner helpful Ideas about what comfort measures work best during different parts of Labor and Birth.