Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow.  In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement, and respect.  They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.  Doulas can help to meet these needs.

A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, informational, and, often, spiritual support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.  They offer a loving touch, positioning, and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for. 

A postpartum doula helps a woman and her family through the postpartum period, nurturing the parents into their new roles.  They do whatever a mother needs to best enjoy and care for her new baby.



The above information taken from www.dona.org