2006-08-15 05:44:03 · 10 answers · asked by jessie 3 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
A doula is a non-medical assistant in prenatal care, childbirth and during the postpartum period.
The word doula comes from Greek, and refers to a woman who personally serves another woman. In Greece, the word has some negative connotations, denoting "slave" or "servant of God," as some doulas have inadvertently discovered through their international social networks. For this reason, some women performing professional labor support choose to call themselves labor assistants. Anthropologist Dana Raphael first used this term to refer to experienced mothers who assisted new mothers in breastfeeding and newborn care in the Philippines
A lot more info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula
2006-08-15 05:50:06 · answer #1 · answered by Steve C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What is a DOULA?
(from the DONA Website)
The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)
A doula...
Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life...
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor...
Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth...
Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor...
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions...
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical careproviders...
Perceives her role as one who nutures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
2006-08-15 05:50:13 · answer #2 · answered by LOL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A doula is a person who supports a woman through her pregnancy and delivery...and can provide support for learning how to take care of an infant. Like a mid-wife, but more for support than actually delivering the child.
2006-08-15 05:51:06 · answer #3 · answered by CeadMileFailte 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)
A doula...
Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life...
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor...
Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth...
Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor...
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions...
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical careproviders...
Perceives her role as one who nutures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
2006-08-15 05:50:59 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a doula is just like a mid-wife. A woman who helps you give birth and teaches you technices for birthing and pain management
2006-08-15 05:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by smalltownangel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A doula is another word for a midwife; someone who is trained to assist a woman when she gives birth.
2006-08-15 05:50:33 · answer #6 · answered by neanah_e 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a doula is a birthing partner. is just there to help you before and during the birth and can be there with or instead ov your partner is more useful in a home birth
2006-08-15 05:49:24 · answer #7 · answered by vikki w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person who helps a woman through her pregnancy and birth. Empowering her to have a birth to her wishes. Popular in America as midwifes are not as prevalent as in UK.
Getting more popular in UK
2006-08-15 06:00:10 · answer #8 · answered by churchls0904 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
noun a woman giving support, help, and advice to another woman during pregnancy and during and after the birth.
2006-08-15 05:51:18 · answer #9 · answered by Saman S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a woman slave...greek right? :P
2006-08-15 06:19:15 · answer #10 · answered by asimenia_psycho 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋