Home Page
About Melissa
My Services
What is a Doula?
Links and FAQ
Contact Me

The word, "doula" comes from a Greek word meaning the most important female, slave or servant in an ancient Greek household. The doula would properly help the lady of the house through her childbirth experience. The word has now come to be known as a woman who is experienced in childbirth and provides a continuity of care, in the form of physical, emotional, and informational support before, during and just after childbirth.

Giving birth to a baby is so much more then a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula also provides support and suggestions for parents to enhance their birth experience.

Benefits of having a trained doula:

50% reduction in cesarean rates
25% shorter labour
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth. Klaus, Kennel, Klaus (1993).

Copyright 2005 Positive Birthing Doula Services. All rights reserved.