doula

noun

dou·​la ˈdü-lə 

plural doulas

: a person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth

Research shows that childbirth does go more smoothly with a doula: labor is 25 percent shorter, the need for epidural pain relief is 60 percent less and the Caesarean section rate is reduced by half.

—Susan Gilbert

Examples of doula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to the financial assistance, Philadelphia Joy will offer voluntary assistance, including financial counselling, home visits, doula help and lactation support. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Families will also be offered voluntary assistance such as home visits, financial counseling, and doula help, among other services. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024

The biggest concern about giving birth at home is what happens if something goes wrong, according to Talitha Phillips, a labor and postpartum doula and CEO of health nonprofit Claris Health. —Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2024

Grant money also pays the doulas’ salaries for one year. —Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Modern Greek, female helper, maidservant, from Greek doulē female slave

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

doula

noun

dou·​la ˈdü-lə 

: a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth