Doo-lah
Greek for "a woman who serves".
A trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
A doula will meet with the mother and family, generally, two or three times prior to labor. During labor, a doula will provide continuous support to the laboring woman. After the birth, a doula will spend two hours thereafter with the mama, providing additional support. After mama and baby go home, a doula will come to visit to further attend to the mama.
What does "continuous"mean, exactly? Continuous means non-stop. Wherever the locale, a doula will remain with the laboring woman the entire time.
Why two hours after? Many times after the baby is born the focus shifts from the mama to the baby. A doula will keep the focus on the mama, as the placenta is being delivered, for example, and she is recovering from her little one's birth.
Why is a doula coming to our home after the baby is born? A doula may answer questions regarding breastfeeding, formula-feeding, lochia, sleep, stress, etc. A doula may also be inclined to bring do a load of laundry or hold the baby while mama takes a shower. A doula may engage other children while mama and baby share a moment together. A doula might just be the solace a tired, frazzled mama needs...someone to talk to over a cup of tea...
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