A doula is a woman who is trained and experienced in the physical and emotional needs of birthing women and families. She understands the physiology of labor and birth and how to help a woman and her partner work with the process. She is usualy hired by the birthing family so they have someone with them in the birthing room who free from the constraints of charting and monitoring and who doesn't have the emotional jistory that family often does. A doula is a happy medium; she is emotionally invested in helping them have the birth they want while bringing with them an understanding of routines, protocols and procedures.
Click HERE to see a list of local doulas from our 2010 Perinatal Resource Guide
or look below for a list of doulas-in-training who provide their services for FREE or a nominal fee.