What is a Doula?

The word doula comes from Greek and means "servant of the woman." A doula is a woman who has given birth herself and is specifically trained to support women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
The services of a doula include an initial meeting, two to three prenatal visits, 24-hour on-call support around the due date, continuous support during labor, a birth report, and postpartum visits.
A doula provides continuous support to the birthing woman from the first contraction throughout the entire labor, offering emotional strength and encouragement, helping her to trust in the natural birth process and actively participate in it.
The doula focuses on the woman's physical well-being and helps create a calm, supportive atmosphere at the birth location.
Doulas do not replace the role of a midwife, as they do not provide medical care. This allows them to focus on the woman's emotional and physical needs and provide continuous support.
("Doula: The New Way of Birth Support" by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus)

Research shows that having a doula present during birth has the following benefits:

26% less likelihood of a cesarean section
41% less likelihood of using forceps or a vacuum extractor
28% less likelihood of requesting pain relief or anesthesia during labor
33% less likelihood of feeling dissatisfied or having a negative birth experience
The studies also found that:
Parents felt safer and more supported
Parents adapted more successfully to their new family dynamics
A significantly higher number of babies were exclusively breastfed
Parents had greater self-confidence in caring for their baby
Women were significantly less likely to suffer from postpartum depression
The authors of this study concluded that all women should have continuous support during labor and birth.
(Study: "Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth," Hodnett, ED.; Gates, S.; Hofmeyr, GJ.; Sakala, C., 2003)