A doula is a person with or without medical training whose purpose is to assist a mother to be before, during and/or after delivery. Primarily, the doula is to assist the mother providing safe, emotional and physical support and helping her as well as her spouse.
To a lesser extent, help with the baby.
At times during pregnancy the mother can become depressed and that is when the doula can positively fortify the emotional state of mind. During birth, the doula becomes a coach alleviating at times the pain and ensuring a smooth birth. After birth the doula still will offer emotional and physical assistance.
Start a wash of clothes say, go to the supermarket or prepare meals for when the spouse will come back from work. 24/7 she will take calls from the new mother to answer questions: “my breasts are full of milk and they are ready to explode, what do I do?”.
Some families keep their doulas for long periods of time after birth.
It is best to build a ‘relationship’ with a doula some time before birth but some of them are specialized, as Antepartum, Partum and Postpartum doulas.
