In the ancient Greek, the word doula means servant - usually the most favored female servant in the ancient Greek household who would be honored by attending the lady of the house during her birth of her child. Today, a doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth. This includes preparation for birth helping the laboring woman with encouragement, comfort measures, relaxation techniques, and an objective viewpoint, as well as support after childbirth, such as help with breastfeeding. Trained doulas understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. Generally, doulas believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural, and healthy processes.

Studies have shown that women supported by a doula during labor have: