Every family deserves a doula.
The Global Doula Project is working for a world where every family receives loving, nonjudgmental doula support at the beginning and end of life.
What is a doula?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek and means “servant to the mother.” Today the word “doula” refers to a non-medical professional who provides information, encouragement, empathy, and practical support to families in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and at the end of life.
Compassion improves health outcomes for the entire family.
Current research illustrates the health benefits of one-to-one continuous support for birthing people during labor and birth. Labor is shorter, interventions are fewer, and infants’ APGAR scores are consistently higher when birthing people have caring support from the same person, such as a doula.
During the postpartum period, lack of this social support puts parents at an increased risk for developing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
New parents need a village of love and support in order to recover from birth and bond with their babies.
Continuous support during labor and birth improves outcomes.
Bohren, M.A., et al. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017