doulas
Nonmedical birth companions
A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional support and physical comfort to a woman during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.
Unlike midwives, doulas don't deliver babies or provide medical care—they offer continuous presence, encouragement, and practical help like massage or positioning suggestions.
Our doula helped us feel calm throughout the birth.
Postpartum doulas assist with newborn care and household tasks after delivery.
Childbirth assistance professional
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
- birthingAct of delivering young
postpartum · prenatal · antenatal · newborn · maternity · contractions · placenta · umbilical
Regaining what was lost
- newbornInfant just delivered
- breastfeedingLactation-based infant nourishment
- lactationMammary gland secretion
- bondingForming close connections
sleeplessness · healing · adjustment · feeding · swaddling · bathing · soothing · motherhood
Words meant to calm
- empathySharing another's emotions
- warmthHeat you feel
- nurtureSupport growth and development
- careAttentive regard for others
comfort · encouragement · presence · handholding · massage · breathing · positioning · advocacy
Sound from throat
- wishesThings hoped for
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- providersThose who furnish
intervention · rights · consent · questions · boundaries · liaison · mediation · representation
Guidance from experienced person
- educationSystematic development of mind
- preparationArranging things in advance
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- instructionGuidance for action
consultation · classes · resources · information · techniques · options · decisions · navigation
midwife
Childbirth assistance professional
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- childbirthInfant's emergence from womb
birthing · postpartum · prenatal · antenatal · newborn · maternity · contractions · placenta · umbilical · cesarean
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- newbornInfant just delivered
- breastfeedingLactation-based infant nourishment
- lactationMammary gland secretion
bonding · sleeplessness · healing · adjustment · feeding · swaddling · bathing · soothing · motherhood · parenting
reassurance
Words meant to calm
care · comfort · encouragement · presence · handholding · massage · breathing · positioning · advocacy · companionship
voice
Sound from throat
- wishesThings hoped for
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
providers · intervention · rights · consent · questions · boundaries · liaison · mediation · representation · protection
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
- educationSystematic development of mind
- preparationArranging things in advance
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
instruction · consultation · classes · resources · information · techniques · options · decisions · navigation · empowerment
- healthcare workersdoctor, nurse, surgeon, dentist, paramedic
- parenting resourcesdaycare, mommy blogs, babysitting, nanny, au pair
- reproductive healthpregnancy, infertility, childbirth, male infertility, fertility rates
- birth supportmidwives
- maternal healthmaternal health, maternal care, maternal mortality, maternal support, maternal wellness
- maternity careantenatal care, maternity care, prenatal screening, midwifery, midwives
- death doulaCompanion for the dying