A birth doula is a woman who assists pregnant women and their partners during birth, and in the immediate post-partum period. Doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support during one of life's most challenging and rewarding transitions - the birth of your baby.

Doulas complement the role of the husband or partner in supporting laboring women. For the husband or partner who wishes to be actively involved in supporting the mother, a doula can suggest comfort measures and positions based on her experience and training. During a long labor, having a doula can allow the husband or partner to rest and eat, while knowing that the mother's needs are attended to. A doula's role is like that of an older female relative, experienced in childbirth; a figure who has been in attendance at births for most of human history.