doula

noun dou·la \ ˈdü-lə \

|Updated on: 31 Jul 2018

Definition of doula

plural doulas

: a person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth

Research shows that childbirth does go more smoothly with a doula: labor is 25 percent shorter, the need for epidural pain relief is 60 percent less and the Caesarean section rate is reduced by half.
—Susan Gilbert

See doula defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of doula from the Web

This water delivery moment shows a mother’s tear-jerking introduction to her infant, courtesy of photographer and doula Angela Gallo.

— blake bakkila, Health.com, "13 Stunning Birth Photos People Can’t Get Enough of on Pinterest," 7 Mar. 2018
Moreover, where a midwife focuses on both mother and child, a doula’s primary role is to support a laboring mother and partner throughout the process.

— mariko zapf, Good Housekeeping, "I Had A Successful Vaginal Birth After A Cesarean (VBAC)—Here's What You Need To Know," 16 Nov. 2017
Expanding Medicaid coverage to doula services is an effective solution that can be quickly implemented.

— New York Times, "Readers Respond to the 4.15.18 Issue," 25 Apr. 2018
As an end-of-life doula, Neff sits with the dying and their families.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Going this way? Death is still inevitable, but 'angels' and cafes want to change our last days," 20 May 2018
The business offers labor doula support through pregnancy and labor, as well as postpartum support, helping a family in the early days at home with a newborn.

— caitlin mullen, chicagotribune.com, "'It’s very Oak Park': Birth Boutique, focusing on all things mom- and baby-related, opening in arts district," 24 Apr. 2018
It was posted on social media by Flor Cruz, a doula who runs the Instagram account @badassmotherbirther.

— blake bakkila, Health.com, "You Have to See This Viral Video of a Woman Standing Up While Giving Birth to Her Fifth Child," 23 May 2018
Last year, the group also released a statement in support of using doulas — trained birth assistants — during pregnancy and childbirth.

— NBC News, "How training doctors in implicit bias could save the lives of black mothers," 11 May 2018
In a filmed conversation, Williams goes through her birth options with Caroline Bahadourian, her doula.

— sarah jacoby, SELF, "Serena Williams Reveals More Terrifying Details of Her Labor: ‘It Was a Whole New Kind of Fear’," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'doula.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of doula

Modern Greek, female helper, maidservant, from Greek doulē female slave

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1969

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

DOULA Defined for English Language Learners

doula

noun

Definition of doula for English Language Learners

medical : a woman whose job is to give advice and comfort to a woman who is giving birth

Medical Dictionary

doula

noun dou·la \ ˈdü-lə \

medical Definition of doula

: a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth