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
Susan GilbertExamples of doula in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The bill would establish presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women, offer reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers and establish Medicaid coverage for remote ultrasounds, blood pressure monitoring and glucose monitoring related to pregnancy.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Sonya becomes a sort of kink doula for Molly, easing her into new notions of eroticism.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025
While some still confuse midwives with doulas, the role of a midwife is distinct—and far from new.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
The organization supports pregnant women with cash payments for work leave, doula care, diapers and clothing.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doula
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Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Sonya becomes a sort of kink doula for Molly, easing her into new notions of eroticism.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2025
While some still confuse midwives with doulas, the role of a midwife is distinct—and far from new.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
The organization supports pregnant women with cash payments for work leave, doula care, diapers and clothing.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doula
Cite this Entry
“Doula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doula. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
doula
noun
dou·la
ˈdü-lə 
: a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth
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