What is a Doula?

What is a doula? Ugggghhhhh...the amount of times I have had to answer this question when telling somebody what I do. Essentially a doula is somebody who provides pregnancy, labor, and birth information and support. But, the exact type of support varies mother to mother. As I always say, no two births or women are the same so therefore the type of care and support a mother or couple will need always varies. I am a listener, a friend, a teacher, a library, a photographer, a masseuse, a poo-picker-upper (yes there may be poo!), a shoulder, and I love it. Here is an article from the San Diego Reader about one doula's story.