As science and technology rapidly develop, the human body and spirit are pushed to the side. Natural pregnancy and birth are seen as a waste of the latest and greatest methods of producing a perfect outcome, another notch in the belt for our increasingly technical medical society. During this process, mothers are forgotten. They are streamlined and pushed through the efficient practice of "prenatal" care.

The average contact with an obstetrician/gynecologist is approximately six minutes during a visit. Mothers are left to their own resources to inform and prepare. The overwhelming amount of information available only makes this process more confusing. If they are lucky and informed, moms-to-be will use a midwife. But even now, not all midwives can spend longer periods of time with individual moms.

This is when a doula is most valuable. A doula serves. She serves as a filter for the avalanche of questions and answers an expectant mother and family may have. She serves as an anchor to help the family learn their choices and to remain firm in their decisions and beliefs. She serves as a confidant, allowing the family to express concerns, fears and expectations without judgment. She serves as a muse, hoping to inspire the family to make empowering choices. She serves as an advocate for mother and child during times when strength may waver. She serves as a woman, with her heart and hands – her most important tools. This is her most important role.

Just as those before her have experienced the power women create during birth, the doula passes this strength to others. By providing physical and emotional support during labor and birth, the doula brings the spirit of mothers past into the soul of the mother, giving her the strength and courage to trust in herself and her baby.

Labor support provides many different levels of care. It can be as simple as sitting quietly while a laboring mother sleeps. Just the presence of an experienced woman reduces stress, reassures family during labor and gives mothers peace of mind.

Mothers without a support system or an unsure partner can experience fear and tension. This can greatly affect her labor progress. Fear increases the intensity of pain. A doula can help by working with the mother and family prior to labor. Expelling myths and providing accurate, non-biased information are of extreme importance. With increased levels of knowledge, a mother begins to take back her natural rights to birth without intervention or interference. She takes back control.

Along with the knowledge the doula brings, there is physical care. Physical touch has been proven in hundreds of studies to decrease pain, lower blood pressure and lessen the risk of health complications. Touch has been used in the care of preterm infants for years. It has been shown to increase growth and physical healing and decrease the length of hospitalization. Massage during labor stimulates natural pain chemicals within the laboring mother's body, allowing her to cope without the need for medical intervention.

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