Doula: A greek word meaning "woman's servant."While the same person may provide both birth and postpartum care it is necessary to differentiate between the two types of care.
1. Postpartum Doula: A supportive advisor and helper, professionally trained to provide postpartum support to mom and her family.
2. Birth Doula: A person especially trained to give physical and emotional support to the mom and partner during labor and birth.
3. Baby Nurse: A professionally trained or lay-person who comes into the home and cares for a newborn baby. Some "baby nurses" are licensed nurses who provide care for infants with medical needs. Others are laywomen who specialize in the care of babies. Baby nurses are different from doulas in that their role is specifically geared towards infant care. Doulas provide excellent infant care, but their primary focus is education and supporting parents and providing breastfeeding support, emotional support, resources and any necessary referral information.
4. Mother's Helper: A layperson, either adult or adolescent, who comes into the home to assist parents with childcare and household tasks. A "mother's helper" is not trained in breastfeeding education, integrating the baby into the home or the many other aspects of postpartum doula support.
DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula's Role in Maternity Care.
Copyright DONA 2002
1. Postpartum Doula: A supportive advisor and helper, professionally trained to provide postpartum support to mom and her family.
2. Birth Doula: A person especially trained to give physical and emotional support to the mom and partner during labor and birth.
3. Baby Nurse: A professionally trained or lay-person who comes into the home and cares for a newborn baby. Some "baby nurses" are licensed nurses who provide care for infants with medical needs. Others are laywomen who specialize in the care of babies. Baby nurses are different from doulas in that their role is specifically geared towards infant care. Doulas provide excellent infant care, but their primary focus is education and supporting parents and providing breastfeeding support, emotional support, resources and any necessary referral information.
4. Mother's Helper: A layperson, either adult or adolescent, who comes into the home to assist parents with childcare and household tasks. A "mother's helper" is not trained in breastfeeding education, integrating the baby into the home or the many other aspects of postpartum doula support.
DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula's Role in Maternity Care.
Copyright DONA 2002