The Birth Doula...

• Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the
  mother will remember all her life.
• Understands and trusts the process of birth and the
  emotional needs of a woman in labor.
• Is experienced and trained in providing labor support.
• Meets with expectant couples during pregnancy to get
  acquainted, explore and discuss their priorities, fears and
  concerns, go over labor positions, comfort measures, pain
  management, process your birth wishes to create a birth
  plan if so desired.
• Provides emotional support and physical comfort
  measures to birthing women and families from early labor
  until after childbirth.
• Provides suggestion in labor for: comfort, pain
  management, and enhancing the progress of labor.
• Acts as a liaison between the laboring couple and the
  medical staff to facilitate communication and help the
  woman get the information she needs to make informed
  decisions.
• Supports the informed choices of her clients.
• Inspires confidence in a woman's ability to give birth in
  her own best way.
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the
  woman's memory of her birth experience.
• Offers resources and information.

The Birth Doula Does Not...

• Perform clinical tasks, such as fetal heart tone checks or
  vaginal exams. She is not there for medical reasons, other
  than to provide support.
• Make decisions for you. She will help get the information
  necessary for parents to make an informed decision and
  the one that is right for them.
• Speak to the medical staff instead of the laboring woman
  regarding matters where decisions are being made. She
  will discuss your concerns with you and the staff and
  suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on
  your behalf to the medical staff.
• Replace the partner during labor. She supports and
  encourages the partner and enhances their support style
  rather than replace it.