Doula - a Greek word referring to an experienced woman who helps other women.  
The word has now come to mean a woman who provides continuous physical, emotional and
informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.

A birth doula.....
recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will always remember....

understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor....

assists the woman and her partner in preparing and caring out their plans for birth....

provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and information so the mother can make informed decisions....

perceives her role as a nurturer of both the mother and her partner....