04/01/2026
My first client gave birth this past Friday night.
Early Saturday morning as I drove my mom and sister to the airport, my mom asked me “So as the doula, what did you do?”
Over the past few months as I’ve been working through Hearthmother Journey, I’ve struggled a bit with this question. Like what would I tell someone if they asked me what a doula does? My default answer has been to explain that a doula is a support person. But for some reason I have felt like that answer just does not fully embody what a doula does. It’s not a wrong answer. It just didn’t sit right.
As I once again pondered that question, this time after operating in the role for the first time, my mind finally landed on an answer that I feel embodies the nuance that comes with the role of doula.
So, what does a doula do?