doula

Meanings

1. A trained support person who provides emotional, physical and practical assistance to a pregnant woman or couple before, during or after childbirth.
2. A trained person who provides similar support to someone who is diagnosed with an incurable condition and is receiving end-of-life care.

Etymology

Borrowed from Greek δούλα (doúla, “servant-woman”), from Ancient Greek δούλη (doúlē, “female slave”). Popularized by the American anthropologist Dana Raphael in the book The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding (1973), where the word is credited to Eleni Rassias.