A doula is trained and experienced in labor support and attends to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process.  They do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams but rather use massage, aroma therapy, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible.  A labor support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth.  In addition to emotional support, doulas work as advocates of their client's wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.

A doula provides kindness and comfort to a woman who is in labor.  This is an especially important job, because this friendly care-taker encourages and provides support to a woman when she is giving birth, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman's life.  Although doulas provide services for many first time parents, women who have already given birth previously also appreciate and find the addition of a doula to their birth team an invaluable experience and support.