doula en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈduːlə/
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.
Meanings
-
A trained support person who provides emotional, physical and practical assistance to a pregnant woman or couple before, during or after childbirth.
The function of the doula varies in different cultures from a little help here and there to complete succoring, including bathing, cooking, carrying, and feeding. Whatever the doula does, however, is less important than the fact that she is there.
1973, Dana Raphael, The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, →ISBN, page 24:Rebekah Rosler, a therapist and doula, decided to leave, even though her family history in New York goes back to the 1870s, she said.
2020 June 5, Alyson Krueger, “The Agonizing Question: Is New York City Worth It Anymore?”, in New York Times:
- A trained person who provides similar support to someone who is diagnosed with an incurable condition and is receiving end-of-life care.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| doulas | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Translations (18)
fr doula (person assisting someone receiving end-of-life care) · hy տատմեր (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · ru до́ула (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · es doula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · cmn 臨產特護 /临产特护 (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · fr doula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · cmn 臨產伴娘 /临产伴娘 (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · uk доула (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · fi doula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · pt doula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · cs dula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · cmn 臨終關懷護理師 /临终关怀护理师 (person assisting someone receiving end-of-life care) · fo nærkona (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · hu dúla (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · su paraji (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · de Doula (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · ms pembantu bidan (person assisting a pregnant mother before, during or after childbirth) · fi saattohoitaja (person assisting someone receiving end-of-life care)