Rogier van der Weyden | Wikipedia Public Domain. Note that we see our Blessed Mother holding the baby John the Baptist, indicated by the depiction of her halo, wearing the color blue, and by virtue of the fact that we see Elizabeth, having just given birth, in bed. 

The role of a doula in birth became widely popular in the west in the 60s and 70s, when many mothers looked to return to the more natural birth practices of our predecessors. “The term ‘doula’ (pronounced DOOlah) is derived from a Greek term meaning female servant and was used in a study by Dr. Dana Raphael in 1969, to describe a woman who “mothers the mother.” She believed in the need to bring back female companions to support the perinatal period.” [1] While the word ‘doula’ didn’t come into popular use until the 1960s, the heart of a doula’s role has been acknowledged since ancient times. Even in the Bible, we See Mary go to the aid of her cousin, Elizabeth, who is with child. Though it does not explicitly say that Mary is at the birth, it does say that in Elizabeth’s sixth month, Mary went to her with haste, and remained with her for about three months.

"Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home." Luke 1:56

from this passage it seems clear that in the time she stayed with her cousin Elizabeth, Mary was helping Elizabeth through her pregnancy and childbirth. The word “doula” comes from the Greek word “doulē,” which means “female servant.” [2] In Luke’s gospel, we see him choose this Greek word ‘doulē’ specifically when in Luke 1:38 "Behold, I am the doulē of the Lord," Mary identifies herself literally as a doula within Scripture - the handmaiden or slave of the Lord - who then goes to help her pregnant cousin give birth. Fulton Sheen says that "The handmaid of the Lord becomes the handmaid of Elizabeth." The doula of the Lord becomes the doula of Elizabeth.[3] With evidence of the practice of doula care being so longstanding, we must conclude that it is a practice of great beneficial significance. We can rely on the collective wisdom of thousands before us, that the tradition of doulas attending mothers at birth is certainly a tradition worth continuing.

Moreover, we now have many studies indicating the positive effects of having a doula throughout labor. “Statistical data from one of the largest study reviews (Hodnet, et al, 2012) demonstrates the following benefits of women who have labor support and women who do not. Women who do have labor support are:"

• 28% less likely to have a cesarean section
• 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor.

• 9% less likely to use any pain medication; and

• 34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

These numbers become even more convincing if the hospital in question is one taking steps to reduce Cesarean rates already:

• 25% shorter labor

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate

• 60% reduction in epidural requests

• 40% reduction in oxytocin (Pitocin) use

• 30% reduction in analgesia use

• 40% reduction in forceps delivery” [4]

While a doula does not operate in a medical capacity, it is clear that to accompany a woman in labor, to support her, to help introduce comfort measures, this role does make a difference. The work of a doula is a tradition passed down for thousands of years and should be one of the most unifying professions of all time as Birth is a part of every culture and creed. Whatever your stage of life, you are deserving and worthy of love, support and empathy, as modeled by Our Blessed Mother. Every woman giving birth should have access to receive this tradition of care and comfort.