Doula is a Greek word meaning slave or servant and has its roots in ancient Greece when there would have been a woman, very experienced in childbirth, who would assist the lady of the house during pregnancy, childbirth and with childcare.

It was the birth of her son that led Gudrun to train as a modern day doula.

Doulas are basically birthing partners, but there's a lot more to it than that. They support a woman through her pregnancy, the birth of her child and afterwards. They are there to provide information, to advise on birth options and to be an advocate, if necessary, during labour.

Gudrun with her family

Gudrun received very little information on her birth options and how to prepare for labour during her pregnancy. Indeed, for various reasons, she didn't even have antenatal classes.

Gudrun describes the day her son was born as the best and worst of her life. Nothing could have made her happier than when she first set eyes on her son. However, not very much could make any woman feel worse than having a very long and exhausting labour with two changes of midwives, not being able to move around because of continuous monitoring, numerous drugs, the possibility of an emergency caesarian, intervention by many obstetricians and finally a forceps delivery with an episiotomy.

Gudrun believes that, had she been better informed and prepared, she might have had a more positive birthing experience. It's her belief that all women are entitled to information and the sort of female support they might have received automatically from other women in days gone by.

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