doula
Plural: doulas
Noun
- an assistant (often the father of the soon-to-be-born child) who provides support for a woman in labor by encouraging her to use techniques learned in childbirth-preparation classes
- A trained support person who provides emotional, physical and practical assistance to a pregnant woman or couple before, during or after childbirth.
- A trained person who provides similar support to someone who is diagnosed with an incurable condition and is receiving end-of-life care.
Origin / Etymology
Borrowed from Greek δούλα (doúla, “servant-woman”), from Ancient Greek δούλη (doúlē, “female slave”). Popularized by American anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1973 book The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, where the word is credited to Eleni Rassias.
Synonyms
birthing coach, labor coach, monitrice
Scrabble Score: 6
doula is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL worddoula is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
doula is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 8
doula is a valid Words With Friends word