Pittsburgh Doula Poem

A Doula

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in you
(C)alls you just to say “hi”
(D)oesn’t give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished part)
(F)orgives your mistakes and never judges
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you “whenever”
(I)nvites you to use your potential
(J)ustifies your personal vision
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)ikes you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)utures you
(O)ffers support
(P)rotects you
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don’t understand
(Y)earns for your happiness
(Z)aps you back to reality (usually in a nice way!)



(adapted by Jan Mallak from a poem about friends)

"Doula" comes from the Greek word

"Doula" comes from the Greek word for the female servant in ancient times who assisted the lady of the household through her childbearing and beyond. Today, it refers to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth" (The Doula Book by Klaus, Kennell & Klaus). The doula movement is simply bringing back the age old custom of women being in service to other women.