NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Doulas -- part mommy mentor, part mothering coach -- are becoming increasingly popular with U.S. moms.
Doula, meaning "woman servant" in Greek, roughly translates to "wise woman of birth," according to Ann Grauer, president of DONA International, the membership group formerly known as Doulas of North America.
Grauer says there are some 5,000 registered professionals in 2004, and the number is rising -- not only for the middle-class mamas who pay $1,000 for the service with each birth, but for poor moms too, the New York Times reported Saturday.
"The concept of the doula has been around as long as there's been people," Grauer said. "If you look at any birth art, going back 2,000 or 3,000 years, there's always an extra woman who's in the picture or in the sculpture supporting that mother."
Doulas do not actually deliver a baby, like a midwives, but support the mother before and after the birth.
Several cities have funded to provide a doula to poor teen mothers.
