And doula makes four: A look at the growing birthing trend

Doulas are women who provide emotional and domestic support to expectant and new mums, like a hired friend, says Helen O’Callaghan.

New royal mother Meghan Markle is said to have considered hiring a doula for the birth of her baby son, Archie.

Greek in origin, a “doula” was traditionally a woman servant/caregiver, who attended to women during birth and in the postpartum period.