Women have long known, and recent research has confirmed, that having an experienced female birth companion can have a tangible, positive effect on a woman's experience of childbirth and the outcome of her labour. In our era of modern childbirth, most births take place in busy maternity units, where although women may have access to high-quality medical care, continuous support during labour and post-natally is often absent. Parents can feel overwhelmed and emotionally unsupported, making important decisions about their care without adequate information - a scenario which can colour their whole experience of birth. In this comprehensive discussion of how a doula can offer new parents practical, emotional and informational support, Maddie McMahon also explains how and why many parents now choose to employ one.