Doula support

These are some lines from the DONA International birth doula training manual by an anonymous writer talking about the support doula's provide:

Support is unconditional.
It is listening...
not judging, not telling your own story.
Support is not offering advice...
it is offering a handkerchief, a touch, a hug...caring.
We are here to help women discover what they are feeling ...
not to make the feelings go away.
We are here to help a woman identify her options...
Not to tell her which options to choose.
We are here to discuss steps with a woman...
not to take steps for her.
We are here to help a woman discover her own strength...
not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable.
We are here to help a woman discover she can help herself ...
not to take that responsibility from her.
We are here to help a woman learn to choose ...
not to make it unnecessary for her to make difficult choices.

- Anonymous