What is a Doula?

Loretha has been a community doula for over ten years and knows that pregnant teens need guidance and education, not judgment or pity. In the face of overwhelming challenges — from absentee fathers and drug addiction to the disparagement of society — this documentary reveals how one person can make a difference in the lives of young mothers and their babies.

This program gives viewers an intimate look at the work of doulas, capturing the details of the support they offer at each phase of the birthing journey. Three pregnant women and their husbands discuss why they chose a doula to supplement a midwife’s services, and the doulas in turn relate what the experience means to them. The video follows the women through labor and includes footage of two at-home water births. Having the doula on hand for reassurance, to call relatives, and more allows the couples to be fully involved with the delivery of their new child.

WOMAN TO WOMAN is a documentary that offers a portrayal of the mainstream medicalized American birthing model and the rise of the doula profession that seeks to counter what doulas believe to be the ill effects of the overuse of medical technology. The film takes a retrospective look at one couple's decision to give birth with doula assistance while offering insightful commentary from doulas themselves.