What do you mean you're having a Doula?

So my awesome friend Roxie Heartless (aka Jessica) has accepted the role as doula for my labor. I'm pretty excited about it to have ally there with me thru this process who's knowledgeable and not going panic or get emotional while I'm screaming bloody murder. (I know, my visual perception of what labor is like runs like a horror movie - all blood and ick and me cursing like a sailor).

So the question I keep getting from friends and family is.... "What is a doula" Here's the fabulous Wikipedia definition of what a labor doula is and what they do:

A doula is an assistant who provides various forms of non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in the childbirth process. Based on a particular doula's training and background, the doula may offer support during prenatal care, during childbirth and/or during the postpartum period

Labor Doula's provide:
* Continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth.
* Support from a person who understands and trusts the process of birth, and who helps facilitate the birth experience for the parents, baby, and primary care providers.
* Emotional support;
* Exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy and childbirth more comfortable;
* Help with preparation of a birth plan;
* Facilitation of communication between members of laboring woman's birth team - though most doula certification programs discourage doulas from talking directly with caregivers for the mother/partners;
* Massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures;
* Positioning suggestions during labor and birth;
* Support the partner so that s/he can provide support and encouragement to the laboring woman;
* Help to avoid unnecessary interventions;
* Help with breastfeeding preparation and beginning;
* Some doulas offer a written record of the birth (birth story);
* Is present during entire labor and afterwards as long as is needed by parent(s).