ROSWELL , Georgia ( CNN ) -- The lights were dimmed , soft music was playing and a scented candle burned on the counter . In the center of it all was Julie Trotter -- moaning through hard labor contractions . Doula Kai Martin Short works to ease Julie Trotter 's pain during labor . For more than six hours , Trotter , a 23-year-old from Duluth , Georgia , tried different techniques to ease the pain of natural childbirth . Not only was her husband offering encouragement , but so was her doula , Kai Martin Short . `` She definitely was a lifesaver for sure , '' Trotter says . `` She used a lot of counter-pressure through each contraction , and that helped so much . '' Doula is a Greek word meaning `` woman 's servant . '' Part birthing coach , part mother 's assistant , doulas are showing up in more delivery rooms than ever before . Short , from Atlanta , Georgia , is among 2,500 certified doulas in the United States . `` Doulas trust birth and are not afraid of it even when the mom and dad get afraid , '' Short said . `` We 're there to just say things are fine ; you 're doing great ; this is all normal . '' Health Minute : Watch how a doula helps a woman through labor » . Short offers more than comforting words . For a flat fee of $ 700 per client , she meets with the parents before the baby 's due date to talk about their expectations and to share techniques to be used during labor . She is by the mother 's side in the delivery room and visits the parents at home after the baby is born to offer advice on such topics as breastfeeding . In her three years as a doula , Short has attended more than 30 births . Her training with a group called DONA International involved 26 hours of instruction on pregnancy , childbirth and comfort measures . `` Whatever [ mothers ] need , whether it be changing positions , encouragement , massage or saying comforting words , there are so many things we do to help with the process , '' Short said . Short tries to create a calm atmosphere in the delivery room with music and candles . Throughout the labor , she massages the birthing mother 's back and rubs her head . Another one of her tricks to relieve pain involves having the woman sit on a big rubber exercise ball during contractions . She encourages the father or other family members to get involved in the process and shows them how to help the mother breathe through contractions . `` I think it 's really hard for a loved one to see their loved one in pain , '' Short said . `` They do n't really know how to help them . '' While Short has plenty of advice for parents , she has no medical training and is not supposed to offer a medical opinion . She does not take the place of a doctor , midwife or nurse . Her role is to strictly work with the family and motivate the mother during labor and delivery . But Dr. Sean Lambert , an OB/GYN who delivered Trotter 's baby at North Fulton Hospital in Alpharetta , Georgia , says that sometimes , doulas can cross the line . `` It 's almost as if some women and some couples have turned to them for too much advice and guidance , '' he said . `` Occasionally , it will cut across what we recommend on a medical basis . '' Short says she 's never had any clashes with medical professionals . `` Really , it 's separate roles , '' she said . But she can understand how the relationship can get tricky . `` It can be territorial sometimes if the doula is a little bit more strong-minded or opinionated . '' Short encourages her clients to ask questions , and she 's careful in her approach to the answers she gives . Ten days after the birth of her son , Braydon , Trotter reflected on the experience . `` It was a perfect one in my eyes , '' she said . `` I think having a doula definitely would be helpful for anybody , and I would n't change anything about the birth . '' Short enjoys seeing new families come to life and concludes , `` The best part for me is helping women realize what their bodies can do . Just having that support can make all the difference . '' E-mail to a friend . Judy Fortin is a correspondent with CNN Medical News . Producer Leslie Wade contributed to this report .
Doula is a Greek word meaning `` woman 's servant '' There are many different types of doulas in the US and they all have their own unique style.