What is a Doula?

Here's the first of a series of questions I usually get about doulas.  I asked my head doula, Pati Garcia (aka Chula Doula) for her insight.

We get asked this a lot: What is a Doula?

And our second most-popular question..."Isn't a doula like a midwife?"

Stay tuned for more doula-related questions...and please give me feedback if you're still not clear.  Thanks!