What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
As you prepare for one of life’s most incredible journeys – pregnancy and childbirth – you may be considering adding a doula or midwife to your birth team. While these roles share some similarities, there are distinct differences between a doula and a midwife that are important to understand.
What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman and her partner before, during, and shortly after childbirth.1 Doulas do not provide any medical care, but rather act as an advocate to help the birthing person have a safe and satisfying birth experience.
Some key roles of a doula include:
- Providing comfort measures like massage, breathing techniques, and labor positioning3
- Offering emotional reassurance and encouragement
- Facilitating communication between the birthing person and medical staff
- Providing evidence-based information to help make informed decisions
Doulas are not required to have any medical training or certification, though many complete a doula training program and obtain certification from organizations like DONA International.1
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who provides comprehensive prenatal care, guides labor and delivery, and offers postpartum care. Midwives are medical professionals who can order tests, give medications, perform examinations, and actually deliver babies.
The responsibilities of a midwife include:
- Conducting physical exams and ordering necessary tests
- Monitoring the health of mother and baby throughout pregnancy
- Catching and delivering babies during labor
- Providing breastfeeding support after birth
- Identifying and referring complications to obstetricians when needed
In the United States, midwives must complete extensive medical training, earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and obtain a master’s degree in midwifery before becoming certified.
Similarities Between Doulas and Midwives
While their roles differ, doulas and midwives do share some common ground:
- They view pregnancy and birth as normal physiological processes
- They provide hands-on support during labor like massage and breathing techniques
- They offer emotional comfort and aim to reduce anxiety
- They provide continuous care throughout labor and immediately after birth
- Research shows they help reduce interventions and improve birth satisfaction
Why Consider a Doula or Midwife?
Both doulas and midwives can be wonderful additions to your birth team and provide distinct benefits:
- Doulas provide constant emotional support, comfort measures, and advocacy, allowing your partner to also be present for the birth experience.
- Midwives offer personalized, holistic care throughout pregnancy and birth, often with lower rates of intervention.
- Having either a doula or midwife is associated with decreased cesarean rates, reduced need for pitocin, and improved birth satisfaction.
- The decision is a personal one based on your preferences and needs. Many women opt to have both a midwife for medical care and a doula for additional support. The most important thing is surrounding yourself with a compassionate team to help you have a positive, empowering birth.
