If you’re pregnant and approaching your due date, it’s probably time to start thinking about creating your birth plan and who you want to support you when it’s ‘go time’—a doula vs. midwife. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right people to support you during labor, delivery and aftercare. Having this support during the childbirth process is a game-changer. Doulas and midwives can provide the assistance, knowledge and guidance you need, but they can differ in their roles, responsibilities and areas of expertise.
So what is the difference between a doula vs. midwife? To put it simply: A doula is a trained professional who provides women with physical, emotional and informational support. This support comes before, during and after the childcare process.
On the other hand, a midwife is a healthcare professional who also helps women during labor, delivery and after the birth of their baby. However, they differ in how they support you in these stages.
“A doula and midwife often work hand-in-hand, though their roles are distinct. A doula is not a medical practitioner but provides emotional and physical support, helping you advocate for yourself throughout the pregnancy and birth process. Many midwives actually encourage their clients to work with doulas for added support. In contrast, a midwife is a healthcare professional who assists with delivering your baby, conducts wellness checks, and offers medical advice,” Liza Maltz, a doula with nine years of experience, said.
The decision of a doula vs. midwife is a significant one, but it’s important to know both birth workers are committed to providing you the best care as you bring your little one into the world. We will help you navigate this important choice by covering the topics below.
- Understanding the Roles of a Doula vs. Midwife
- Key Differences Between a Doula vs. Midwife
- How to Decide Between a Doula vs. Midwife
- Combining Both for Comprehensive Care
Understanding the Roles
First, to start your journey on understanding which birth worker is best for you, you need to understand their roles. What do they do? When do they do it? Here is everything you need to know about what a doula and midwife does.
What is a Doula?
A doula provides emotional, physical and information support to you before, during and after your childbirth. One way to think about it is: a doula is like your personal pregnancy BFF. They are dedicated to making your pregnancy and birthing process easier and more comfortable.
Doulas help you navigate through the ups and downs of your pregnancy, labor and the early days of your postpartum journey. Unlike doctors or healthcare professionals, they don’t monitor your vitals or offer medical care, instead, they really focus on you—including those middle-of-the-night panics, weird symptoms, in-the-moment aches and pains, and anything else that comes up. Most doulas offer 24/7 text support throughout your pregnancy, and it’s recommended to hire them around the half-way mark of 20 weeks.
Before childbirth, doulas will meet with you to discuss your plans and wishes, teach you breathing techniques, help work through your birth plan and answer any questions you may have about the remaining months of pregnancy and eventually childbirth. When you’re in labor, your doula will stay by your side to support you through massages, gentle touches, recommendations for comfortable positions, ensure you’re getting your fluids and nutrition in, keep your partner informed of what is happening and communicate what you want to the rest of your birth team.
Finally, after birth, your doula will stay in contact with you to provide encouragement as you take your baby home, offer breastfeeding education, take care of your postpartum body and give you general advice for you and your partner on how to take care of your newborn.
All doulas offer a variety of packages, but a general package may include unlimited support during pregnancy with two prenatal visits, up to 12 hours of labor support and a postpartum care visit or two.
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a healthcare provider who is highly trained to provide women with obstetric and gynecological services. This includes everything from pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum health and how to care for your newborn. They work alongside your healthcare team to provide you with the care and support you need.
Think of midwives as a mix of medical expertise and personal support that you’ll undoubtedly need as you journey into motherhood. Midwives spend a lot of time getting to know each other and your preferences; after all, they’re not just there to help catch your baby, although they do help with that, too!
They handle prenatal checkups, order any tests you might need, offer pelvic exams, conduct ultrasounds, care for your newborn, educate you on lactation and care for you after you give birth. A certified nurse midwife can practice anywhere from hospitals, birth centers, clinics, and even your home. Because midwives are medically trained, they know when to collaborate with your doctors and healthcare team to ensure you and your baby’s health.
Key Differences Between a Doula vs. Midwife
So what’s the difference between a doula and a midwife? Well, their training, practice and type of support they provide differ. Here is everything you need to know about the key differences between a doula vs. midwife.
Scope of Practice
The most significant difference between doulas and midwives is their scope of practice. Let’s be clear, doulas are not trained medical professionals. Instead, they take on a non-medical role in childbirth. Think of a doula as a personal guide through the emotional and physical challenges of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
They’re not going to check on your baby with an ultrasound or order you a blood test—they would instead, recommend you see your midwife or OB-GYN for any concerns. Doulas want to help you feel empowered, informed, respected, safe and most importantly, heard throughout the process.
Midwives take on a more medical role in your childbirth experience. They’re highly-trained medical professionals who know some of the clinical aspects of your pregnancy and birth. They can monitor your heart rate and the baby’s, use ultrasounds, order blood tests and even tackle any complications that may arise. They are not an emotional, ongoing support like a doula—and they aren’t available for private hire. They won’t answer your text messages but you can book a visit to see them.
Types of Support Provided
These different scopes of practice mean that the types of support doulas and midwives provide differ.
Doulas specialize in providing emotional and physical support. They are your personal guide to childbirth, helping you stay calm, comfortable, and focused during labor. Whether you need someone to remind you to breathe and drink water or to help you decide who you want in the labor and delivery room, your doula will be there for all of it, understanding your emotional needs and providing the necessary support.
Meanwhile, midwives take a more holistic approach to things. They’re responsible for working with your doctors, nurses and birth team to ensure everything goes smoothly from a medical standpoint. They can offer you more support when it comes to monitoring the health of your baby and managing your pain medications during labor and delivery. Midwives provide comprehensive care, ensuring you feel secure and well-cared for throughout your childbirth journey.
“Doulas and midwives take a mother’s goals, needs, wishes, past medical history, and birth plan into account during the pregnancy, labor/delivery, and postpartum phases. This benefits the mom to be her authentic, emotional self and ensure that she is supported in vulnerable, strong, resilient, and capable ways,” Dr. Lindsay Faber pelvic floor expert, women’s health specialist, a doctor of physical therapy, and exercise physiologist, said. “Doulas and midwives also have connections to other helpful practitioners that can support the mother and her partner in lactation, pelvic health, physical function, mental health, and nutritional services in order to make the parenting journey more successful.”
Training and Certification
Becoming a doula or a midwife also requires different training and certifications.
Doulas can get certified through professional organizations that offer education, like DONA International. The training consists of courses that teach individuals everything they need to know to effectively care for a pregnant woman before, during and after childbirth. Through DONA International, in order to become certified, a person must complete at least eight hours of childbirth education, 16 hours of doula training for both and three hours of lactation for breastfeeding education. However, these requirements can vary depending on where a doula is certified.
Midwives undergo extensive training to become certified. To become a registered nurse, they must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and pass a licensing exam. Then, they usually complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) before they apply for licensure to become a nurse midwife. They become certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board, which is valid for five years. Becoming a midwife takes a lot of work, time and education.
How to Decide Between a Doula and a Midwife
Now that you know the critical difference between doulas vs. midwives, you can start making the decision on which might fit your needs and preferences better.
Assessing Your Needs and Preferences
First, think about your needs and preferences for childbirth. What kind of support do you need? Do you want someone who prioritizes your emotions and provides words of encouragement and comfort? Or do you want someone who knows exactly what to do when something unexpected happens in your birthing process? Really think about which option would make you more comfortable. Pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum are scary and something that no matter how prepared you feel, you still need loads of support. Consider whether you want a more medically trained professional by your side or someone who is more in tune with your inner thoughts and feelings.
Considering Your Birth Plan
Consider your birth plan when deciding between a doula vs. midwife. While birth can always go unexpected and unplanned, your birth plan will help you mentally visualize this life-changing experience. If your birth plan emphasizes things like emotional support, specific things you want in the labor and delivery room, or if you want a voice to advocate for you, a doula might be a better choice. But if you wish for specific medical advice and intervention, you might lean towards a midwife.
Budget and Insurance Considerations
Childbirth can be a costly experience—not only physically and emotionally but also financially. When picking a doula or midwife, make sure you take into account the financial aspects of each and your specific insurance coverage. The cost of a doula varies based on location and experience. For example, a birth doula in New York City costs between $1,600 and $2,000. However, in smaller cities, that cost could be drastically reduced. Midwives can cost between $3,000 and $9,000 but, depending on where you live and your insurance, the costs of a midwife may be covered, so it’s important to research this as you create your personal plan.
Combining Both for Comprehensive Care
If, after reading everything and educating yourself on a doula vs. midwife, you might want aspects of both birth workers, you should consider combining each as a part of your birth team. For many expecting mothers, this can be the best of both worlds.
“As a doula, I’m here to support your emotional journey into motherhood. I listen, comfort, and help you navigate the highs and lows. My goal is to create a safe space where you feel understood and empowered as you embrace this new chapter,” Maltz said.
When making your birth plan and choosing your birth team, take the time to consider your personal needs and preferences. Do you value emotional support above all? Do you want to ease your mind by having someone monitor your health continuously? Or do you want a little bit of both?
“Doulas and midwives create a beautiful and supportive team in support of mom and baby during the pregnancy, labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum phases. The combination of mother-centered (and partner-centered) care from a doula, and medical expertise and mom/baby-centered focus from a Midwife can be the perfect supportive balance.or it, the beauty of having both birth workers on your team can set you up for success,” Dr. Faber told us.
Whatever you decide, remember that having support during childbirth is crucial. That support can come from doulas, midwives, your birth team, family and friends. They all want to help you confidently get through this journey, and so do we.
