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Doula vs. Midwife: What’s the Difference?
Not sure whether you need a doula or a midwife? While both provide support during pregnancy and birth, their roles are very different. Learn how each one can help you, what to consider when choosing, and which might be the best fit for your birth plan. Read on to make an informed decision about your birth team!
Introduction
Bringing a baby into the world is one of life’s most profound and transformative experiences. As an expecting parent, you deserve to feel supported, empowered, and in control of your birth journey. Whether you choose a doula, a midwife, or both, understanding their unique roles can help you build a birth team that aligns with your vision. Knowledge is power, and when you’re informed, you can make decisions that honor your body, your baby, and your birth preferences.
What is a Doula?
A doula is your unwavering support system throughout pregnancy, labor, and beyond. Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support, ensuring that you feel heard, respected, and confident every step of the way. While they don’t provide medical care, their role is just as crucial—they create a calming presence, remind you of your strength, and offer comfort measures to help you navigate labor with resilience and trust in your body.
How a Doula Supports You
Provides continuous reassurance during labor, offering encouragement when you need it most.
Assists with pain management techniques such as breathing exercises, movement, massage, and visualization.
Helps you understand medical interventions and advocates for your right to make informed choices.
Supports partners, empowering them to be actively involved in the birth process.
Offers postpartum guidance, including breastfeeding support and newborn care.
Types of Doulas
Birth Doulas: Your advocate and support system during labor and delivery.
Postpartum Doulas: Providing care and emotional well-being for you and your baby in the weeks after birth.
Studies show that doulas help reduce the likelihood of medical interventions, shorten labor time, and improve overall birth satisfaction. While they do not replace medical providers, they complement your healthcare team by ensuring your emotional and physical well-being.
✨ Remember: A doula is not there to tell you how to birth but to remind you that your choices matter and that you have the power to shape your birth experience.
To find a certified doula in your area, visit:
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a highly trained healthcare provider who supports you through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum while also providing medical care and clinical expertise. Midwives believe in the body’s innate ability to birth and offer a holistic, person-centered approach to maternity care. Whether you desire a home birth, birth center experience, or hospital delivery, a midwife can help you navigate your options with confidence and empowerment.
How a Midwife Supports You
Monitors you and your baby’s health throughout pregnancy.
Offers hands-on support during labor, helping you achieve a safe and empowering birth.
Can provide medical care, such as monitoring fetal heart tones, conducting exams, and delivering your baby.
Advocates for low-intervention, natural birth when appropriate while also being trained to handle complications.
Provides postpartum care, ensuring both you and your baby are thriving.
Types of Midwives: CPM vs. CNM
Understanding the different types of midwives can help you choose the right one for your birth experience.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)
Specializes in home births and birth center care.
Certification is obtained through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
Focuses on physiological birth, holistic prenatal care, and personalized support.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
A registered nurse (RN) with advanced midwifery training.
Licensed to practice in hospitals, birth centers, and some home birth settings.
Can prescribe medications, provide medical interventions, and manage higher-risk pregnancies.
To find a certified midwife in your area, visit:
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Directory
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM)
Doula vs. Midwife: What’s the Difference?
Both doulas and midwives are powerful allies in your birth journey, but they serve different roles.
Feature Doula Midwife Medical Care No Yes Provides Emotional & Physical Support Yes Yes Delivers Babies No Yes Pain Management Support Yes Yes (can provide medical options) Works in Hospitals Sometimes Yes Works in Home Births Yes Yes (varies by certification) Offers Postpartum Support Yes Yes (for medical needs) Advocates for Your Birth Preferences Yes Yes
Which One is Right for You?
The answer is both—if that aligns with your birth vision. Each plays a unique and crucial role in ensuring your experience is safe, supported, and empowering:
If you want a medical care provider who also respects physiological birth, a midwife is your guide.
If you want emotional support and advocacy to feel fully seen and heard, a doula is your champion.
If you want both medical expertise and emotional/physical guidance, having both a midwife and a doula creates the ultimate birth team.
✨ No matter what, YOU are in charge of your birth. Your voice matters. Your choices are valid. You are strong.
Conclusion
Birth is not just about bringing a baby into the world—it’s about bringing a parent into the world too. You deserve a team that uplifts you, respects your choices, and honors your birth experience. Whether you choose a doula, a midwife, or both, trust that you have the wisdom, the power, and the support to birth on your terms.
If you're ready to build a birth team that aligns with your vision, explore your local doula networks, midwifery groups, and birth professionals today. You deserve a birth experience that makes you feel strong, safe, and celebrated. 💜.