Doula vs. Midwife

In this article, we will talk about the difference between a doula and a midwife and when to hire either one.

What is a doula?

In short, a doula is a trained non-medical birth professional who assists expecting mothers throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Typically, they provide informational, emotional, and physical support to the women they serve.

Especially for women who want to give birth naturally and without medication, doulas play a huge role in advocating for her birth desires and assisting her through labor.

The major difference between a doula and a midwife is that a doula is not a medical professional. As such, doulas do not provide medical advice or counsel and they do not deliver or catch babies. They instead work to provide necessary support for the birthing mother as she goes through the birthing process of her new baby.

What is a midwife?

A midwife is a trained birth professional who serves as the primary medical caregiver throughout a woman's pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods. Midwives vary from other kinds of medical birth professionals in that they are experts in assisting mothers through natural -- usually unmedicated -- birth with their babies.

There are a couple types of midwives who can serve you through your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum seasons:

• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) -- Registered nurses who hold a master's degree in midwifery care, these midwives can be found serving in both hospital and out-of-hospital settings. They are also able to prescribe medication if and when it is needed.

• Certified Midwives (CM) -- NOT nurses, but hold a bachelor's degree in a health-related field and a master's degree in midwifery care. They work in both hospital and out-of-hospital settings.

• Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) -- These midwives can be trained through either formal programs or by apprenticeship and serve in out-of-hospital settings.

• Licensed Midwives (LM) -- Midwives that are trained through apprenticeship and are licensed within their state. They serve in out-of-hospital settings.

• Lay Midwives -- Midwives that are trained through apprenticeship or hands-on experience and do not hold formal certifications or licensure through their state.

While midwives do provide emotional, physical, and informational support, they are medical professionals who will provide medical advice and counsel throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

When should I hire either of these birth professionals?

There is a lot to consider as you plan the birth of your new baby in terms of who you want to support you through that big day and where you would like to give birth. Both of these factors will determine whether or not you will want to hire a midwife or a doula. But here are some basics to think about as you consider hiring either one.

When to hire a doula:

• Doulas are amazing advocates for your birth desires. If you need extra support backing you to stand firm on your birth plan whether you plan to give birth inside or outside of a hospital setting, a doula could be a great fit for you.

• Especially if you are a first-time mom, you may want to consider hiring a doula for your birth. They can be amazing resources of birth education and emotional support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and studies show that mothers have more positive birth experiences when a doula is present at her birth.

• If you are wanting to birth naturally and without medication, a doula is a great support to help you through the more challenging parts of labor.

• Because doulas are not medical professionals, it is not advised to hire a doula as a replacement of medical support throughout pregnancy, labor, or postpartum.

When to hire a midwife:

• If you are wanting to give birth naturally, hiring a midwife is a great idea, no matter where you plan to give birth.

• Especially if you are wanting to give birth in an out-of -hospital setting, hiring a midwife to come alongside you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is an amazing way to get the care you need inside the environment you are most comfortable with.

• Choosing a home-birth gives you the widest range of midwife options to choose from. As you consider what type of midwife is best for you and your growing family, keep in mind that birth philosophy, values, and approach are typically even stronger indicators for a good match than the credentials she holds.

For more information about how to select a location and care provider, check out our article titled, Should I give birth at home?

If you are looking for a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) or Licensed Midwife (LM) in the El Dorado County area of California, please feel free to reach out to me to see if we are a good fit! I have been serving women in birth for over 16 years and have attended over 800 births. You can read more about my journey as a birth professional , or contact me via the button below.

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