Doula vs. Midwife – What’s the Difference?

FAQ: I have a midwife, so why would I hire a doula? Aren’t they basically the same thing?

Midwives and doulas are not the same, but hiring a doula to attend your birth with a midwife sounds like a GREAT idea! Here’s why:

Women choose to have a midwife for many reasons, but commonly they value continuity of care, a higher level of personal attention, and have a higher expectation of support since their midwife will care for them throughout active labour, not arrive just to catch the baby as it is born. Many women who choose midwives, though not all, also hope to allow the birth process to unfold as naturally as possible, or they want to at least see how things go without feeling pressured into taking pain meds or having an epidural. Some women choose a midwife so they can have a home birth.

Hiring a doula aligns with many reasons for also choosing a midwife: continuity of care and building a relationship before childbirth, ongoing support throughout labour, and openness to women’s preferences for their birth experience wherever and however they hope to give birth. Certainly if you hope for something other than the typical medicalized birth experience, you will benefit from having a doula’s support.

However, a doula and midwife have distinct roles even though they share a common, woman-focused philosophy of care. The midwife’s first and foremost concern is for the health and well-being of the mother and baby, while a doula’s primary purpose is for the mother to have whatever emotional and physical support she needs to cope with labour and birth. This includes working as part of a birth team that may include a partner, parent, and/or midwife, but a doula does not have any clinical obligations to perform, and her support need never be interrupted by assessing the progress of labour, monitoring the baby’s heart rate, or preparing equipment for the baby’s delivery.

As a doula, I can say what a pleasure it is to work with a midwife and how both types of care complement each other amazingly well. However they are by no means redundant.   Your midwife cares for you and wants you to have the best possible birth experience, but her job puts limits on the support she can provide, and a doula is custom-built to fill those gaps. When you need a distraction in early labour, your midwife can’t come join you to watch a movie or walk around the block. When a contraction hits in the middle of a cervical check, your midwife can’t rub your arms and help you relax. When your birth partner is supporting you through contractions but is getting worn out, a midwife can’t run down to the cafeteria to get them a sandwich. She can’t grab you a snack while she delivers your placenta, and she can’t hold your hand while she repairs a second degree tear. (I’m sure you wouldn’t want her to!)

Hiring a doula is a wise investment toward a positive birth experience whether you have a midwife, an obstetrician or a family doctor to deliver your baby. If in doubt, why not ask your midwife how a doula’s support can enhance your birth team and why their care is unique. Then contact me to book a consultation to see if I’m the right fit for you 🙂