Doula vs. Midwife: What’s the Difference?

When bringing a new life into the world, having the right support team can make all the difference.

Doulas and midwives each play unique roles, offering specific kinds of care for moms-to-be.

But what’s the difference between a doula vs. midwife?

First, let’s start by defining each of these important roles.

What is a Doula?

Definition & Role

A doula is a non-medical support professional focused on providing emotional, informational, or physical support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

Doulas work alongside health care providers, like registered nurses (RNs) and nurse midwives, to help:

• Reduce anxiety
• Offer comfort
• Ensure a calm birth environment

Education & Certification

Most doulas complete certification programs covering topics like:

• Advocacy
• Childbirth education
• Pain management
• Postpartum care

Organizations like DONA® International or CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) set standards for doula certification, but there’s no licensing required, as doulas don’t provide medical care.

Services Provided

Doulas offer various forms of support, including:

• Birth coaching and education
• Pain relief techniques like breathing exercises and massage
• Helping with birth plan development
• Postpartum emotional and physical support

Benefits of Having a Doula

Research suggests that doula support can lead to fewer medical interventions and increased client satisfaction.

Benefits include:

• Continuous emotional support and comfort
• Advocacy for the client’s preferences
• Reduced need for interventions (like C-sections or epidurals)
• Greater overall satisfaction with the birth experience

What Is a Midwife?

Definition & Role

A midwife provides medical care during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

They’re skilled in managing low-risk pregnancies and often collaborate with other health care providers, such as RNs, OB-GYNs, and doulas.

Types of Midwives

Knowing the different types of midwives is essential for nursing students to understand the unique qualifications and roles each one brings to maternal care.

The three main types of midwives are:

• Certified nurse midwives (CNMs): CNMs are registered nurses with more advanced training in midwifery. They can deliver babies as well as provide full prenatal and postnatal care.

• Certified midwives (CMs): This role doesn’t require an RN license. CMs meet specific state requirements and work similarly to CNMs.

• Lay midwives: Generally trained through apprenticeships, lay midwives assist with home births but may not have formal certification or state licensure.

Medical Qualifications

CNM

To become a CNM, you must meet the following medical qualifications:

1. Become a registered nurse (RN): You must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent from an accredited nursing program to become an RN. You must also pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN).

2. Earn a master’s degree: You must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in midwifery from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).

3. Pass the national CNM exam: You must pass this exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

You often need at least one year of nursing experience in labor and delivery, maternal health, or obstetrics before entering a graduate program for midwifery.

CM

To become a CM, you must:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree: You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university to apply for a CM program.

2. Complete a graduate midwifery program: You must complete an ACME-accredited graduate-level midwifery program.

3. Pass the national certification exam: Like CNMs, CMs also take the certification exam through AMCB.

Lay Midwives

Lay midwives typically don’t have formal medical qualifications and aren’t certified or licensed by the state.

Instead, they may have hands-on training through apprenticeship programs or community-based organizations. Some states don’t regulate lay midwives, while others may require them to pass an exam to become certified or meet specific educational requirements.

Services Provided

Midwives provide medical services across all stages of pregnancy, including:

• Comprehensive prenatal care
• Delivery of babies in low-risk pregnancies
• Postpartum support and newborn care

Benefits of Having a Midwife

Midwives bring a holistic, client-centered approach, which can lead to a supportive, lower-intervention experience.

Key benefits include:

• Lower rates of medical interventions
• Continuity of care, which builds trust with clients
• Personalized care and support

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Doula vs. Midwife: Key Differences

To understand the key differences between a doula vs midwife, it’s important to look at:

• Education and training
• Medical responsibilities
• Types of support

Education and Training

Doulas complete non-medical certification programs, while midwives undergo extensive medical training.

Midwives often hold advanced degrees and clinical licenses that allow them to provide medical care.

Medical Responsibilities

The primary difference between a doula and midwife lies in their responsibilities.

Midwives can handle medical aspects of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care, including delivering babies.

Doulas, however, don’t perform any medical procedures, focusing instead on emotional support and advocacy.

Type of Support

Midwives have the credentials to:

• Deliver babies
• Provide prenatal and postpartum medical care
• Handle common complications that may arise during labor

They can perform physical exams, administer medications, and even manage low-risk births independently.

In contrast, doulas focus solely on emotional support, comfort, and advocacy. They don’t perform medical tasks or intervene in the birthing process, instead providing continuous reassurance and guidance to help mothers feel supported every step of the way.

Understanding Midwives and Doulas: A Key Step in Shaping Maternal Care

While midwives and doulas have different roles and responsibilities, they’re integral in creating a positive birth experience.

As a nursing student, it’s important to understand the unique contributions of each profession and how they can work together to support mothers during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Whether you become a midwife or advocate for these professions as a health care provider, your knowledge will help pave the way toward improved maternal care and outcomes.

Want to learn more about maternity care and nursing roles? Join SimpleNursing for more resources and insights designed to support your journey in nursing school.