Doula vs. Midwife: What’s the Difference and Do I Need Both?
June 24, 2025
Let’s clear up the confusion so you can build your dream birth team.
If you’ve ever Googled “doula vs. midwife,” chances are you got a lot of mixed answers and maybe even a little overwhelmed. Are they the same? Do you need one or the other? Or both? And who’s actually delivering the baby?
Take a deep breath, because I’ve got you.
As a birth doula and nurse who’s walked alongside dozens of families on their journey to parenthood, I can tell you this: understanding the difference between a doula and a midwife is one of the most empowering things you can do as you plan your birth.
So let’s break it down plain and simple.
What Is a Midwife?
A midwife is a medically trained professional who provides clinical care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Midwives can:
- Perform physical exams and prenatal care
- Monitor fetal growth and maternal health
- Catch the baby during birth
- Prescribe medications and order tests
- Provide postpartum care (including stitches if needed)
Depending on the type of midwife, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife (CM), or Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), their practice setting and scope of care may vary. CNMs, for example, are often found in hospital settings, while CPMs may attend births in homes or birth centers.
In short: midwives are your clinical providers, focused on the health and safety of you and your baby.
What Is a Doula?
A doula, on the other hand, is a trained professional who provides non-medical support, emotionally, physically, and informationally throughout your pregnancy, labor, and early postpartum journey.
A doula does not:
- Deliver the baby
- Provide medical advice or perform clinical exams
- Make decisions for you
But what we do is just as important. At La’Vida Doula, I help my clients:
- Create birth plans rooted in their values and goals
- Learn comfort measures like breathing, positioning, and massage
- Stay informed about their options in real time
- Feel seen, heard, and held during every stage of the journey
- Decompress and process the birth experience afterward
We’re the hand to hold, the calm in the chaos, and the voice reminding you, you’ve got this.
Doula vs. Midwife: The Key Difference
Here’s the simplest way to remember it:
- Midwife = Medical
- Doula = Support
Think of it like building a house. The midwife is the contractor making sure everything is built safely and up to code. The doula? We’re the interior designer making sure your space feels peaceful, empowering, and exactly the way you want it.
You wouldn’t skip the structure or the soul, right?
Can I Have Both a Doula and a Midwife?
Absolutely, and in many cases, it’s the perfect combo.
Having both a doula and a midwife gives you the best of both worlds: comprehensive clinical care + continuous, customized support.
This is especially helpful if:
- You want an unmedicated or low-intervention birth and need strategies for coping
- You’ve had a past traumatic birth and want someone to advocate for you
- You’re birthing in a hospital but want a more personalized experience
- You want your partner to feel supported too, not just you
And if you’re a queer, BIPOC, or marginalized birthing person, having a doula who understands your lived experience and can hold space with cultural competence? That’s not a luxury. It’s a game changer.
What If I’m Already Seeing an OB? Can I Still Have a Doula?
Yes! You can have a doula no matter who your provider is.
Whether you’re giving birth with an OB in a hospital, a midwife in a birth center, or even via planned cesarean, a doula can still support you. In fact, doulas often bridge the gap between medical care and personal empowerment, especially in busy hospital settings where providers may not be able to stay with you continuously.
We stay. We support. We see you.
Why It Matters
In a healthcare system where birth can sometimes feel clinical, rushed, or disconnected from your needs, building a supportive and collaborative birth team is one of the most powerful things you can do.
At La’Vida Doula, I believe that birth is not just a physical event, it’s a transformational one. And you deserve a team that sees you as a whole person, not just a patient.
So if you’re wondering, “Should I have a midwife or a doula?”, the answer might just be: why not both?
Let’s Build Your Dream Birth Team
If you’re feeling called to add a doula to your birth experience, I’d love to talk. Whether you’re just getting started or deep into planning, I’m here to answer questions, ease fears, and help you feel confident every step of the way.
✨ Book a free consultation with me today and let’s explore how La’Vida Doula can support your birth journey. ✨
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Because you deserve more than care, you deserve to be championed.
