FAQ · Becoming a Doula
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
A doula provides non-clinical emotional, physical, and educational support. A midwife is a licensed healthcare provider who manages pregnancy and birth clinically. The two roles are different and complementary, and they often work together on the same care team.
What a midwife does
A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who provides clinical care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Midwives perform exams, monitor the health of parent and baby, and manage the clinical course of birth within their scope of practice.
What a doula does
A doula provides continuous emotional and physical support, comfort measures, education, and advocacy. A doula does not perform clinical tasks and does not make medical decisions. The doula's support is non-clinical by design.
How they work together
Many families have both a midwife and a doula. The midwife manages the clinical care while the doula provides continuous comfort and communication support. This combination is common in birth centers and home births, and doulas also work alongside physicians in hospitals.
Which one do you need?
Every family needs a licensed care provider for clinical care. A doula is an addition, not a replacement. If you are deciding whether to add a doula, consider what kind of continuous, non-clinical support would help you feel more confident and comfortable.
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