Doula vs. Midwife
Doulas vs. Midwives
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Our most asked question from new and potential clients: So, what’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?
I can’t say I blame people when they assume they are just about the same thing. The lines are some times blurred in modern day society on their actual roles. Even when you take it to our beloved Google, [because let’s face it, if we need quick info, Google here we come!] we don’t get a straight answer that would help a curious consumer recognize a difference between the two.
Surprisingly, it gives very similar unspecified definition of the two:
"dou-la noun a woman who is trained to assist another woman during childbirth and who may provide support to the family after the baby is born. mid-wife noun 1. a person (typically a woman) trained to assist women in childbirth. verb 1. assist (a woman) during childbirth." As a doula and birth professional in general, I won’t lie after reading the two definitions I involuntarily wince and think - Come on! Really, Google? Give us some answers of a little bit more substance and more importantly help us differentiate the two in your definitions.
Allow me to clear up the blurred lines and preconceived myths once and for all.
A Doula IS:
A trained professional who specializes in providing continuous emotional support (encouragement and reassurance), physical comfort and assistance with comfort measures, as well as gathering important unbiased information pertaining to your birth choices. Prenatally and during birth or at home with your new baby, a skilled doula understands and acknowledges your needs allowing her to serve you based on those needs.
Wait after birth too? Yes! There are two types of doulas, birth/labor doulas and postpartum doulas. Threw you a curve ball? Why should your support stop after you’ve delivered your placenta, right?! We doulas like to keep the party rolling...
Labor doulas typically work prenatally with mothers preparing and educating through unbiased and evidence based information. Aid in the process of creating a cohesive plan establishes the needs of the laboring couple. All of this is in addition to supporting a mother and her partner during labor, birth and normally do not leave the mother until breastfeeding is established. Then a postpartum doula (or the same doula, that may be dually trained) would pick up from there or continue the support if she is hired as both.
A postpartum doula may see her client through her hospital stay or pick up the support once the family is home, as needed. Most clients will hire a postpartum doula to help around the house and with baby. Tasks include but definitely are limited to cooking, cleaning, laundry, allowing new parents to bond. Also, to allow the new parents nap/shower while she cares for baby. A skilled postpartum doula will provide general lactation support when needed, but will also knows when to refer a client to an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) a licensed professional with clinical experience, that specializes in the not so common lactation issues that can arise.
Doulas do NOT: Perform any clinical tasks whatsoever, such as: taking a mothers temperature, checking baby’s heart rate during labor, vaginal exams etc.
We also do NOT, replace the role of the mother's partner at a birth, only attend homebirths, speak on behalf of our clients, push our own agenda onto our clients.
A Midwife IS: A member of the medical board (varies from state to state) and is consider a health care provider, who can perform medically necessary tasks or interventions. This includes (but not limited to), prenatally: bloodwork, heart monitoring of baby, checking urine samples, measuring fontanel height. Labor and birth: trained and properly credentialed to use pictocin, oxygen, the ability to administer and IV, stitching the mother after birth if any vaginal tearing has occurred - among other some times necessary interventions. They do the same charting and record keeping as any physician would.
Two variants of Midwives include Nurse-midwives and Direct-entry Midwives. Described simply by The Association of Midwife Educators below: “Nurse-midwives are educated and licensed as nurses first, and then complete additional education in midwifery. They are known as Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). CNMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states. They are usually licensed in individual states as Nurse Practitioners (NPs).
Direct-entry midwives are educated or trained as midwives without having to become nurses first. They may be Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) or Certified Midwives (CMs). The legal status and requirements for direct-entry (non-nurse) midwives vary from state. They are usually licensed in individual states as Licensed Midwives (LMs) or Registered Midwives (RMs). The Midwives Alliance of North America tracks the laws and regulations in each state for direct-entry midwives.” Nurse-midwives serve in hospitals, birth centers and at home. Direct-entry serve birth centers and homebirths only.
Us doulas are here for YOU, we aren't providing the medical care to you or your baby, just here to provide our undivided attention to the needs of the laboring mother and her partner!
Original Content by Sara Avalos of AKRON DOULAS
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