What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?

When you’re preparing to give birth, it can feel like you have to learn a whole new language: birth visions, birth teams, prenatal visits, perinatal support… and somewhere in there, the terms doula and midwife show up like cousins with similar names.

You might be wondering:

Aren’t they kind of the same thing?

Do I need one? Do I need both?

Let’s break it down:

🌿 First, what’s a doula?

A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who provides emotional, physical and educational support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Think of a doula as your steady hand, your calm voice, your wise sister-friend who knows a whole lot about how birth works and how to support you through it.

Doulas don’t catch babies. They don’t do cervical checks or monitor your blood pressure. Many doulas won’t attend a birht unless a midwife or doctor is present.

But what they do offer is often the glue that holds your whole experience together:

• Helping you create a Birth Vision that aligns with your values and preferences

• Offering hands-on encouragement, breathing support, and comfort techniques during labor

• Reminding you of your options when things get intense

• Supporting your partner so they can support you

• Sitting with you postpartum as you process your birth story plus tidying, cooking and teaching infant care

  
  

In short: doulas tend to the heart of birth.

🩺 So, what’s a midwife?

A midwife is a trained medical professional who provides clinical care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

There are different types of midwives (Certified Nurse-Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, Licensed Midwives), and their training and scope of practice varies by region. But most midwives:

• Provide prenatal care and checkups

• Monitor fetal growth and vital signs

• Support physiological birth

• Attend and assist during labor and delivery

• Handle emergencies or transfer to hospital care when needed

Midwives are medical care providers—often offering more time, continuity and personalized, holistic attention than an OB/GYN.

In short: midwives tend the body of birth.

💫 Do you need both?

You can have both—and many families do.

Your midwife makes sure you and your baby are medically well.

Your doula makes sure you feel emotionally and spiritually supported.

Together, they form a care team that holds you in body, mind and soul.

🤎 What matters most?

Whether you choose a doula, a midwife, both or another path entirely, the most important thing is this:

You deserve to be surrounded by people who listen to you, honor your choices and treat your birth as sacred.

That’s exactly why we created Maternal Resource Oasis: to help you find the care that feels right for you.

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