As an expecting parent, it can feel overwhelming trying to find the right care team for your pregnancy. This can feel especially true as a first time parent. There are a lot of different terms you might hear including doula and midwife. Often, these two terms get confused in the middle of trying to find the right provider and support team for your birth. While both are great members of your birth team, their roles are different and important to clarify before choosing your birth team.
Birth Doula Scope of Practice
Doulas are non-medical support people for your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.
As a birth doula, I offer non-medical physical, emotional, spiritual, and information/educational support. I work with client's throughout their pregnancy, attend their births, and guide them through their postpartum recovery period. Non-medical means I do not deliver babies, check blood-pressure, take temperatures or do anything medical for the birther or infant. I can offer information, not medical advice, about procedures, interventions, and other pregnancy related questions. I also provide physical support through counter pressures, massage methods, acupressure, hydrotherapy, etc.
Finally, a birth doula offers emotional and spiritual support through techniques such as visualization, hypnobirthing, meditations, prayer, conversation, affirmations and so much more. We are an ongoing presence in the birthing space for both the birther and their partner/family.
Midwives Model of Care & Practice
Midwives are trained medical experts in low-risk, physiological births. They provide medical care for pregnancy individuals throughout pregnancy, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. Midwives can preform all of the same procedures (in most cases) as other providers and can attend home births and birth center births. Some midwives also operate within a hospital-based environment. Many are also experts in well-woman care and offer care outside of pregnancy. There are different types of midwives each with different levels of training and scopes. Regulations and training requirements vary from state-to-state, so if you are considered midwifery care, it is good to learn the options in your region first.
Similarities Between A Birth Doula And a Midwife
While the differences are cut and dry, there are some similarities between a birth doula and a midwife. Both are amazing members of your birth team who work to advocate, inform, and support your physiological birth. While midwives are present in a medical capacity, they are also there to educate and emotionally support your birth. Both are also great sources for further recommendations and resources, especially if they need to help you find support for something outside their scope of practices.
Finding Your Perfect Care Team
If you just found out that you are expecting, congratulations! This is an exciting and transformative time in your family's life. However, it can quickly become overwhelming trying to navigate all the new terms and find your right care team. Understanding the difference between a birth doula and a midwife is a great place to begin. The choice to have one or both or neither on your birth team is entirely up to you based on your desires for your birth.
If you are looking for a birth doula, I would love to connect and walk-alongside you in this sacred and transformative time in your life. I serve the Michiana area (Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan) with both birth and postpartum doula services. Connect with me to learn more about my care packages!
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