Ask A Doula: Are You A Midwife?

It’s a question that comes up occasionally ~ do doulas do what midwives do? Both midwives and doulas seem like very new concepts, although they’re actually quite ancient practices that are (finally) coming back into the modern sphere, so it’s easy to understand why they get confused.

And in many ways, their philosphical outlook is the same: they believe in women being their own advocates, they tend to trust the birthing process, and they are more apt to see how finely intertwined a woman’s heart, mind, and soul are when it comes to the physical effort of labor.

But they are decidedly different, and important ways. A midwife is a medical practitioner; a doula is not. Certified Nurse Midwives (there are other kinds) have gone through years of rigorous, regimented study and heavy licensing requirements. They are the professional equivalent of an OB-GYN, with the exception of not being surgically prepped for things like C-Sections. This is okay, because they know when medical emergencies are happening and when a c-section will be needed, and work as excellent teammates with OB’s. Personally, for Lafayette locals, I’ve loved seeing the teamwork behind the midwives and OBs at IU Arnett Hospital.

Midwives often offer some of the same support and comfort measures a doula might, but their first priority (rightfully so) is medical safety. A doula’s priority is providing emotional and physical support no matter what your medical needs are. So, no, we aren’t midwives, although we’ve got a crazy amount of respect for the jobs they do!