What’s the Deal With Doulas and Midwives?

Like many of you, I used to have no idea what a doula was, and I had the impression that midwives were something from the 1800’s and hired only occasionally by some uncommon folks today.

Well, I’m here today to clarify any confusion or misconceptions you may have. 

Midwives

What is a midwife? A midwife is generally someone who assists a woman in childbirth and delivers babies. That’s the most basic definition I can give you. However, there are various kinds of midwives including: 

• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Midwife (CM)
• Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)
• Direct Entry Midwife (DEM)
• Lay Midwife 

I’m not an expert, so I will explain to the best of my ability what a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is since I have had the most experience with them. If you wish to learn more about the other types of midwives, I recommend going here where it can explain the differences in a more detailed manner than I can. 

Simply put, a CNM is a midwife who has gone through nursing school and gotten a master’s degree in nurse midwifery. They are able to do everything that your typical OB can do except perform surgical procedures, such as a C-section. If you want to go with a midwife but also desire the resources needed if something goes wrong, you can find a midwife that will deliver your baby at a hospital where an OBGYN will be on call. 

If an expectant mother chose to go with a CNM to help with  her pregnancy and birth, she would meet with her CNM regularly for check-ups just like she would if she had an OBGYN. Most women choose either an OBGYN or CNM to monitor their pregnancy and birth,  but it is not unheard of for some women to have both. 

Why choose a CNM vs an OBGYN? CNM’s typically specialize in helping women who want to give birth unmedicated. Of course, they still serve clients who want to have medication or need a C-section, but most women who want a medicated birth choose to go have OBGYN’s. 

I personally enjoyed having a CNM because she did her best to follow my birth plan. She also helped me be successful and feel empowered in giving birth naturally.

Doulas

What is a doula? A doula is basically a birth coach. They typically have a lot of knowledge and experience regarding pregnancy and birth which may or may not come from a college degree. However, they are not supposed to give medical advice, prescriptions, or assistance. Because of this, you will have an OBGYN or a midwife along with a doula. A doula’s job is to encourage, empower, and teach expectant mothers and fathers how to go through pregnancy and birth. They can also provide tips for labor positions and strategies, including how their partner can be involved. 

Why hire a doula? Midwives and OBGYN’s can be very busy and may not be able to spend a lot of time with you while you are in the process of giving birth. Doulas, on the other hand, aren’t usually running between clients. They will often have a time frame that they are on call just for you and will stay with you for as long as they can when you need them. If you start going into labor at 2am and want to labor at home, your doula can drive on over and stay there as long as you need. If your water breaks in the afternoon and you decide to go to the hospital then, your doula can meet you there. 

Doulas also are a huge comfort and support while in labor! Even though your partner may be there with you during labor, it is very helpful to have someone there who knows what is going on and who can keep calm in the potential chaos. Here’s some things that various doulas offer (all of these things I’ve either heard of or experienced with the doulas I had): 

• Prenatal visits to discuss how you want the labor and delivery to go
• Answering your phone calls or texts to address your questions and concerns
• Mini classes and tips  on how to cope with the feelings of labor and delivery
• Guidance and suggestions on what positions to try during labor
• Training to be in the right mindset for labor
• Postpartum visit where they can talk with you about the birth, help you with caring for your baby (including how to nurse and how to help your baby fall asleep), clean your house, answer questions, discuss postpartum depression, etc.
• Referring you to people with medical experience who may be able to assist you 
• Helping you know when it is a good idea to call a doctor or nurse and ask them questions
• Refer you to accurate and helpful information 
• Tell you what hospitals, birthing centers, OBGYN’s, and midwives they recommend
• Support you in whatever type of birth you choose to have
• Help you deliver your baby at home, at birthing center, or at a hospital 

If you are looking for a doula or curious about people’s experiences with them, I recommend going here, where you can find doulas in the area you live in as well as testimonials from clients.

Decide What is Best for You

No matter whether you choose an OBGYN, some type of midwife, a doula, or a combination of those, it is important to figure out what is best for you and who will sincerely try to support and encourage you throughout this journey. 

This is your birth and your baby, so it should go your way as much as possible.   

Have more questions? You can email me about my personal experience with midwives and doulas at nicole@familyrealityandjoy.com .