As I began the journey into becoming a doula, I was commonly asked “What’s the difference between a doula and a midwife?” As my first pregnancy progressed almost 10 years ago, I did the typical “new mother” thing. I researched pregnancy pains, what medical tests would be run throughout the pregnancy, as well as birthing plans and options. During all my research, I never came across the word doula, or what a doula even was. It was only after my first pregnancy ended up as a cesarean birth that I started looking into VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), and during this search I first came across the term doula.
My first understanding was that a doula was for women who were attempting a VBAC after a previous cesarean birth. I thought that doulas were there to advocate for laboring mothers and babies in a hospital setting, those who were against TOLAC (Trial of Labor After Cesarean), or VBAC in general. I wish I had realized then that doulas were for everyone.
In 2014 I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I was certain my fate included another cesarean, as well as a fight with the military doctors on the base my husband was stationed in if I mentioned I wanted to try a VBAC. This caused me to start my research again on birthing options and it didn’t take me long to come across the word “doula” and the role they could possibly play in my second birth. I immediately contacted an online VBAC support group and inquired about what exactly a doula was, how exactly could they benefit my upcoming birth, and the difference between a doula and a midwife. Let’s tackle that last question first. What is the difference?
What is a Doula?
Doulas are trained specifically to provide continuous emotional, informational, and physical support to a mother before, during, and shortly after the birth. Their goal is to help a new mother achieve the most satisfying and healthiest birth experience possible.
What is a Midwife?
Midwives are trained specifically for the medical side of birth. They are trained to help women deliver their baby with the knowledge to prevent or intercede in the case of an emergency. Doulas are trained in the physiological side of pregnancy, with emphasis on how the mind, soul, and body work in harmony to bring baby safely into the world. They can also offer coping mechanisms for when you are in the throws of labor and have simply had enough. Since your partner knows you best, they can work alongside your birth team, ensuring that all options are offered are aligned with your best interest and desires. Together, your birth partner, doula, and midwife make the perfect team of support and wisdom.
After doing my research and reaching out to various doula groups, I understood completely the difference between the two. I also learned that many times doulas and midwives work alongside each other to help each woman achieve the birth experience she desires.
Midwives are professionals specifically trained to support women in maintaining healthy pregnancies as well as have the most optimal birth and recovery possible during the period after birth. They are there to provide each individual woman with care that is individualized to their own personal mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and cultural needs.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a first time mom, a teen mom, a mom with a few births under her belt, a crunchy mom, VBAC birther, or just someone who wants a trained professional for birth support during your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period...ask yourself what a doula can do for you?
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