DOULA VS MIDWIFE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE ?

“What is exactly a doula?” Is one of the most common question I hear. Many expecting parents dont really know what a doula is or how a doula’s role differs from that of a midwife. During pregnancy, you will have to make choices about your care and the people who will surround you during pregnancy and birth. You dont have to choose between a midwife and a doula, as they each bring something unique to pregnancy. Here is a clear explanation to help you understand the differences, and help you decide what support you need for you, and your family.

What is a midwife?

A midwife is a trained health professional who specializes in supporting people during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Midwife focus on safe, evidence- based care for low-risk pregnancies, monitoring the mother and the baby, and supporting the physiological process of childbirth.

Depending on the country and their qualifications, a midwife may:

• Provide prenatal check-ups

• Monitor the health of mother and baby

• Prescribe certain medications and supplements

• Order tests and ultrasounds

• Monitor labor progress ans baby’s heart rate

• Attend birth and assist deliveries

• Support mothers during the first hours and days after birth

In many countries, midwifes can independently lead low-risk births in setting like homes, birth centers, or midwife-lead units.

In Cambodia, the maternity system is largely led by obstetricians. Midwives in hospital often function similarly to what some countries call labour or maternity nurses: they support clinical tasks, monitor labour, and work closely with doctors and as a part of the hospital team.

What is a doula ?

A doula is a non-medical trained professional who provides emotional, physical, informational, and continuous support to the mother and her partner. A doula doesn’t not perform medical tasks.

She does not:

• Do vaginal exams

• Monitor the baby’s heart rate

• Make medical decisions

• Replace a midwife, or a doctor

A doula supports by:

• Providing education during pregnancy

• Helping parents prepare emotionally and mentally for birth

• Explaining common procedures and options

• Supporting informed- decision making

• Offering comfort measures during labor ( breathing, positions, touch, relaxation, reassurance)

• Supporting partners in their role

• Creating a calm and grounded presence

• Offering postpartum emotional and practical support

A doula focus is the well-being, and emotional safety of the birthing woman and her family.Large reviews of many studies have found that continuous support from a doula is associated with lower rates of cesarean birth, shorter labors, less need for pain medications and higher satisfaction with the birth experience, compared to those without doula support ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31073265/ )

How midwives and doulas work together?

During labor and birth, midwives and doulas often work side by side. Midwives may care for several women at the same time and move between rooms, they watch for signs that labour is progressing as expected, check the baby’s heart rate, observe contractions, and support the birth person with guidance and clinical care.

A doula usually stays continuously with one family, offering steady presence and support.

This means:

The midwife focuses on medical care and safety, and monitoring.

The doula focuses on continuous emotional support, physical comfort, reassurance.

A doula may help with breathing, positions, relaxation techniques, touch and massage, encouragement, and explaining what is happening in a calm and accessible way.

Some parents feel fully supported with a medical team alone. Others deeply value the continuous emotional, physical and informational support a doula brings. Many parents find that having both a midwife and a doula allows them to feel both medically safe and deeply supported as human beings.

Whatever you decide, you deserve a team that supports not only the arrival of your baby, but also your experience as parents.