What is the difference between

a Doula and a Midwife?

 

A midwife provides medical care to evaluate the health of the expecting woman, and the baby. Midwives provide things such as lab work, ultrasounds, cervical exams, and giving medical advice to ensure the best chance at a healthy pregnancy. A doula helps you know what questions to ask your providers to see what options are available to you during your pregnancy and delivery.

 

I provide pregnancy resources such as educational methods,  birthing techniques, and information to your partner so your partner can be an effective support person as well. I help you create your birth preferences, taking into account what your goals are. I can give recommendations on different things to do to help you have the delivery you want, such as chiropractors, childbirth and breastfeeding classes, psychologists, postpartum doulas, and prenatal fitness exercises. 

 

You likely see your midwife once a month, and then twice weekly and once weekly, but as your doula, I am available for you to text, email or call when you need. In the birth room, your midwife and nurse may be seeing multiple patients and will likely be in and out of the delivery room. As your doula, I am there throughout your labor helping you through nearly every contraction and keeping you as comfortable as possible (You can read about the evidence for continuous support in the blue box on this page). I also support your partner so that they are as comfortable as possible, fed, and can be as much of an active participant as they choose to be. I can be an active participant in your birth, or a bystander for "just in case" as well.

 

This is your birth, your way. I am here to help you find the path that you feel is right for you and your family.