Learning that you are pregnant can bring up many emotions, including elation and excitement and, on the flip side, apprehension and stress. The amount of information available online is certainly helpful but can also be incredibly overwhelming and intimidating. That’s why adding a doula into your pregnancy plan is something to consider. 

A doula can be a great asset to you during pregnancy, labor, and the fourth trimester. But some people can get confused between a doula and a midwife. So first, it’s vital to understand the difference between these two professions.

What Is a Midwife?

Some people think that a doula and a midwife are interchangeable, but that is not the case. Their duties to the new mom and their educational backgrounds differ. 

A midwife can be a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) or a certified midwife (CM). CNMs are medical professionals, like registered nurses. They must complete graduate-level programs in midwifery and be certified and licensed to practice in the United States by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

CMs complete a midwifery program and are also certified, but they do not have nursing backgrounds. CMs are only licensed to practice in certain states.

What Is a Doula?

A doula does not have medical training, unlike an OB/GYN or midwife. They do not perform medical procedures, meaning they will not be delivering your baby, nor can they prescribe medications.

Instead, a doula is a trained professional who provides the comforting voice of experience. Because they are not involved with the medical side of the pregnancy, they can focus their attention on other aspects. Doulas typically offer informational, emotional, and physical support to you, your partner, and your family during pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum.

Doulas do not need to have a graduate-level education, and they do not need to be certified, although many do go through various certification programs. DONA International is one of the largest and best-known certification programs for doulas. They provide workshops to teach new doulas the history of birth, as well as practical, hands-on techniques for natural pain management, physical comfort for the mom-to-be, and the significance of a doula’s role in the process.

Many studies document the benefits of having a doula. Including a doula in your birthing team can reduce your chances of a C-section by 50%, the use of pain medications by 40%, and your length of labor by 25%. Their assistance has been shown to reduce anxiety, support mother-baby bonding post-birth, and improve breastfeeding success rates, particularly since many doulas are also lactation experts.

What Role Does a Doula Play in Your Pregnancy Journey?

Having a doula is helpful to you, your partner, family members, and even the medical staff. They fulfill roles not readily covered by other members of your birthing team, so it’s easy to see why doulas are becoming regular fixtures in these groups.

Information and Advocacy

There is a surplus of information out there for new and expectant mothers. So how do you know what is accurate and relevant to your case? Doulas can help you field these questions, narrow down the data, and provide you with evidence-based resources. They are also there to translate medical terms and explain procedures, making sure you’re well-informed and at ease.

As a new mom, you need as many people in your corner as possible. Your doula will be your advocate, facilitating communication between you and your healthcare providers. She will serve as a bridge and a mediator to ensure that your voice gets heard, that you get the best care possible, and that you are comfortable throughout the pregnancy process. She will also run interference with the hospital staff and personnel during your labor and delivery.

Emotional Support

Whether you are alone on this journey or have an extensive support network, a doula will offer emotional care to everyone involved, including you, your partner, and your family. Pregnancy, labor, and postpartum are highly charged experiences, and it can be a relief to have your doula there to assist in any way possible.

You and your family may grapple with various unpredictable reactions throughout pregnancy, from fear and anxiety to misplaced resentment. Doulas bring a level of emotional intelligence to help soothe these uncertainties and provide reassurance. In turn, this will help you relax and focus on the most essential task of all — welcoming a new baby into your life.

Physical Support

Doulas have training in non-medical pain management techniques for breathing, relaxation, and massage. They are also well-versed in laboring positions and providing comfort via touch, counter pressure, aromatherapy, music, and mantras. These techniques can be an extra complement to medical methods or act as a central pillar to your pain management strategy.

Postpartum Support

Also referred to as the Fourth Trimester, postpartum is often when a new mom and family need a doula’s emotional and logical support the most. A postpartum doula is a supportive and affirming presence that can help parents develop confidence as they transition to parenthood and grow their families. This can be the same doula that guided you through your pregnancy and childbirth, or you can hire a separate postpartum doula to help you through this part of the journey.

A postpartum doula differs from a night nurse or baby nurse. Night nurses and baby nurses focus strictly on the baby — mainly feeding, diapering, rocking the little one to sleep. On the other hand, a postpartum doula will come into your home with the support, knowledge, tools, and empathy needed to create a harmonious environment across the board. She will help you develop bonding systems for your newborn, yourself, partner, and family. Some of these duties can include:

• Newborn Care: assisting with diapering, bathing, infant-soothing, and babywearing
• Breastfeeding: offering encouragement and assisting with positioning and pumping
• Maternal Support: fostering a sense of health and wellbeing, physically and mentally, especially for first-time moms
• Education and Referrals: providing resources and information about newborn care as well as referrals for pediatricians, groups, classes, and therapists
• Overnights: helping with feeding, changing, and soothing the newborn so that parents can have some time to sleep
• Light Housekeeping: running errands, helping with laundry, and meal preparation
• Sibling Care: childcare for older children and strategies for introducing the newborn into the family

A postpartum doula is flexible and will work with you to develop the best strategy for your needs and goals.

OB2me Healthcare

Whether it’s your first or your fifth, the arrival of a child requires proper preparation and planning. There are many ways to personalize your pregnancy, and using a doula is one of them. The providers with Ob2me encourage and embrace having a doula in the room to help with the overall stress and wellbeing of the mom-to-be and her family. 

At OB2me Healthcare, we offer private in-home or in-office concierge midwifery care by certified nurse midwives, providing comfortable, high-quality prenatal or postpartum care for both you and your family. We are also available throughout your labor and delivery and will happily work alongside your doula should you decide to use one.

Choose from our multiple packages and services, and let us help make this journey as stress-free as possible. Contact us today at 2MeHealthcare.com to see how working with a dedicated and passionate hospital provider can make your pregnancy and birthing story one you will want to share.

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Carson

Carson Ragan, CNM is a Certified Nurse Midwife with more than 25 years of experience in Labor & Delivery, Neonatal ICU, and women’s healthcare. After becoming a mother at a young age and experiencing the birth of her premature second child, she was inspired to pursue nursing and ultimately midwifery.

She earned her nursing degree from Columbus State University and graduated as an RN in 1999. After years of experience as an L&D and NICU nurse, charge nurse, educator, and clinician, she earned her graduate degree from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 2010 and became a Certified Nurse Midwife.

Her personal experiences as both a mother and healthcare provider inspired her vision for a more personal, convenient approach to women’s healthcare. She created a concierge model designed to give women more time, individualized attention, and quality care in the comfort of their home or office.

Outside of work, Carson enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, volunteering with her daughter’s volleyball teams, traveling, and scuba diving.