Published: December 26, 2019 | Updated: October 2, 2026
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If you’re pregnant, you may be weighing the differences between a birth doula and a midwife. You may think the roles are interchangeable, but doulas and midwives provide different types of care and support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
The simplest way to understand the difference is that midwives provide medical care, while doulas provide nonmedical support.
A midwife is a trained medical professional who can provide prenatal care, care during labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Midwives can assist with birth and deliver babies and provide gynecologic care. Norton Women’s Care midwives are certified nurse-midwives (have a CNM credential). Certified nurse-midwives are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN credential) who complete specialized education and clinical training in midwifery.
A doula provides emotional, physical and informational support before, during and after childbirth. Doulas can help you prepare for labor, provide comfort and encouragement during the birthing process, and offer support during the postpartum period. They do not provide medical or clinical care.
Midwives provide pregnancy care and medical care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Depending on the type of midwife and the care setting, midwives may provide care before pregnancy, during pregnancy, during labor and after delivery.
Norton Women’s Care certified nurse-midwives can:
Midwives generally care for people whose pregnancies are considered low risk. Norton Women’s Care midwives work closely with OB/GYNs and other healthcare professionals and can involve an obstetrician when additional clinical expertise or medical care is needed.
Midwifery care can take place in different settings, including a hospital or birth center, depending on the provider and the patient’s needs.
A doula is a trained professional who provides nonmedical support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Many people choose a doula because they want additional emotional, physical and informational support throughout their birth experience.
Doula care may begin during pregnancy and continue through labor and delivery and into the postpartum period. A doula can help you prepare for childbirth, understand your options and communicate your preferences, as well as help you feel supported during the birthing process.
Some doulas complete certification programs or other specialized training. However, even a certified doula is not a medical provider and does not provide clinical care. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, perform medical tasks, prescribe medications or deliver babies.
A doula may help you:
A doula can provide practical support during the postpartum period, depending on the doula’s services.
A doula can be an important source of support, but the role does not replace your midwife, OB/GYN or other medical provider. Your medical team remains responsible for your clinical care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Norton Women’s Care offers complimentary doula services for patients delivering at Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. There are also resources and education for expectant parents, including Doula Essentials classes to help families prepare for childbirth and the postpartum period.
Yes. You can choose to receive care from a certified nurse-midwife while also working with a doula.
The two roles can complement each other. Your midwife provides medical and clinical care, including prenatal visits, monitoring during pregnancy, labor and delivery care, and postpartum care. Your doula provides additional emotional, physical and informational support.
For example, during labor, a midwife may monitor you and your baby, assess the progress of labor, provide medical care and deliver your baby. A doula may help you with breathing and positioning, provide encouragement and comfort, and support you and your partner throughout the birthing experience.
An OB/GYN is a physician who specializes in women’s reproductive health, including pregnancy, childbirth and conditions affecting the reproductive system. Like a certified nurse-midwife, an OB/GYN can provide prenatal care, manage pregnancy and deliver babies. OB/GYNs also have specialized medical training to diagnose and treat complications and manage higher-risk pregnancies.
During pregnancy, an OB/GYN may:
The roles of an OB/GYN, midwife and doula are different, but they can work together. A midwife provides clinical care for people with uncomplicated pregnancies and can involve an OB/GYN if additional medical expertise is needed. A doula provides nonmedical emotional, physical and informational support and does not replace an OB/GYN or midwife.
Whether you choose an OB/GYN, certified nurse-midwife or both as part of your pregnancy care, you also can work with a doula for additional support during childbirth and the postpartum period.