The difference between a Midwife…

A Midwife is a Primary Health Care Provider who is medically trained in the art of midwifery and women’s health. She is responsible for the care of healthy women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time, and is trained to care for the newborn. The midwife is responsible for the safety of mother and baby.

Some midwives also provide family planning, annual exams, and other kinds of well-woman gynecology and health care.

… and a Doula

Certified Doulas do not provide any kind of medical care, such as exams or listening to the heartbeat. Like a midwife, a doula provides support for the mother – emotional, spiritual, and physical. She may give back massage, offer nourishment and encouragement, tell mama how well she is doing, and remind her of the things she wants for her labor/birth, while assisting the mother and partner to achieve their birth vision. Birthwell recommends that all women who birth in the hospital do so with the care of a doula.