Doula vs. midwife — what's the difference?
A midwife is a licensed clinical provider who delivers babies and provides prenatal/postpartum medical care. A doula provides non-clinical emotional and physical support and does not deliver babies.
Midwife (CNM, CM, CPM)
- Licensed and trained in clinical care
- Performs exams, monitors labor, delivers babies
- Prescribes medication (varies by license type and state)
Doula (DONA, CAPPA, ProDoula, etc.)
- Non-clinical support role
- Provides continuous labor support, comfort measures, advocacy, education
- Does not perform medical procedures
Many families use both — a midwife for clinical care plus a doula for continuous emotional and physical support.
