What is a childbirth doula, and how is it different from a midwife?

This content has been expertly reviewed by Anna-Maria - A certified Birth Doula in Australia

A childbirth doula, also known as a birth doula, is a person who, despite not necessarily having medical training, provides emotional and physical support to birthing parents throughout their childbirth experiences. 

From before the start of the pregnancy to labor and delivery and even through the postpartum period, doulas can make the birthing experience much more comfortable and safe. 

Childbirth doulas vs midwives 

You can’t overstate the importance of having a safe pregnancy and childbirth, especially for the birthing parent. That’s why, when it comes to providing the best maternal care, understanding the difference between birth workers and midwives is crucial. 

Midwives 

• Unlike doulas, midwives can provide medical care and support throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.

• Midwives have the additional training needed to deliver babies and manage pregnancy complications, including complications that may arise during high-risk pregnancies (think pregnancies that involve multiple births, for instance). 

• Midwives can assist obstetricians and gynecologists during a cesarean birth (cesarean section/C-section). 

• Certified nurse-midwives can supply and administer pain medications during labor and birthing. 

Childbirth doulas 

• Think of childbirth doulas as birth companions who provide pregnant people with emotional, physical, and informational support. 

• During the birthing experience, doulas focus on comfort measures for labor, including breathing exercises, gentle massages, and position changes. 

• Doula training tends to revolve more around inclusivity, and basic infant care, whereas midwife training prioritizes scientific and clinical practices. Often a Doula is also trained in being a childberth educator and will educate the mother on more in depth topics.

• Doulas ideally have knowledge of birth physiology and interventions, but they do not provide clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Instead, they help clients understand their options and advocate for their preferences.

So, you know how the scope of practice between a doula and a midwife differs. But what can you do with this knowledge? 

You can make a well-informed decision about your future career and prepare yourself for whichever role you wish to pursue. What’s more, whichever path you follow, you now know how to help parents-to-be find the support they need the most. 

What are the different types of childbirth doulas?

Besides birth doulas, there are many different types of doulas that you could become, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each role. 

Fertility doulas 

Fertility doulas excel at providing information and support to those who need assistance getting pregnant. They help individuals and couples throughout the conception process, usually by offering fertility education, exercises, and resources. 

Postpartum doulas 

A postpartum doula provides parents with the support they need after the birth of their baby. Their services range from assisting with housework to providing helpful advice related to infant health, such as infant feeding, bathing, and swaddling. 

Antepartum doulas

An antepartum doula is very similar to a birth doula. The key difference is that they provide support for those experiencing difficult or high-risk pregnancies. If you wanted to work alongside teenage birthing parents or those with severe pregnancy symptoms like extreme morning sickness, you could make for an excellent antepartum doula. 

Full-spectrum doulas 

A full-spectrum doula supports their clients throughout the entire reproductive journey, from fertility, pregnancy, and birth to loss, abortion, and adoption. 

What childbirth doula courses are available to study?

There are many doula programs out there, but none are quite as beneficial as the programs that Courses for Success provide. 

Most notably, the Birth Doula Online Certificate Course is invaluable, covering everything from ethical and bereavement practices to the many components of exceptional postpartum care and prenatal health. In no more than 20 hours, you’ll become one of the many certified childbirth educators who found this course to be “very informative and easy to comprehend.”

If, after what you’ve learned today, you prefer the thought of studying midwifery, you’ll love the Introduction to Midwifery Online Certificate Course. During your studies, you’ll delve deep into the roles, responsibilities, history, and common clinical practices of the midwives you aspire to be like. 

Aside from these courses, you can also access the extremely helpful Hypnobirthing Online Certificate Course and the Pregnancy Massage Online Certificate Course. Both of these courses will equip you with the skills you need to reinforce your pain management knowledge, making you an even more qualified doula. 

Are there any challenges to this field of study?

Yes, although lending your talents to a professional doula business would be rewarding, it wouldn’t always be a walk in the park. 

According to Anna-Maria Boelskov, an experienced doula and child educator from Australia. these are some of the challenges that nearly every doula struggles with: 

Unpredictable work schedules 

You can’t predict how smooth someone’s pregnancy is going to be, so it makes sense that you also can’t predict your work schedule perfectly. You’re going to be on-call, and beyond that, it’s likely that you’re going to be the only doula that your clients rely on. 

For you, this could mean stopping what you’re doing at the drop of a hat, which can make tending to your personal life difficult. 

Reliable childcare 

If you have your own children and your client needs you outside of your typical hours, organizing childcare can be tricky, especially if you don’t have the support of partners or family members. 

Other doulas 

Unfortunately, not every doula is an exemplar of the profession, which can make communicating with your client’s healthcare team challenging. You must be positive, kind, and cooperative to dispel any misconceptions that those involved in the birth process may have about doulas. 

Australian specific challenge

In Australia, one of the biggest challenges doulas face is navigating a maternity system that doesn’t always recognise our role. While some hospitals are welcoming, others see doulas as unnecessary or interfering. It takes grace and communication skills to build trust with medical teams while staying centred in service to the birthing person. One of the most valuable things a doula offers is the ability to be a bridge between the hospital system and the woman giving birth. This is possible because we provide continuity of care — we’ve often built a strong relationship with the woman throughout her pregnancy. We know who she is, what matters to her, and how she responds to stress and support. That level of trust and familiarity can be missing in fragmented models of care, where a woman may be attended by strangers on the day she gives birth. In these moments, especially during emotionally intense decisions like induction or when navigating hospital protocols, a doula offers calm, non-judgmental support to help a woman make informed choices that feel right for her and her baby. To offer this kind of guidance effectively, doulas need a solid understanding of the medical system, language, and common procedures — and it’s crucial we always stay within our scope of practice. When we do, medical teams are far more likely to welcome our presence and collaboration.

Summing up

Doulas can make the entire birthing experience much more comfortable and safe for expecting parents. With the right birth doula training, you can gain the skills you need to empower growing families as they navigate pregnancy and parenthood with confidence. 

The right doula training is easier to find than you might think with Courses for Success. Start your journey the right way by studying the Birth Doula Online Certificate Course and become the beacon of support that your future clients look to! 

FAQs

Do doulas improve birth outcomes? 

According to PubMed Central, mothers supported by birth doulas were two times less likely to experience a birth complication that affected themselves or their babies. 

How long does it take to become a doula? 

It can take anywhere between one month and a couple of years to complete the certification process. 

How many clients can a doula have at once? 

Typically, doulas care for anywhere between 4 and 7 clients per month. 

What are death doulas? 

A death doula provides end-of-life care and support to a person who is dying, as well as that person’s loved ones. End-of-life doulas offer those who are dying emotional and spiritual support, helping particularly with end-of-life planning. 

Is the doula profession regulated in Australia?

No, in Australia, the doula profession is currently unregulated, which means there’s no governing body overseeing certification or practice standards. While this allows flexibility, it also places responsibility on aspiring doulas to choose reputable, evidence-informed training programs to ensure we keep good work ethics and build trust with the medical system; otherwise, we could run into issues in the future.