When planning for the birth of a baby, parents often explore various options to ensure they feel supported and cared for throughout the journey. Two roles that may come up during this exploration are private midwives and doulas. While both play important parts in the birthing process, their roles, training, and scope of practice differ significantly. Understanding these differences can help families decide which type of support is best for them—or if they’d benefit from both!
Private Midwife
A private midwife is a fully qualified and registered healthcare professional who provides comprehensive maternity care. In England, private midwives are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), ensuring they meet high standards of education, practice, and accountability.
What Does a Private Midwife Do?
Private midwives provide continuity of care, often working with families from early pregnancy through to postnatal care. Their scope of practice includes:
Clinical Care: Monitoring the health and well-being of both the mother and baby during pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period.
Birth Support: Supporting all types of births, including home births, water births, and births in private maternity units.
Medical Skills: Performing clinical tasks such as taking blood tests, administering medication, managing emergencies, and suturing if necessary.
Postnatal Care: Supporting breastfeeding, monitoring newborn health, and providing advice during the early weeks.
In addition to their core midwifery services, many private midwives also have additional qualifications or offer specialist services, such as:
Lactation Consultant (IBCLC): Providing expert support with breastfeeding challenges.
Tongue-Tie Practitioner: Assessing and treating babies with tongue-tie to improve feeding.
Antenatal Education Provider: Running classes to prepare parents for birth and parenthood.
Hypnobirthing Instructor: Teaching techniques to help parents feel calm and empowered during labour.
Private midwives tailor their services to meet individual family needs, providing a highly personalised and holistic approach to care.
Key Features of a Private Midwife:
Regulated healthcare professional.
Extensive training in pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care.
Ability to provide clinical and medical care.
Offers continuity of care and builds a trusting relationship with families.
Doula
A doula is a non-medical birth companion who offers emotional, physical, and practical support to families during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Doulas are not regulated in the same way as midwives, but many choose to undergo training through organizations such as Doula UK or other accredited programs.
What Does a Doula Do?
Doulas focus on providing reassurance, encouragement, and advocacy. Their role includes:
Emotional Support: Helping families feel calm, confident, and empowered.
Physical Support: Offering comfort measures during labour, such as massage, positioning suggestions, and breathing techniques.
Practical Support: Assisting with tasks such as preparing meals, tidying the home, or caring for older children to help the family adjust to life with a new baby.
Advocacy: Supporting parents to communicate their preferences and make informed decisions.
Doulas work alongside midwives and other healthcare providers but do not perform any medical tasks. Their role complements, rather than replaces, the clinical care provided by midwives.
Key Features of a Doula:
Non-medical support person.
Provides emotional, physical, and practical care.
No clinical responsibilities or medical training.
Advocates for the family’s preferences and birth choices.
Key Differences at a Glance
Private Midwife | Doula |
Regulated by the NMC. | Not regulated; training optional. |
Provides medical and clinical care. | Offers emotional, physical, and practical support. |
Clinical tasks like monitoring health, administering medication, and managing emergencies. | Non-medical support only; focuses on comfort and advocacy. |
Extensive training in midwifery (degree level). | Training varies; not a requirement. |
Can work at home, in private maternity units, or alongside NHS services. | Works in any setting alongside midwives or doctors. |
Can You Have Both?
Absolutely! Many families choose to hire both a private midwife and a doula to benefit from the clinical expertise of a midwife and the emotional, physical, and practical support of a doula. Together, they create a holistic team to ensure parents feel supported in every aspect of their journey.
Making the Right Choice
When deciding between a private midwife and a doula, consider your individual needs:
If you want comprehensive medical care with continuity, a private midwife may be the best option.
If you’re looking for emotional and practical support and someone to guide you through the experience, a doula could be a wonderful addition to your team.
If possible, combining the two roles can provide the most complete support.
Birth is a deeply personal experience, and the right support team can make all the difference in how you feel during and after this life-changing event. Whether you choose a private midwife, a doula, or both, the key is finding someone who aligns with your values, respects your choices, and helps you feel empowered every step of the way.