A doula and a midwife serve different roles in supporting a pregnant person through childbirth, though both are valuable members of a birth team. Here’s how they differ:

1. Scope of Practice

   • Doula: A doula is a non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person and their family. Doulas help clients make informed choices, provide comfort measures during labor, and often offer postpartum support. They do not perform medical procedures or make clinical decisions.

   • Midwife: A midwife is a medically trained professional who can provide prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum medical care. Midwives are trained to perform clinical tasks such as monitoring the health of the mother and baby, managing labor, delivering the baby, and responding to complications. Depending on their credentials and location, some midwives can also prescribe medications.

Not only do we personally vet, train, and mentor our doulas, but we also require recertification every two years and consistent continuing education courses in order to make sure our doulas trainings are well maintained.

We also require the following certifications:

• Birth/Postpartum/Infant Care Certification with at least 24 training hours

• Infant CPR Certification

• LIVE Scan Background Clearance

• Liability Insurance

Having a certified doula can be valuable for several reasons, as certification indicates they have completed professional training, meet industry standards, and are committed to providing high-quality support. Here are some key benefits:

1. Formal Training and Knowledge
   Certified doulas undergo structured training that covers essential topics like the stages of labor, comfort measures, and communication skills, along with evidence-based practices. They’re prepared to support the birthing person’s emotional and physical needs and can provide accurate, up-to-date information.

2. Ethics and Professional Standards
   Certified doulas follow a code of ethics and professional standards established by certifying organizations (like DONA International or CAPPA). This means they’re held accountable to specific guidelines, including maintaining client confidentiality, professionalism, and respecting the decisions of the birthing person and their family.

3. Commitment to Continuing Education
   Many certification programs require ongoing education to maintain credentials, which helps certified doulas stay informed about the latest research, techniques, and best practices in birth support. This benefits clients by ensuring that their doula is knowledgeable and well-prepared to address various birth scenarios.

4. Enhanced Communication Skills
   Certified doulas often receive specialized training in interpersonal skills, learning how to support clients effectively, communicate with medical staff, and foster positive interactions with other members of the birth team. This can make the birth experience smoother and more collaborative.

5. Credibility and Trust
   Certification can help clients feel more confident in their doula’s abilities and commitment to their role. Knowing that their doula has completed a recognized program and adheres to standards provides peace of mind, especially during such a pivotal experience.

Ultimately, certification demonstrates that a doula has invested in developing skills, knowledge, and professionalism, which can lead to a safer, more supportive, and empowered birth experience.

We are proud to offer multiple levels of support to our clients. From before you have your baby, until your baby is 15 weeks old…we’ve got you covered.

We offer the following services:

• Birth Doula Services

• Lactation Consultation and Support

• Postpartum/Newborn Care

• Overnight Postpartum Care

• Infant Care Specialists

• Couples and family coaching with our therapist intern

Once you fill out our “Book Consultation” form, our Leadership Team will reach out to you within 24 hours to schedule your free consultation to discuss your support needs (Birth Services, Postpartum Care including overnight care, Lactation Consultation, or Family Therapy) and preferences.

On this call, we will address any questions or concerns you may have, and then we will go over pricing.

Once you have signed our agreement and made payment, we will match you to one of our certified doulas in your area. A video call will be scheduled for you to get to know your doula to see if they feel like a good fit.

Once your doula is chosen, we will begin scheduling with you and work out all of the support details.

• Doula Collective meets all required certifications and standards set for by Carrot Fertility. If your company works with Carrot Fertility, please inquire about it with us during your initial consultation.

• Doula Collective is partnered with Stork Club to work with many companies in utilizing insurance to offset Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula costs.