Do I Still Need A Doula If I Have A Midwife?
/Postivie pregnancy test..check. Secured an amazing midwife…check. Hire an amazing doula? Ch..wai.. do I need to hire a doula if I already have a midwife?
The short answer is YES, absolutely hire a doula even if you have a midwife attending your birth.
A midwife’s role is to manage the medical care of you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, labor, birth, and some of the early postpartum stage. Most midwives also do an incredible job of listening to you and meeting your needs.
While there is some overlap between a midwife and a doula they each fill different roles. As mentioned above, midwives provide medical care to you and your baby. A doula provides nonmedical care to you and your partner.
Here’s what this looks like during pregnancy:
A midwife will do monthly, and then weekly, checkups with you. The checkups will consist of measuring your fundal height to check on baby’s growth, listen to baby’s heartbeat, checking your blood pressure, palpating your belly to check positioning of baby, and discuss your plans for your birth. Your midwife wll also inquire about how you are feeling both physically and emotionally.
A doula will be available your entire pregnancy to answer nonmedical questions, give you referrals for care providers, and be a listening ear anytime you need one. They will also meet with you a couple of times to discuss your birth preferences and how they can best support you and your partner. Your doula may also give you tips for relaxation and show you and your partner several positions that may be useful to your labor.
Here’s what this looks like during labor and birth:
A midwife will keep an eye on fetal heart tones, your heart rate and your blood pressure, baby’s positioning, and do any needed cervical exams. They’ll order medication for you if needed. They may suggest different positions for your labor based on the position of your baby. They would also talk to you about any change in plans based on you and your baby’s medical needs and perform any needed medical interventions. During the pushing stage, your midwife will be present with you for most if not all of this stage. They will coach you through how to push and suggest different pushing positions. As baby crowns, a midwife will use verbal coaching to you, mineral oil, and perineal support to help minimize tearing. After your baby is born your midwife will place your baby on your chest. They will then keep an eye on any postpartum bleeding as well as assess your pelvic floor to see if any repairs need to to be made due to tearing. While all this is going on they may rub on your belly to encourage your placenta to be born. Once it’s born they will take a look at it to make sure that all of it came out. Many midwives offer to show you the placenta and give you a placenta “tour”. They’ll also get the umbilical cord ready to clamp and typically offer that job to your or your partner. Once the midwife does any repair work they will let you know what kind of tear you might have and discuss a bit about what to expect for healing. After the repair work is done your midwife will tell you congratulations and head out of the birthing room.
A doula will help you get into different positions to facilitate labor and offer different comfort measures to keep you more comforablte. They may help encourage good breathing during contractions and find ways to help you relax. Your doula will also support your partner by making sure they are eating meals and getting rest. They’ll also support your partner by giving them suggestions on how they can best physically support you. Your doula will offer reassurance to you both and your partner and attune to you to help meet your emotional needs. If you have a change in plans for your labor, your doula can help you get information about what to expect and sit with you and help you work through decisions. Doulas do not make decisions for you or give you medical advice. While your midwife may be in and out of your room a few times over the course of your labor, your doula will be with you for most of your active labor and pushing stage. During the pushing stage your doula will make sure you are staying hydrated and keeping up your energy levels. They’ll help you get into positions suggested by the midwife. Your doula will also keep you as comfortable as possible. Once your baby is born your doula will probably snap a few pictures, if you want, with your cell phone or camera. They’ll also stay right by you in case you are nervous or not feeling well after delivery. Oftentimes, your doula will help you get ready to breastfeed if that’s in your infant feeding plan. They’ll also make sure you have something to drink and a snack or small meal before they leave your birth.
Here’s what this looks like in the days and weeks after your baby is born:
Your midwife will likely see you at least one time between two and six weeks after you have your baby. They will assess your physical recovery and also discuss your emotional needs. They may check to see if your stitches have healed. They may also give you tips if you have any issues with breastfeeding. They will also screen you for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and any other related mood disorders. Of course, they can prescribe any medication you might need for physical healing or any perinatal mood disorders. Your midwife will also provide referrals for any specilalized care, such as pelvic floor therapy.
Your labor doula will likely check on you by phone or text every day you are in the hospital after you give birth. They will probably come to your home and do an in person visit with you sometime in the first couple of weeks after your baby is born. The doula will ask you if you had any questions about the labor and birth, see how your physical recovery is going, and see how you are feeling about your transition to parenthood. If needed they may make recommendations to you that are within their scope of practice. Your doula may also be able to assist you with different breastfeeding positions, answer questions about using a pump, and give you tips for bottle feeding with breast milk or formula.
Both your doula and your midwife will probably welcome you reaching out to them anytime in the weeks and months following the birth of your baby.