How midwives and doulas can support you

Doulas

A doula can support you during labour with:

• positions
• guided breathing
• relaxation techniques.

They can also give you information about your pregnancy, birth options and help you create a birth plan.

Doula’s may have done a doula training course, but they don’t have medical training or qualifications. They don’t replace the role of a midwife or doctor.

If something goes wrong during your birth, they aren’t trained and can’t give you or your baby the emergency medical care you may need.

You don’t have to choose between having a doula, midwife, or doctor. They can all work together and support you in different ways.

Doulas usually charge a fee for their support.

Learn more about what a doula does on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Midwives

A midwife will provide clinical care, support you and your choices through pregnancy, labour and birth, and after you have your baby.

During labour and birth they can:

• review your birth plan and make sure your wishes are respected
• give you advice about positions and relaxation techniques
• monitor your and your baby’s wellbeing
• monitor your baby’s heartbeat
• give you pain relief or arrange for a doctor to – only an anaethetist can give you an epidural
• get more medical help if you need it.

Midwives are health professionals, and either have a Bachelor of Midwifery, or are registered nurses, with further qualifications in midwifery. All midwives – both public and private, must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

Learn more about what a midwife does on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.