Midwifery Care and Doula Support
Midwives vs doulas: are they the same thing?
Most people think midwives and doulas offer similar types of care, or are the same thing by a different name. Not only are midwives and doulas different in their educational training, but they are different in how they care for pregnant women.
- Midwives are medical professionals who specialize in delivering babies.
- Doulas are birth coaches whose primary focus is the emotional and physical needs of the mother.
What are midwives?
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are advanced practice nurses with advanced education and training in pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and newborn care. CNMs also provide general health services, annual check-ups, menopause care, and treatment for common infections and health problems.
What should I expect when under the care of a midwife?
If you choose midwifery care for your pregnancy and delivery, your midwife will provide your prenatal care and attend your birth at the hospital. Unless a complication occurs, most women will not need to see a physician during their pregnancy/birth if they are seeing a midwife.
Pregnancies with higher risk may benefit from consultation or care from an obstetrician or maternal fetal medicine (high risk pregnancy) specialist.
What services do midwives provide?
CNMs manage many of the primary care needs of women from the early teen years throughout a woman’s childbearing years and into menopause, inlcuding:
- Personalized care tailored to a woman’s health goals and needs
- Emotional and physical support during labor and birth
- Individualized guidance and education regarding care of yourself and your baby
- Breastfeeding support and lactation counseling
- Women’s health and gynecological care
- Family planning
Frequently Asked Questions About Midwifery
There are three different types of midwives including:
- Community midwives (sometimes known as “lay” midwives)
- Certified professional midwives (CPM)
- Certified nurse midwives (CNM).
The training and education requirements are different for each type, and they practice in a variety of settings. All of the midwives at SSM Health are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM).
Certified Nurse Midwives have a degree in nursing and have gone on to continue their education through either a Master’s or Doctoral program specializing in midwifery.
CNMs have graduated from an accredited nurse-midwifery education program and passed a national certification board exam. Certified Nurse Midwives have a state license to practice midwifery and can practice in hospitals, birth centers, medical offices, and clinics. CNMs provide general women’s healthcare throughout the lifespan, care for women during labor and birth, and prescribe medications and birth control.
Midwives view pregnancy and birth as normal life events. They are experts in knowing the difference between normal changes that occur and symptoms that require extra attention.
Midwives specialize in providing support and education, in addition to traditional health care. They use evidence-based medicine to diagnose and treat when there is a specific concern for the health of you or your baby. Our midwives offer health care that respects the goals and choices of each individual woman and family.
Certified nurse midwives prescribe medicine, order tests, and provide treatment for common symptoms or illnesses that may arise during pregnancy. Midwives at SSM Health work closely with SSM Health physicians who specialize in complications of pregnancy. If you have a medical problem during pregnancy or complication during labor that requires specialty care, your midwife will work closely with a physician to make sure you get the best and safest care for you and baby.
Your midwife will also work with other health care and support providers to help you get the care you need: nurses, social workers, nutritionists, doulas, childbirth educators, physical therapists, and other specialists.
Your midwife will respect and support whatever decisions you make about how you are going to cope with your labor. This could range from a completely natural birth to an epidural. Midwives are skilled in providing labor support to help women through contractions and labor pain.
Our CNMs will provide hands-on labor support and can incorporate a variety of labor support tools including massage and pressure-point techniques, aromatherapy, warm compresses, and warm water immersion in the labor tubs. SSM Health offers several options for women desiring pain control during labor including IV pain medication, nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas), and epidurals.
Yes! Midwives are happy to help you get through labor how you desire.
No. Midwives do not perform surgery. If a cesarean birth becomes necessary, an SSM Health specialist will work closely with your midwife to ensure a safe and seamless transition to surgical care.
No. SSM Health labor and delivery nurses provide exceptional care to women and their families, and women receiving care by a midwife will also have a nurse. Your nurse and midwife will partner to provide you with the best care possible. Your midwife will provide the delivery services.
Yes. Midwives support you through pregnancy, labor, and delivery—helping you welcome your baby with expert care.
No. If you choose midwifery care for your pregnancy and delivery, your midwives will provide your prenatal care and attend your birth at the hospital. The majority of women will not need to see a physician during their pregnancy/birth if they are seeing midwives. If a complication occurs during pregnancy and/or delivery, your midwives will work very closely with SSM Health physicians to determine whether a consultation or transfer of care is needed.
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides non-clinical support during pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum. Doulas are available for informational, emotional, and educational support prenatally through three months postpartum.
What should I expect when working with a doula?
Your doula can support you during your pregancy by:
- Visiting with you in-person, at your home or in the community (like the park or library), or virtually by video call.
- Connecting with you between visits by text, phone or email when you have questions or need additional support.
- Attending your labor and delivery, if you choose, to remind you of comfort measures, support you with your birth preferences, and help you adjust your birth plan as needed.
- Providing you with resources like educational information, planning tools, and community services that support your pregnancy and postpartum journey.
- Information and support breastfeeding, newborn care, and postpartum recovery
How can I find a doula to support me during my pregnancy?
If you are interested in support from a Doula, talk to your doctor for suggestions on local doulas in your community. Review the following information for further details for more specific inforamtion.
A certified doula is welcome to accompany you during your birth. This does not count toward your visitor limit.
Our goal at SSM Health Good Samaritan - Mt. Vernon is to ensure you have the support needed for a safe and positive experience. If your doula has questions, call the Women's Center director at 618-899-4199. The hospital reserves the right to request written acknowledgement of Medicaid certified and enrolled doula's certification.
Jefferson City
If you're giving birth at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City talk to your doctor at your next OBGYN appointment about having doula support.
Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area
If you're giving birth at SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake St. Louis, or SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis and are interested in working with a doula, View a list of SSM Health recommended doulas.
Do you qualify for free doula support in St. Louis?
SSM Health Women’s Health Services at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis and SSM Health DePaul Hospital – St. Louis are partnering with On Up to provide obstetrical patients with doula support. Through a grant funded by The City of St. Louis’ Department of Public Health, the Women’s Health centers at both hospitals are offering expecting mothers the support of a trained doula throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.
If you are giving birth at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City or SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Shawnee talk to your doctor if you are interested in support from a doula.
If you are giving birth at any SSM Health hospital in Wisconsin, we encourage you to talk to your doctor if you have questions about having doula support throughout your pregnancy.
Monroe
SSM Health Monroe Hospital
Baraboo, Janesville, and Madison
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Janesville
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison
Greater Fond du Lac
SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital - Fond du Lac
SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital
SSM Health Dean Medical Group Specialty Services
