Midwife vs Doula: How to Decide Which Path Is Right for You
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
When people feel called into birth work, one of the biggest questions is, should I become a midwife or should I become a doula? At first glance, the two roles might look quite similar. Both midwives and doulas support women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Both roles are deeply rewarding and centre on one of the most life-changing moments a family will ever experience. However, once you scratch beneath the surface, there are very clear differences; in training,
responsibilities, and the day-to-day reality of the work.
This guide will walk you through the similarities, the differences, and some very concrete reasons why you might choose one path over the other. By the end, you should have a clearer idea of whether your heart is pulling you towards becoming a midwife or becoming a doula.
What Is a Midwife?
A midwife is a regulated health professional who provides clinical care throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. In the UK, midwives train through a three-year university degree or an 18-month conversion if they are already a nurse. They are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and must follow strict regulations and professional codes of practice.
Most midwives in the UK are employed by the NHS. Their responsibilities include monitoring the health of mother and baby, carrying out clinical checks, detecting complications, prescribing or administering medication, and supporting women through labour and birth. Midwives carry the clinical responsibility for the safety and well-being of both mother and baby.
On paper, midwives are also expected to provide emotional support, continuity of care, and space for women to make informed choices. In reality, many midwives working in the NHS are stretched thin. Understaffing, long shifts, and heavy caseloads often mean they do not have the time to sit and offer the kind of emotional presence that families need.
What Is a Doula?
A doula is not a medical professional. Instead, doulas provide emotional, practical, and informational support to families during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.
They hold space, listen without judgement, and offer evidence-based information so parents can make choices that are right for them.
Unlike midwives, doulas do not perform clinical tasks. They do not measure blood pressure or deliver babies. Their role is to be alongside the woman and her family, encouraging, comforting, reassuring, and making sure they feel heard and supported.
Doulas are self-employed, which means they set their own fees, choose their clients, and build businesses that work around their lives. Many people are drawn to this independence and flexibility.
The Overlap Between Midwives and Doulas
There is an area where the roles meet. Both midwives and doulas:
Care deeply about women and families
Work to create a safe, calm birth environment
Offer guidance and reassurance
Advocate for informed choice and support women’s voices in birth
The difference lies in how this support is given. Midwives, when they have time, can offer emotional reassurance. Their primary role is clinical, and the system does not always allow the kind of presence families long for. Doulas step into that gap. They are not distracted by charts, policies, or hospital targets. Their focus is entirely on the emotional and informational support of the woman in front of them.
Why You Might Choose to Become a Midwife
Here are some concrete reasons you might lean towards midwifery:
You want to deliver clinical care. Midwives provide medical support, monitor health, and "deliver" babies. If your passion is hands-on clinical work, this is the path.
You want a regulated profession. Midwifery comes with professional recognition, a clear code of practice, and a structured career.
You prefer employment security. Most midwives work within the NHS, with a steady salary and pension.
You want to be part of the healthcare system. If teamwork, hospitals, and medical environments excite you, midwifery places you at the centre.
You thrive on responsibility. Midwives carry clinical and legal responsibility for mothers and babies. Some people find that weight daunting, while others find it fulfilling.
You want to influence maternity care from the inside. Many midwives join the profession because they want to make a difference within the system itself.
Why Midwifery Is More Challenging Than Ever
It is important to be realistic about the challenges. At present, the NHS is under huge strain. There are constant headlines about maternity wards being understaffed, midwives leaving due to burnout, and poor retention rates. The Royal College of Midwives has repeatedly raised concerns about safety levels.
Training to become a midwife is also financially more difficult than it once was. Student bursaries were scrapped in 2017, meaning you will likely need to take on loans to cover tuition fees and living costs. Once qualified, you may face long, unsociable hours with pay that does not always reflect the emotional and physical toll of the job.
This is not to put you off; many people still feel passionately called to midwifery, but it is worth going in with open eyes about the current climate.
Why You Might Choose to Become a Doula
Here are some reasons doula work might be the right fit:
You want to focus purely on emotional and informational support. As a doula, you are not tied up with paperwork or clinical tasks. Your presence and your words can be your most powerful tools.
You want flexibility and independence. Doulas are self-employed, which means you can build your own business model, choose your clients, and set your fees.
You want shorter "training". Becoming a doula does not require three years at university. For example, The BirthBliss Academy doula course is four days in person, followed by ongoing mentoring and learning as you begin working with families.
You want to centre women’s choices. Doulas are not bound by NHS policies. Our role is to provide evidence-based information and remind women that they always have choices, even within the system.
You want to create a sustainable lifestyle. Many doulas combine the work with raising their own families, caring responsibilities, or other jobs.
You want to make a difference in how families experience birth. Research shows that having a doula reduces interventions and increases satisfaction. Your impact can be profound.
A common misunderstanding is that doulas try to replace midwives. That could not be further from the truth. Doulas do not "deliver" babies, and actually, no one does, because women give birth to their own babies. Midwives provide medical safety. Doulas provide emotional safety. Together, they can complement one another beautifully.
Questions to Ask Yourself
If you are trying to decide between becoming a midwife or a doula, here are some prompts:
Do I want to provide clinical care or focus on emotional and informational support?
Am I drawn to the security of NHS employment, or the freedom of self-employment?
Am I ready to commit to three years of study, or does a shorter training feel more accessible?
Do I want to influence maternity care from the inside, or support families from outside the system?
Do I feel energised by the idea of clinical responsibility, or would I prefer to be alongside without carrying that weight?
Some of the most inspiring doulas I have trained once thought about becoming midwives. A few even started midwifery training but realised that what they really wanted was to sit beside women, not monitor their blood pressure. Others trained as midwives first, then stepped away from the NHS and became doulas because they were burnt out by the system, but still loved supporting women and families.
There is no single right path. There is only the path that feels most aligned with your heart, your lifestyle, and your vision of how you want to support families.
So, midwife or doula? The truth is, both roles are vital. Midwives carry the clinical responsibility, while doulas hold the emotional space. Midwives are employed within the healthcare system, whereas doulas create their own independent businesses. Midwifery requires three years of study and ongoing regulation. Doula training is shorter, more flexible, and focused on presence, information, and support.
Both roles are rewarding, both are needed, and both can change lives. The choice depends on where you see yourself making the most impact.
If you feel drawn to becoming a doula, I would love to welcome you to The BirthBliss Academy Doula Training Course. In just four days, you can begin this journey, supported every step of the way as you start making a difference to families’ lives.