Doula VS Midwife

1.Doula

• A doula’s primary purpose is to be there for her client(emotionally, physically, and informational), the birth of her client’s baby, and the client’s partner throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum and breastfeeding support.
• During labor, doulas can use numerous homeopathic techniques such as massage, different labor positions, and so much more non-medical support to help clients through labor and delivery. During postpartum, doulas help with caring for an infant, breastfeeding, and healing after childbirth. 
• Doulas educate their clients about different birthing options and help them to get in touch with the correct care providers. Doulas practices informed decision-making in client meetings and build a personalized birth plan according to her clients’ wishes.
• Doulas can assist in essential breastfeeding and feeding in general education and support.
• Doulas can not make a diagnosis of any sort nor prescribe any medications.

• Qualification level: Certificate 

2.Midwife 

• A midwife is a trained medical professional. Their competency is based and measured through training, education, and supervised clinical experience. To be a midwife, one must become certified. Meaning that at the end of their certification process, a midwife will hold certification accredited by SANC (South African Nursing Council). With this certification, they will be able to work in private, public, or group practice. Midwives can work with medical doctors at clinics, clinics, hospitals, or for themselves. 
• Midwives can prescribe some medications, they can perform yearly gynecological exams, and they can birth babies. They can also provide family planning, infant care, women’s health care, and provide prenatal and birthing care as well as undergraduates training.
• A midwife is typically chosen by expecting parents if they crave more intimate care than a medical doctor can give. Some parents choose to birth at home or at a midwifery clinic; a doctor wouldn’t necessarily allow that, in those instances. A midwife would work with a client and doula to make that vision a reality.

• Qualification level: diploma/degree

Midwives can not act as doulas, and doulas can not act as midwives. Although they do complement each other, they should be practiced separately as directed by the doula's scope of practice.