Finding your Maternity Support Duo: Doulas VS Midwives in South Jersey
As a doula in South Jersey, I've witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that both doulas and midwives can have on this beautiful, transformative period in a family’s life.
While our roles may seem similar at first glance, the essence of what we do, how we support, and the unique benefits we bring to the birthing process are distinct in ways that can profoundly influence your experience.
Let’s explore the unique roles of a midwife vs. a doula to guide you to the support that feels like home for your family: hint, it’s both.
The Role of a Midwife
A midwife is a medical provider for low-risk births. They provide pregnancy care (and often regular gynecological care as well). They meet you throughout pregnancy and come to your birth to attend to your physiological and medical needs and catch your baby.
Compared to OBs, midwives provide a more hands-off approach to birth and tend to subscribe to the idea that your body is made to birth.
The Role of a Doula
Doulas care for your physical and emotional needs during birth.
Doulas are not medical providers. We do not catch babies, and I very rarely touch babies at birth. In addition, we help you prepare ahead of time.
Often, this involves discussing the evidence for all of your options, helping you create a birth plan, discussing your priorities and working through your fears, and helping your partner understand how best to help you.
How Midwives and Doulas Are Similar
Midwives and Doulas in South Jersey are similar in that we both:
Meet you throughout pregnancy
Attend your birth
Are knowledgeable about pregnancy and labor
Understand physiological birth, aka will support you if you want fewer interventions than the average labor
Midwife vs. Doula Allegiance
Now, let’s talk about allegiance and how it can affect your birth. It’s worth mentioning that if you’re considering a midwife to attend your birth, not all midwives are self-employed.
Doulas
Doulas are hired by the person giving birth; thus, our allegiance is entirely to you. I will help you by giving you unbiased information, but ultimately, I support whatever my client wants.
What happened in my own experience doesn’t influence the information I give people.
Midwives
On the other hand, Midwives can be self-employed or employed by medical groups/hospital systems.
When a hospital system employs someone, they give up the power to make decisions that go against the hospital’s wishes. In fact, if they do, they can get their hospital privileges to deliver there revoked, which can lead to being blacklisted as a provider in the area or even the state.
So, midwives who deliver in hospitals greatly benefit from being close to interventions should you need them, but be aware that they do not only answer to you and your health.
Key Questions to Ask a Midwife
If you’re in the scenario where you would like to give birth with a midwife in a hospital setting or a birth center (one that’s overseen by a hospital) - which some consider to be a “best of both worlds scenario” - I urge you to ask some hard-hitting questions. Some examples are:
At what gestational age would I risk out of the birth center? Or At what gestational age would you recommend an induction? If I wanted to go past 42 weeks, would you be agreeable to that?
How do you define delayed cord clamping?
I’d like to push on my knees. Is that something you can help me with?
If you’d like to understand more about hospitals' power dynamics and how they can negatively influence your birth, I highly recommend you read “Babies are not Pizzas: They’re Born, not Delivered!” by Dr. Rebecca Dekker.
Midwives in South Jersey I Recommend
In South Jersey, we're blessed with an incredible array of skilled and compassionate midwives dedicated to making your birthing experience as safe and empowering as possible.
Below, I've curated a list of midwives in South Jersey I recommend, not just for their expertise and professionalism but also for their warmth and dedication to the families they serve.
Magpi Midwifery: Based in Philly but crosses over to South Jersey
Refuge Midwifery: Works both in Philadelphia and out of The Village in Collingswood, NJ
Da Professional Midwife: Based in Philadelphia but also crosses over into South Jersey
Virtua Midwifery—Voorhees: As you can tell by the name, this office is overseen by Virtua, which has incredible benefits but specific drawbacks. Regardless, they are an amazing group of women, and I can’t speak more highly of any that I’ve worked with in the group.
Midwives vs. Doulas in South Jersey: Final Thoughts
Choosing between a midwife and a doula in South Jersey comes down to understanding the unique support each can offer during one of life's most beautiful journeys—becoming a parent. Midwives bring medical expertise for a safe birthing experience.
Doulas in South Jersey provides emotional and physical support, ensuring your birth plan is respected, and your journey into parenthood is as smooth as possible.
Doula Services in Merchantville, New Jersey
Ready to make your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey as smooth and supported as possible?
I'm Keely Fruin of Pickles and Ice Cream Doula Services in South Jersey. I offer personalized care and support every step of the way, from crafting your ideal birth plan to navigating the early days of parenthood. I'm committed to ensuring you feel empowered and comfortable. Let's talk about how I can support your unique journey into parenthood.
Reach out to start our conversation!
