Do I Really Need a Doula If I Have a Midwife or Supportive Partner?
It’s such a good question—honestly, one I asked myself before I became a doula, too.
If you're preparing for birth and wondering if a doula is really necessary when you already have a midwife you trust or a partner who will be by your side… you’re not alone. It's a super common question, and honestly, a totally valid one.
You’re doing the research. You’re being intentional about who will be in the room. And maybe part of you is wondering,
“Isn’t that enough support already?”
Or even,
“Would having a doula feel like too many people?”
Let’s talk through it together—no pressure, just a chance to understand how these roles are actually really different, and how a doula fits in alongside the rest of your team.
Your Midwife: Trusted Clinical Care
First things first: your midwife is amazing. Whether you're birthing at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital, your midwife is keeping a close eye on your and your baby’s wellbeing throughout labor and birth.
They're monitoring things like:
Your blood pressure and baby’s heart rate
How your labor is progressing
When it might be time to push or rest
Whether anything is veering outside the range of normal
They're highly trained in keeping birth safe—and often, they’re deeply compassionate and supportive, too.
But their job is still clinical. There’s paperwork to fill out, vitals to chart, and sometimes multiple births happening at once. That means they may not be able to stay at your side every minute. And even when they are present, their priority is your physical health—not necessarily your emotional comfort or the tiny moment-by-moment decisions that can make labor feel more manageable.
Your Partner: The One Who Knows You Best
Your partner is your constant. Your familiar face. The one who’s been with you through the long nights, the nursery planning, the name debates. They're showing up in love, in excitement, in maybe a little nervousness too.
They are absolutely essential.
But they’re also not birth professionals. And they’re living this moment right alongside you. As much as they want to support you well, they might not know how—especially when labor gets intense or things don’t go exactly as expected (which, let’s be honest, they often don’t).
Can you picture them looking at you, wanting to help but feeling a little helpless?
Have you heard stories of partners who felt overwhelmed or frozen during birth?
That’s not a failure—it’s just a really big moment to navigate alone.
This is where a doula comes in—not to replace your partner, but to support them, too.
Your Doula: Continuous Support for Both of You
A doula is someone trained in the emotional, physical, and informational support of pregnancy and birth. We don’t do clinical care—but that actually gives us the freedom to do something really special: be completely present.
From the moment we join you in labor until after your baby is born, our focus is you and your partner.
Here’s what that can look like:
Helping you find new positions that bring relief or help baby move
Using massage, counterpressure, or grounding techniques to keep you calm and focused
Answering questions like, “Is this normal?” or “What are my options here?”
Whispering encouragement when things feel hard
Gently guiding your partner: “This is a great time for that hip squeeze,” or “Take a break—I’ve got her.”
We hold space. We bring presence. We help you feel seen, safe, and steady in a moment that’s full of emotion, power, intensity, and transformation.
A Quick Story: What Teamwork Can Actually Look Like
Recently, I supported a family where the mom was in deep, active labor with her midwife and husband by her side. She was doing such powerful work—but the contractions were long and intense, and the baby was a little slow to descend.
Her midwife was monitoring vitals and checking progress, keeping a close eye on baby’s heart rate and quietly charting in between. Her husband was rubbing her back, whispering encouragement—but I could see he was starting to get a little unsure of what else to do and how long this was going to take.
So I stepped in—not to take over, but to come alongside. I showed him how to do double hip squeezes (he totally nailed it), and I helped mom into a new position to create more space in her pelvis. I offered a cool cloth for her forehead, gave her a sip of electrolytes, and reminded her that what she was doing was working.
The midwife caught my eye and gave me a quick nod—grateful to focus on her part while knowing mom was being fully cared for. And her husband? He whispered to me at one point and said, “Okay… this feels like we are going to make it, we have found our rhythm so she can find hers.”
That’s exactly it.
It wasn’t about any of us doing everything. It was about each of us playing our part—and making sure this family felt fully held.
So… Do You Need a Doula?
It really depends on what kind of support you want to have in the room.
Some people are like, “I’ve got my midwife and my partner, I feel totally good.” And that’s beautiful.
Others say, “I want someone who can ground the room and remind me what I’m capable of when I forget.” And that’s where a doula shines.
If you’re craving:
Ongoing support throughout labor (not just when vitals need checking)
Someone who knows how to comfort, encourage, and guide through each phase of birth
A calming, grounded presence for both you and your partner
Then yes, a doula might be exactly what you’re looking for.
At the end of the day, birth is unpredictable. But when you have a strong team around you—each person offering something unique—you can feel more confident, connected, and supported no matter how your birth unfolds.
A doula doesn’t take away from your midwife or your partner. We amplify the strengths of your whole team.
So, if you’ve been wondering if a doula is worth it… We hope this gave you something to think about.
And if you have more questions, We’d love to chat. We are always happy to talk about what doula support can look like—and help you figure out what feels right for you.
