Every birth story is unique, and the journey to motherhood, whether for the first or the fifth time is a special one. The support and care provided by those around can shape the experience, turning it into a cherished memory, which is why the role of healthcare providers, especially midwives and doulas, is so important. Their collaborative efforts offer a comprehensive approach through the prenatal, birth and postnatal periods.

Midwives are formally trained and registered healthcare professionals who provide medical, support and educational services, while Doulas, although not medically trained, offer physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers. Their role is to bridge the gap between medical staff and the expectant mother's personal expectations. Together, midwives and doulas create a comprehensive care model that supports the mother's health, well-being and family. This article explores the evolving roles of midwives and doulas, their collaboration benefits, the challenges they face, and the promising impact of such partnerships.

Midwives offer a wide range of services including medical care, counselling and support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Their training allows them to perform tasks such as monitoring the fetal heartbeat, carrying out prenatal examinations and managing delivery. Midwives can also recognise and manage emergencies that arise, ensuring both mother and child receive the necessary medical care promptly.

Doulas provide continuous non-medical support – emotional, physical and informational – to mothers before, during and after childbirth. They help create a birthing plan tailored to the mother’s wishes, offer comfort with pain-relief techniques such as breathing exercises and massage, and provide emotional support throughout the birthing experience. Postpartum, doulas often assist with breastfeeding education and support the transition of the new baby into the family.

Both midwives and doulas advocate for the mother’s wishes during childbirth, ensuring her voice is heard and respected by the medical team. This joint support helps ensure a birth experience that is as positive and empowering as possible, fostering an environment of safety and trust. Together, midwives and doulas create a comprehensive care team focusing on a mother's needs – medical, emotional, and informational – improving the childbirth experience through collaborative care. This partnership plays an invaluable role in promoting positive outcomes for the entire family.

The dual approach offered by doulas and midwives helps to reduce stress and anxiety for the expectant mother, leading to a more positive childbirth experience. Studies have shown that the presence of a doula can decrease the length of labour and reduce the need for interventions such as cesarean sections or the use of forceps and vacuums.

Mothers benefit immensely from the collaborative model. The emotional support provided by doulas, coupled with the medical care from midwives, empowers mothers to feel more confident and in control of their birthing experience. This can lead to higher satisfaction with the childbirth experience and can improve maternal mental health outcomes postpartum, including reduced incidences of postnatal depression.

Doulas often help partners and other family members find meaningful roles during the childbirth process, promoting bonding and reducing their stress. This inclusive approach ensures that the entire family is supported, encouraging a smoother transition to life with a new baby.

The collaboration between midwives and doulas can also lead to more efficient use of healthcare resources. By reducing the rate of medical interventions, these partnerships can decrease hospital stay lengths and lower healthcare costs.

While the collaborative model between midwives and doulas offers numerous benefits, integrating these roles within healthcare settings presents certain challenges.

One of the main challenges is the clear differentiation of roles between midwives and doulas. Misunderstandings and overlaps in responsibilities can lead to conflicts and inefficiencies. This confusion can also affect the mother's experience if there is unclear communication regarding who is responsible for various aspects of care.

Solution: Clear communication and predefined protocols can help. Training sessions and regular meetings between midwives and doulas can foster a better understanding of each other's responsibilities and strengths.

Doulas also often face issues with professional recognition, as they are not typically part of the formal healthcare system. This can lead to difficulties in accessing hospital facilities and a lack of respect from medical professionals, which can affect their ability to support mothers effectively.

Solution: Formalising the role of doulas within healthcare settings through certification and registration to help integrate them more fully into the healthcare team.

Unlike midwives, doulas are not always covered by healthcare insurance, making it difficult for some families to afford their services.

Solution: Advocacy for insurance providers to cover doula services as part of maternity care benefits could increase accessibility.

The collaborative model involving midwives and doulas is important, addressing both the medical and emotional needs of mothers during one of the most significant periods of their lives. By nurturing and expanding the partnership between midwives and doulas, Australia can continue to create a more compassionate, effective and responsive maternal healthcare system. This approach benefits mothers and babies, along with families and communities, making it a model worth investing in and developing further.