Why You Should Consider a Midwife on Your Pregnancy Journey

By Dr. Nahed Sabry, Hospital Education Manager at Johnson’s Baby

Pregnancy is a transformative journey filled with joy, anticipation, and important decisions. One of the most crucial choices is selecting the proper healthcare support. While obstetricians provide essential medical care, many women find that partnering with a midwife offers a more personalized and holistic experience.

What Does a Midwife Do?

A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional trained to care for women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, midwives are becoming integral to maternal healthcare, offering continuous support and fostering trusting relationships with expectant mothers. They work collaboratively with medical teams to ensure safety and comfort, empowering women to make informed decisions about their care.

1. Personalized, Compassionate Care

Midwives focus on building strong, individualized relationships with the women they support. This approach has been associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, such as reduced rates of preterm births and decreased need for interventions like cesarean sections. A study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth[1] found that midwifery-led care significantly lowers the rate of emergency cesarean sections and increases the likelihood of vaginal births.

2. Emotional Support When it Matters Most

Pregnancy encompasses not only physical changes but also emotional fluctuations. Midwives provide consistent, judgment-free support, helping women navigate feelings of excitement, uncertainty, and everything in between. During labor, a midwife’s presence offers reassurance and guidance, contributing to a sense of calm and confidence[2].

3. Support Through Birth and Beyond

In the GCC, midwives are trained to assist in various birth settings, prioritizing safety and the mother’s preferences. Their involvement has been linked to better clinical outcomes, including lower rates of episiotomies and shorter neonatal intensive care unit stays. Postpartum, midwives continue to provide invaluable support with breastfeeding, newborn care, and the emotional transition into motherhood. They also guide new parents in selecting baby care essentials – such as what products and ingredients are most suited for their newborn. These recommendations help families feel confident in choosing safe, trusted options to care for their baby’s sensitive skin.

4. Centering Care Around You

Midwives offer professional expertise and compassionate care, ensuring that your pregnancy journey is safe and empowering. By respecting your choices and providing continuous support, they help transform pregnancy into a meaningful experience you’ll cherish forever.

Checklist: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Midwife

What are your qualifications and experience?
How do you collaborate with obstetricians and other healthcare professionals?
What is your philosophy on childbirth and intervention?
Can you provide support in various birth settings (hospital, home, birthing center)?
What postpartum support services do you offer?

What Is a Doula – and How are They Different from Midwives?

A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers before, during, and after childbirth. Unlike a midwife, a doula does not perform clinical tasks or deliver babies. Instead, they help create a calm, reassuring environment and advocates for the mother’s wishes during labor and the postpartum period.

While midwives are licensed healthcare providers who manage pregnancy and birth from a clinical perspective, doulas complement this care by offering continuous, personalized support that focuses on the mother’s comfort, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

Many families in the GCC and around the world choose to work with both a midwife and a doula – a partnership that blends medical expertise with compassionate care.

Doula vs. Midwife: At-a-Glance Comparison

Feature	Doula	Midwife
Type of Care	Non-medical (emotional, physical, informational)	Medical (clinical and emotional)
Training	Certified through doula organizations (e.g., DONA, CAPPA)	Licensed healthcare provider (nurse-midwife, certified midwife, etc.)
Role During Pregnancy	Provides education, birth planning, emotional preparation	Offers prenatal check-ups, monitors baby’s health, provides medical advice
Role During Labor	Offers continuous support, pain coping techniques, advocacy	Delivers the baby, monitors labor progression, administers clinical care
Role After Birth	Supports bonding, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery (non-medical)	Provides postpartum medical check-ups, breastfeeding support
Can Deliver Babies?	No	Yes
Can Handle Medical Emergencies?	No	Yes – trained to respond and escalate to OB if needed
Setting	Anywhere (hospital, home, birthing center – with permission)	Hospital, birthing center, and (where permitted) home births
Focus	Emotional comfort, empowerment, advocacy	Clinical safety, holistic maternal and fetal care
Best Used Together?	Yes – doulas and midwives often work together for full-spectrum care

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10214693/

[2] https://www.themotherbabycenter.org/blog/2022/07/benefits-of-a-midwife-is-a-midwife-right-for-you/