If you’re pregnant and starting to build your birth team, you’ve probably heard the terms OB-GYN, midwife, and doula.
But what exactly is the difference?
Do you need all three? Can you have a midwife in a hospital? Does a doula deliver babies? And what does Medicaid cover?
These are common questions, especially for first-time parents exploring their options.
Let’s break it down.
What Does an OB-GYN Do?
An OB-GYN is a medical doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology.
During pregnancy, an OB-GYN provides medical care, monitors your health and your baby’s development, manages complications, and attends births.
OB-GYNs are also trained surgeons who can perform cesarean deliveries when necessary.
You might choose an OB-GYN if you have a higher-risk pregnancy, know you’ll need specialized medical care, or simply prefer physician-led maternity care.
OB-GYNs practice in a variety of settings, including clinics and hospitals throughout the Denver metro area.
What Does a Midwife Do?
A midwife is a trained maternity care professional who provides healthcare during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
Midwives often emphasize physiological birth, individualized care, and supporting the body’s natural processes while monitoring for concerns.
Depending on their credentials and practice setting, midwives can provide prenatal care, attend births, order tests, prescribe certain medications, and coordinate additional medical care.
In Colorado, there are different types of midwives, including certified nurse-midwives and registered direct-entry midwives. Their training, licensing, scope of practice, and insurance participation are not identical.
Can you have a midwife in a hospital?
Yes! Certified nurse-midwives may attend hospital births, depending on their privileges and the hospital’s maternity program.
You don’t necessarily need to plan a home birth to receive midwifery care.
If you’re interested in a low-intervention birth while having access to hospital resources, you can explore hospital-based midwifery options.
What Does a Birth Doula Do?
A birth doula is a non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period.
Unlike an OB-GYN or midwife, a doula does not provide clinical care, perform medical examinations, diagnose complications, or deliver babies.
Instead, a doula focuses on your experience.
A birth doula may help with:
- Preparing for labor and exploring your preferences
- Understanding common childbirth procedures and options
- Breathing and relaxation techniques
- Movement and labor positions
- Counterpressure and other comfort techniques
- Supporting your partner
- Emotional reassurance
- Helping you prepare questions for your healthcare team
- Breastfeeding education and early postpartum preparation
A doula’s role is to support informed decision-making, not to make medical decisions for you.
Can You Have Both a Midwife and a Doula?
Absolutely!
In fact, many families choose to work with both.
Your midwife provides your medical maternity care. Your doula provides continuous non-medical support.
The same applies if you choose an OB-GYN.
Your care team can include an OB-GYN or midwife, nurses, your partner, and your doula.
Each person has a different role, and those roles can complement one another.
Do Doulas Only Support Natural Birth?
Not at all.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about doulas.
Doulas support families planning many different kinds of births.
You can have a doula if you’re:
- Planning an unmedicated birth
- Considering or planning an epidural
- Being induced
- Planning a cesarean
- Hoping for a VBAC
- Unsure what kind of birth you want
A good doula isn’t there to convince you to avoid an epidural or to choose one kind of birth over another.
They’re there to help you feel informed, supported, and respected.
Your experience matters regardless of how your baby arrives.
What About a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula supports families after their baby is born.
While a birth doula focuses primarily on pregnancy and labor, postpartum doulas help families adjust to newborn life.
That might include newborn care education, feeding support, light household tasks, meal preparation, sibling support, and helping parents find time to rest.
A postpartum doula can also help you recognize when additional medical or mental health support might be needed and connect you with appropriate professionals.
Postpartum support isn’t only for first-time parents.
Whether you’re bringing home your first baby or your fourth, having extra hands and knowledgeable support can make a meaningful difference.
Does Colorado Medicaid Cover OB-GYNs, Midwives, and Doulas?
Yes. Health First Colorado provides coverage for eligible maternity services, including prenatal medical care, childbirth, and doula support.
Midwifery care may also be covered when provided by eligible participating providers and within the program’s requirements.
Medicaid’s doula benefit includes covered support during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum.
Coverage requirements may differ depending on the professional and services being provided.
To search for participating providers, visit:
Make sure to confirm that your specific provider is enrolled with Medicaid and accepting new patients.
How Do You Choose the Right Birth Team?
Start by thinking about what matters most to you.
Do you want to give birth in a hospital? Are you hoping for a physiological birth with minimal interventions? Do you have medical concerns that require specialized care? Would you feel more comfortable having someone provide continuous support throughout labor?
There isn’t one correct combination for every family.
Your needs, preferences, medical circumstances, and comfort level all matter.
The goal is to build a care team that helps you feel informed, safe, and supported.
Meet Parent Vortex: Birth, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Support in Colorado
Hi! I’m the founder of Parent Vortex, and I’m certified in three areas of support: birth doula care, postpartum doula care, and lactation education.
What I love most about this work is being able to support families throughout the entire experience, not just one moment.
From preparing for birth to learning to breastfeed and adjusting to life with a newborn, I believe families deserve compassionate, evidence-based information alongside the freedom to trust themselves.
I support hospital births, medicated and unmedicated births, cesareans, and families with a wide variety of preferences.
No judgment. No one-size-fits-all approach.
Just support that meets you where you are.
Parent with intention. Prepare with information. Trust your intuition.
Parent Vortex serves families throughout Arvada, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Broomfield, Golden, Boulder, Denver, and surrounding communities.
If you’re looking for a birth doula, postpartum doula, or breastfeeding education, I’d love to connect.
Visit https://www.parentvortex.com to learn more.
Last updated: November 2026. This article provides general education and does not replace individualized medical guidance. Insurance benefits and participating providers may change.
Want to learn more about having a doula on your birth team? Read what birth doula support looks like and find out whether Colorado Medicaid can cover your doula services.
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