Whats the difference between a midwife and a doula?

Midwives are legally allowed to do the medical side of a birth, and education.

Doulas are legally allowed to do the emotional and education.

Both can be wonderful but a midwife is essential. She will look after the physical health of mom and baby, monitor mom and baby throughout the pregnancy and birth, and address any complications that may arise. A doula can provide continuous emotional support, provide comfort measure suggestions and help, suggestions for positions and activities to help labor go a smoothly a possible, help the partner support mom better (many dads say that their doula makes them look like a rock star ;) Midwives often come later in the labor process and/or need to rest so that they can be ready to make important decisions as labor progresses and when the baby is born. Pushing and immediately after the birth tend to be when most complications occur, and while rare, it's important that the midwife not be exhausted from staying up all hours with mom giving her encouragement or rubbing her back.

Midwives provide medical care throughout the pregnancy and birth (although I hate to use that term because it carries connotations of illness) while doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers/partners.