What is a Monitrice?
A thoughtful bridge between doula support and clinical care
The monitrice role emerged as a response to a common gap in maternity care: families wanting more support than a traditional doula, but not full out-of-hospital midwifery care.
Historically, monitrices were trained birth professionals who supported laboring families at home, helping them navigate early labor, assess progression, and determine appropriate timing for hospital admission — all while preserving continuity and calm.
How a Monitrice Fits Into Modern Birth Care
A monitrice:Provides continuous labor support, similar to a doula
Brings clinical training and assessment skills
Offers maternal and fetal monitoring during labor
Helps families feel confident about when to go to the hospital
Supports physiologic labor within a hospital-based birth plan
Unlike a midwife, a monitrice does not attend the birth or assume responsibility for delivery. Medical care, decision-making, and delivery remain under the direction of the family’s chosen obstetric team. 
Why Families Choose Monitrice Care
Families often choose monitrice care because:Early labor at home feels safer and more comfortable
Hospital admission timing can influence intervention rates
They want calm, experienced guidance during labor
They value preparation, presence, and continuity
For many first-time parents, monitrice care offers reassurance, clarity, and support during one of the most intense transitions of life.