Your birth team is one of the most important aspects of your birth experience. You’ll want to make sure you choose providers who are supportive of your birth preferences and who will help you have the best possible experience.
I can attest to the importance of this! We made a last minute switch in birth workers with our first child – and I could not have been more thankful. We realized that our first provider, while well educated and wonderful, did not align with what we had in mind for our birth experience.
When you think of your birth team, this isn’t only the person(s) delivering your baby, but those who will help you with prenatal care all the way to post-partum care.
Here are some of the types of birth workers and what they provide:
Birth Photographer/Videographer
A birth photographer captures the details of your labor and delivery. They can provide you with beautiful memories of your birth experience, whether that be images or video.
Childbirth Educator
A childbirth educator is a professional who provides classes and information on childbirth and parenting. Childbirth educators can help you prepare for labor and delivery, and they can also provide support after your baby is born.
Doulas
Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. They can be a great addition to any birth team.
Lactation Consultant
A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional who specializes in supporting mothers with breastfeeding. They can help you get started with breastfeeding and provide support if you are having difficulties.
Midwives
Midwives are trained professionals who provide care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. They typically have a more natural approach to birth and are supportive of things like water birth and home birth. Midwives are a good option for women who want a more natural birth experience.
OB/GYN
OB/GYNs are medical doctors who specialize in the care of pregnant women. They are trained to handle more complicated pregnancies and births. OB/GYNs are a good option for women who have high-risk pregnancies or who want the option of having pain medication during labor.
Prenatal Chiropractor
A prenatal chiropractor specializes in caring for pregnant women. They can help to relieve pain, improve your posture, and promote a healthy pregnancy.
Prenatal Massage Therapist
A prenatal massage therapist provides massages specifically for pregnant women. Prenatal massage can help to relieve pain, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.
Prenatal Nutritionist
A prenatal nutritionist can help you to make sure that you are getting the nutrients that you need during pregnancy. They can also help you to manage any dietary restrictions that you may have.
Prenatal Physical Therapist
A prenatal physical therapist specializes in caring for pregnant women. They can help to relieve pain, improve your posture, and promote a healthy pregnancy.
When you are pregnant, it is important to choose the right provider for your needs. For your birth, midwives, OB/GYNs, and doulas all have their own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to do your research and choose the option that is right for you.
Who are you choosing as your birth team? What providers did I leave off? Interested in finding more out about birth photography or videography? Let’s chat!
comments +