Types of Birth Professionals

 

Midwife:
Midwives are the traditional care providers for mothers or birthing people and newborns. Midwives are trained professionals with expertise and skills in supporting women to maintain healthy pregnancies and have optimal births and recoveries during the postpartum period. Midwives provide people* with individualized care uniquely suited to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs. Midwifery is a person*-centered empowering model of reproductive care that is utilized in all of the countries of the world with the best maternal and infant outcomes such as The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada. (MANA)

Doula:
A trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. (DONA)

OBGYN: 
An OB-GYN – which is short for obstetrician-gynecologist – is a medical doctor who specializes in women’s reproductive health, as well as pregnancy care and delivering babies. They’re also surgically trained and can perform Cesarean sections (C-sections) when necessary. You may already visit an OB-GYN for your annual well-woman’s visit. (Health Partners