HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

TAKING A TOUR Most hospitals and birth centers offer tours on certain days and times. Taking a tour is a good way to see what you can expect if you have your baby there. You’ll learn where to go, what the rooms look like, and what services they offer. This is also a great time to ask specific questions to help you decide if this is the best facility for you. Your Birth Team From the beginning of your pregnancy through labor, birth, and beyond, you will interact with different medical professionals on your birth team. You’ll want to choose experienced people who treat you with a warm, caring attitude. Having trust and confidence in the people around you can significantly enhance your labor and birth experience. Your birth team may include: • Obstetrician – A physician with specific medical and surgical training who cares for patients during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. Obstetricians also treat other health problems and complications that may occur during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. • Family medicine physician – A physician who provides medical care to patients of all ages at every stage of life, including pregnancy and birth. Some family medicine physicians perform cesarean births, while others may need to transfer your care to an obstetrician if you need a cesarean.

• Midwife – A health care professional who can offer personal attention and support during prenatal care, attend your labor, help with the birth, and provide postpartum care. Some midwives are qualified medical providers who go through comprehensive training for certification. The practice and credentials related to midwifery are different from state to state, so you’ll want to ask about their specific certification and experience. • Nurse practitioner (NP) – An NP is an advance practice registered nurse with extra training who can do checkups, order lab tests, and prescribe medicine. They can be licensed to provide prenatal care and well-woman care, but they don’t deliver babies. They usually work in clinics with a physician or a certified nurse midwife (CNM) who would attend the birth. • Registered nurse (RN) – A registered nurse works closely with your doctor or midwife to provide comprehensive medical care. They will monitor you and your baby closely. In the hospital, registered nurses are the health care professionals you will have the most contact with. • Doula – A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to you (and your family) before, during, and after the birth. Some doulas also offer emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. Studies have shown that when doulas attend a birth, labor is shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier, and they breastfeed more easily.

PREPARING

FOR BIRTH

MIDWIFE CATEGORIES

Trained and licensed in both nursing and midwifery; has a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution; certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives

CERTIFIED NURSE-MIDWIFE (CNM)

Trained in midwifery and meets practice standards of the North American Registry of Midwives

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE (CPM)

Trained in midwifery through a variety of sources that may include self-study, apprenticeship, midwifery school, or a college program

DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIFE (DEM)

Trained and certified in midwifery and has at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

CERTIFIED MIDWIFE (CM)

Not certified or licensed but has trained informally through self-study or an apprenticeship

LAY MIDWIFE

Chapter 1: Preparing for Birth

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