Building Your Birth Team

Birth Partner
You couldn't imagine experiencing pregnancy without this person. Your partner, your mother or your best friend. It's that special person you can count on to give you the support you need throughout your pregnancy, labour, delivery and after your baby arrives.
Prenatal Educators
Your prenatal educator is anyone who provides you with support or advice about your pregnancy (e.g. your Lamaze coach or a parenting instructor). They will answer your questions and provide you with the information and support you need. They will focus on pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Most importantly, they will be able to tell you about the hospitals and maternity services available in your region.
Birth Doulas
Your doula will give you non-medical prenatal, childbirth and postpartum support. Sometimes referred to as a birth assistant, she is trained to provide emotional and physical support during your labour. Your doula may use massage, aromatherapy and positioning suggestions to help you during labour.
Midwives
Your midwife is an expert in women's health care - specifically prenatal care. She will help to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and natural birth experience. She will be present during childbirth, and while she is licensed to prescribe certain drugs and order required tests during your pregnancy, she will not intervene with any medication unless necessary.
If you choose to have a doula or midwife as part of your team, be sure to ask her a few questions about her training, certification, the number of births' she's attended and her philosophies on labour.
Maternal/Newborn Nurse
Your nurse is a trained medical professional and, just like doctors, specializes in certain areas of care. So expect to receive case from a variety of nurses before and after your baby is born,. Throughout your pregnancy a nurse practitioner may also be available to you. She will offer you prenatal care and advice similar to a physician. Once your labour starts and you are admitted to the hospital, you will meet your labour and delivery nurse. Ask her questions. Be honest about your fears and look to her for support throughout your labour - she's there to help. After your baby is born, you will meet your nurse lactation consultant who will provide breast-feeding help and support to you and your baby. Finally, you will meet your public health nurse. She will provide you with continued follow-up care, advice and support after you leave the hospital. With everything else you'll be thinking about, you can rest easy knowing you have your very own team of experts to help support you during your first introduction to your wonderful new baby.
Family Physicians
Your family physician may provide some prenatal care. But fewer family doctors are delivering babies than in the past. After week 32 doctors may transfer you to another family physician, obstetrician or midwife for your duration of your pregnancy and delivery.
Obstetrician-Gynaecologists
Not every obstetrician-gynaecologist (Ob-Gyn) provides prenatal care. But more Ob-Gyns are delivering Canadian babies than ever before. If your pregnancy is deemed high risk (women with diabetes, develop preeclampsia or women expecting twins or multiple births), expect an Ob-Gyn at your delivery. If your scheduled for a Cesarean, the same applies.
**This is intended for information purposes only. Please note that this may vary depending on your location.

Article taken from "Welcome to Bumpwatch" by Nestlebaby