Newly pregnant women have many choices when it comes to birthing. There are traditional birthing methods and then there are modern birthing choices. It is good to know what your birthing options are including the benefits and risks involved before making that all-important birthing decision.

What is a midwife?

The first recorded use of a midwife referenced the year 1300. A midwife was a woman who attended childbirth, gave support during the labor and the delivery of the baby. Supervised the care of the laboring woman, and care of the baby directly after the birth. The term, "midwife", means "with a woman," Today, midwives care for women during the progress of a normal, low-risk pregnancy and attends the delivery, working with "on call" obstetricians and other doctors if pregnancy and delivery complications arise. The field of Midwifery is a professionally regulated occupation.

In the United States a midwife has the option of achieving two different credentials. To be certified in midwifery both options require training in childbirth and a commitment to providing the care necessary for women going through childbirth. Both types of midwives are required to have a "working relationship" with doctors just in case the woman they are caring for develops a complication or experiences an emergency during birth.

The two types of certified midwives in the U.S. are direct entry midwives and nurse-midwives.

The first type, direct entry midwife (DEM) is an apprenticeship in a community-based training that is not a formalized nursing education. Direct entry midwives often provide care to those who chose to have a home birth.

Direct entry midwives can get certified from the North American Registry of Midwives and become a "Certified Midwife" (CM).

The other type, certified midwife is a midwife that has completed the apprenticeship, performed independent studies, and also has completed midwifery school. To become certified they then have to complete prerequisite health science requirements, graduate from an accredited, university-affiliated midwifery education program, earn at least a baccalaureate degree, and also successfully complete a national certification examination. The CMs have the same code of ethics as the certified nurse-midwives. The examination is the exact same one taken by certified nurse-midwives and is given by the ACNM Certification Council (ACC). CMs can be found practicing at hospitals, and medical clinics.

What is a Doula?

A doula provides both emotional support and physical support during pregnancy, the actual labor, birth and the postpartum period. Other names for doula include birth assistant, birth companion, childbirth assistant and labor support professional.

The responsibilities of a doula may include explaining medical procedures to the pregnant mom, giving emotional support, giving advice to her, making suggestions about exercise, and helping her to prepare a birth plan. She can also give massages and other non-pharmacological pain relief, and helping her to choose beneficial positions for labor and birth, encourages the woman's partner. A doula helps the woman to avoid interventions as well as to help her to prepare for breastfeeding. The doula can also record the baby's birth.

What is an Obstetrician?

An obstetrician is a medical professional specializing in the practice of labor and delivery. It is a surgical sub-specialty because there are times when an obstetrician needs to perform surgical procedures such as a Cesarean section. The obstetrician usually works in a hospital or birthing center. An obstetrician needs an M.D. degree and a 4-year residency. Twelve years of college is needed all together.