Building Your Dream Birth Team
A ‘How To’ Guide
So, you’ve taken one (or several) pregnancy tests, maybe shared the news with close ones, and are now coming to terms with the idea that new life is growing inside of you…what a trip, right?
Maybe the overwhelm is starting to creep in, or perhaps you’re still living in your beautifully, blissfully ignorant bubble where the responsibility of what’s next hasn’t yet hit you. Either way, this article is here to catch you before this may happen and help you feel a little bit more informed about how you can build your dream team for the greatest chapter of your life.
For context, when I was about 7 weeks pregnant with my first baby I was very excited that my GP also happened to be my gynecologyst so I figured I was allll set. Wrong. Being the patient to a gyno / family doctor did not in turn mean I had a healthcare provider in place to bring my sweet baby into the world.
This may have been one of the first of many realizations where I was hit with the reality that I had no f*cking clue what I was doing. This whole pregnancy thing was a world of unknowns, that no one truly prepares you for. It almost felt like I was on the road towards a PHD in a subject I had never once opened a textbook about, before this very moment.
So let me try and save you some stress, tears, panic, google searches and hopefully set you on a path where you’re at least a step ahead of where I began back in 2020.
Step 1: Learn About Health Care Providers
Let the choices begin…
First up, you can decide between either a doctor (family doctor or OB/GYN) or a Midwife. While perhaps lesser known, midwives are fully recognized, autonomous medical professionals who are experts in low-risk pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care. With my first pregnancy we opted for an obstetrician who also happened to be able to perform the cesarean birth I ended up having. It is worth noting that not all doctor’s who support pregnancy are equipped to perform surgery if/when needed, and even if they are, they may not be on call at the time of your birth.
Alright, let’s back up a little bit. Why did I go with an OB for my first pregnancy? Because at that time, it seemed to be the only real option that existed. None of my close friends or family had another experience than working with a doctor so naturally this felt like the most logical path to pursue.
What did this look like in action you might wonder, let me give you my own experience in a nutshell. We really enjoyed the doctor who supported us, she was very well regarded and had decades of experience, she was also truly a character who I enjoyed meeting with. On the topic of appointments…we waited on average 3-4 hours each time, sometimes up to 5. When the time came to be seen, I was weighed by a nurse, spoke to my doctor for 10 minutes or less, I recited my chart or pursued any test results which had not yet been shared, was handed the next requisition and sent on my way.
At such a monumental and vulnerable time in my life it felt odd but I told myself, this was just our strained medical system at work. Other mom’s I spoke to had similar experiences, so again, there was no reason to think that there was any alternative.
In terms of birth, our planned cesarean - due to my little breach babe, was as seamless as can be. We were in the best of hands and I am grateful to say that recovery (which was a main concern for me) ended up going better than I could have imagined.
Cut to the second pregnancy, in 2023. Over this span of time, I had become a Certified Nutrition Consultant which was the catalyst to opening my eyes to the larger world of perinatal health and support. This allowed me to remove blinders that I hadn’t realized were there.
If you haven’t already pieced this together, the sex ed provided in schools or by our bashful parents (majoritively speaking) left a lot to the imagination for anything that comes after conception. Other than the idea of course that teen pregnancy will ‘ruin your life’. Thanks guys…
Going into pregnancy no. 2 I knew I had options, and I was keenly aware that I wanted to feel more informed, like an actual participant or even leader throughout my pregnancy and especially the birth. This time around, I felt that physiologic birth was an aspect of my life that I truly wanted to deeply experience.
This said, I called our neighbouring birthing centre and put my name on the waiting list while also reaching out to a family doctor my sister had with her pregnancies, in the case where I was unable to be seen by a midwife. For insight, there are a limited number of midwives and as such, gaining access to one can at times be challenging depending on their existing demands. After a first appointment at the doctor’s I was very pleased to get a call from the birthing centre letting me know that they had a place for me.
And the adventure continues; would you believe me if I told you that you enter the birthing centre into a warm and comfortable living room space? That you are taken within half an hour? That your initial appointment is over one whole hour??? I could not believe it. I felt like I had entered some unknown realm, and there was no way I was going back.
Typically in a birthing centre it is a collective care approach where you are seen by a main midwife but they are on teams where there is a back up in the case that your midwife is off-duty or unavailable. Both individuals met with me throughout and were fully aware of my medical history, previous appointments, test results, as well as preferences in regards to my pregnancy and birth.
Every appointment is a discussion where you are seen as an individual, educated and informed of your options, setting you up to be empowered when making any and all decisions in a supportive environment. This second pregnancy came with the added feature of trusting my gut and using my voice…things that as an elder millennial female, society had spent my lifetime stripping away. What a gift.
If this sounds like work, it was. It doesn’t have to be. But I do strongly urge you to consider how much of yourself you are ready to devote to this moment in your life. To your growing family. To yourself.
I will share my entire birth story and experience with a midwife in a separate article, so for now let’s get back to how you can begin selecting your team, since we’re still at the first choice.
It is important to also understand that selecting your primary health care provider will also determine where you can give birth. A doctor will be affiliated with one or many hospitals which dictate the facility you will labor and ultimately birth in. When being supported by a midwife, the birthing centre you have your appointments at will also have a space for labour and birth. You have the additional option of a home birth where the midwives and aide-natales will come to your space. So, if you have a location in mind, this may in fact be the deciding factor in relation to what type of professional will accompany you.
Step 2: Ask Around and Within
The above section is very much my own unique experience which reflects what I value and prioritize most. So it is important to first begin with what you know - even if you feel like you’re starting with very little information.
First, reflect on what you do know about pregnancy. What, to date you have envisioned for yourself in growing and birthing a baby(ies)? Where did you learn it from (movies, friends, etc)? If you were to imagine your ideal birth right now, what would that look like? How would being supported in pregnancy feel for you? What loved ones surround you and will be with you through this transition?
Once these questions are answered, and only then, start asking around.
If you are entering this period with a partner(s), open these questions up to them and use this as an initial opportunity to connect. Pregnancy can feel like a solo sport, where in reality, if you’re going into it with someone, you will be coming out the other side with them as well. So this time is the greatest point to solidify the impact of having love and advocacy by your side, from day one.
Each persons story (or what stands out most to them), again will be their own individual experience. This can be positive, negative, unresolved, traumatic, or half-forgotten. And also comes tied to what level of knowledge they brought with them into their own pregnancy and birth. Some people may feel the need to preach their choices or subtly attempt to influence your decisions. Just remember that this is research. Ultimately, any decisions you make, should feel aligned with you.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of tuning into your intuition. Softening noise from the outer world will allow you to connect with your own needs and confidently pursue what it takes to create a life which reflects them. For me, this began in my first pregnancy and has continued to evolve until this very day.
Step 3: To Doula, or Not to Doula
If your first question is, “what even is a doula?” do not feel ashamed. Honestly, in my first pregnancy I remember hearing the term and wondering what kind of woo-woo magical being might this be? As I quickly forgot that it was even an option.
This said, I am now very much in full ownership of my own woo-woo and (GASP!) finalizing a Postpartum Doula certification myself. Chalk it up to, you don’t know, what you don’t know.
A doula or birthworker (also a term often used), supports clients through the entire spectrum of reproductive experiences, including conception, postpartum, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. This support extends beyond the birthing person to also include the non-birthing person(s) in their lives.
Technically, they offer pain management techniques (e.g., breathing, massage, positioning), help parents advocate for their preferences, and offer guidance in the transition that takes place in the weeks following childbirth. Each doula may offer a unique set of services or certifications which reflect their own strengths and skills.
I see doula’s as someone who is as aligned with your preferences, personality, and fears as you are. They are your cheerleader and protecter. Even when the plan (as it inevitably does) goes off course in some capacity, they hold you and provide just the emotional reinforcement you need most.
They build a grounded space around you and your loved one(s) that allows for the outcome nearest to how you have envisioned it.
The presence of our doula at my second birth added another layer of safety and security. Both my husband and I feel that her enduring support was a large reason behind my successful VBAC.
As per the National Institutes of Health, continuous labor support from a birth doula is clinically shown to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Key statistics include up to a 53% reduction in cesarean delivery rates, a 57% drop in postpartum depression or anxiety, shorter labor duration, and significantly higher breastfeeding rates.
Speak to your friends and family members or look through Facebook groups and you will quickly discover the monumental impact that these truly magical beings offer in one of the most significant moment’s of life.
The best part? A doula can be part of your team whether you are with a midwife or doctor, and no matter where you are planning to give birth.
If this is a route you decide to take, know that you can meet with and interview doula’s until you find your match. Many practitioners will themselves profess that due to the intimate nature of this relationship it is crucial that this pairing feels like a natural fit for all involved.
Step 4: Specialists to Consider
Selecting your primary health care provider and whether you will include the support of a doula in your team are choices I consider to be foundational. Whereas while any specialists in addition to this may not be present at the time of your birth they have the ability to contribute to your overall preparation, labour outcome, as well as potentially your recovery.
Even if you do not include any other practitioner’s on your official dream team, I would recommend researching some of the below professionals and compiling a reference list for future moments where you may find yourself in need of additional expertise.
Clinical Counsellor or Therapist
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
Acupuncturist
Functional Nutritionist or someone specialized (like me!)
Prenatal / Postpartum Yoga
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Postpartum Doula
Reflexologist
Osteopath
Support Groups
It can also be beneficial to evaluate your insurance coverage (if you have some), reviewing the details so that you know what may or be not something that you can claim as well as your limits. Some insurance companies have even begun to include coverage of doula services, so check it out!
Alternatively, in place of a standard baby shower or registry, consider collecting funds towards your care - I promise that this will be more useful than newborn shoes.
