Frequently Asked Questions

Midwives are experts in the normal course of pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period. We provide expertise and encouragement during the childbearing year, helping you to navigate complicated decisions and advocate for you when you’re unsure how to proceed. We provide continuous, individualized support ideal for low-risk parents.

Medical OB/GYNs provide full service care and are equipped to deal with higher risk situations such as irregular bleeding, cervical cancer, or menopausal symptoms. Because hospital staff are serving many people at once, they often can’t offer constant support and attention. We have nothing against doctors and nurses—in fact, we work with them all the time to bring healthy babies into the world. We are so grateful for their contribution to healthy outcomes for new families.

For families wanting to be given time, space, and thorough education on their pregnancy journey, and for those who wish to have a natural birth outside of a clinical setting as their first choice for their birth experience, Midwifery care is a very appropriate option.

We know this is confusing.

A doula provides resources and physical/emotional support during pregnancy, birth and/or post partum.
A midwife has clinical training and is the primary care provider during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
A monitrice doula has clinical training (often as a midwife) and is acting as a doula.

A monitrice doula has the training of a midwife but is not acting as the primary care provider. If she were the one delivering your child, she’d be acting as a midwife. If someone else is delivering your child, she’s acting as a monitrice.

Many women choose a monitrice doula over a typical doula because they want emotional support from someone who has the training and knowledge to perform exams and keep them informed. Our monitrice doulas support women during hospital births and home births. Whatever the setting, she is there to guide you through your birthing experience with knowledge and experience.

If you want more clarification, please reach out to us. We’re happy to talk about your options and see what’s best for you and your family.

We think education is the number one way to overcome fear or anxiety over giving birth. As part of our midwifery care, you’ll receive a great deal of education during our visits. We generally recommend even more on top of this, especially if this is your first child.

Our midwives act as your primary practitioner during labor and delivery. We closely monitor you and your baby, coach you through labor, offer recommendations and advice, and deliver your child. Then we care for you and the newborn in the initial postpartum, and are your on-call provider for six weeks postpartum for the new family.

As midwives, our first obligation is to the provision of care for you and the baby. While we are capable of providing emotional and sometimes physical support, there are some circumstances where we would not be available for this level of support due to our clinical obligations. Doulas do not have this same obligation and are an added layer of support and resourcing for the family and the care team. We highly recommend hiring a doula for your birth, regardless of the location you are birthing.

When acting as a monitrice doula, we provide emotional support and make sure you understand the clinical language. We call on previous conversations to help you make the best decisions for you and your family, whether at home, a birth center, or a hospital.

At the time of birth, one third of the baby’s blood is inside of the placenta. The placenta naturally pumps that blood into the baby right after birth—within 3 minutes, 80 to 90% of that blood has been pumped into the baby. Some parents choose to delay clamping of the cord to allow that blood time to reenter the baby’s body.

The controversy arises because of the possibility for jaundice. When the baby receives too many red blood cells, their liver can’t metabolize them so they dissolve in the bloodstream, creating a byproduct called bilirubin. This causes the yellowish tint of jaundice. Most of the time for healthy babies, their bodies regulate this process as their liver develops and matures, and there are no lasting health implications.

International Cesarean Awareness Network
Evidence Based Birth
Spinning Babies
The Miles Circuit
Expecting & Empowered
Magamama
Motherboard Birth
American Association of Birth Centers
American College of Nurse Midwives
American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Childbirth Connection
Improving Birth Coalition
Lamaze International
March of Dimes
Mothers Naturally (Midwives of North America)
Colorado Midwives Association
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
Real Parenting
Parenting Safe Children