A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is an advanced practice provider who specializes in women’s reproductive health, providing care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period, including gynecological services, family planning, and newborn care; they are trained to attend births in hospitals, birth centers, and homes. To become a CNM, a registered nurse must complete a specialized, graduate level nurse-midwifery education program and pass a national certification exam. They often emphasize patient education, informed decision-making and a focus on the woman’s overall well-being throughout her reproductive lifespan.

A midwife is a medically trained healthcare provider who can deliver babies and manage clinical care throughout pregnancy and childbirth, while a doula is a non-medical professional who focuses on providing emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person during labor and delivery, without performing any medical procedures.

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is the highest level of certification for lactation consultants and the only internationally recognized credential in the field.  IBCLC’s meet rigorous eligibility requirements and pass an exam that assesses their knowledge of breastfeeding management. They care for breastfeeding women and babies to achieve their feeding goals and can manage many of the most common concerns during lactation.

A perinatal mental health specialist is a clinician who provides care for women and their families during pregnancy and the first year after birth when they are experiencing mental health challenges. They have completed advanced training and certification in this field. They are experts in assessing, diagnosing and treating perinatal (from pregnancy through the first year postpartum) mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD with holistic treatments that can include medications. They work with other mental health professionals, such as therapists and social workers to provide therapeutic support for these disorders and focus on preventing and detecting more complex conditions such as Perinatal OCD, Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis, with referral to a psychiatrist when necessary.