Your Guide to Building the Right Birth Team

Choosing Your Birth Team: What to Look for in a Doula, Midwife, and OB

Pregnancy comes with many decisions, but one of the most important is choosing your birth team. These are the people who will support you during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum period. The right team can greatly influence your experience and how confident and supported you feel throughout the process.

Your birth team may include a doula, midwife, or OB (obstetrician), and sometimes a combination of all three. Each professional plays a unique role in your care. Understanding what they do, and what to look for when choosing them, can help you build a team that truly aligns with your goals and values.

Keep reading below as we help you navigate these decisions!

What to Look for When Choosing a birth Doula

A birth doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period. While doulas do not provide medical care, they play an essential role in helping families feel supported and confident throughout their birth experience.

When choosing a doula, consider the following:

Personal Connection
Your doula will be with you during some of your most vulnerable and powerful moments. It’s important that you feel comfortable and at ease with them. Ask yourself:

• Do I feel heard and respected by her?

• Does she listen to my goals for birth?

• Do I feel relaxed talking with her?

Trust and connection are key to a strong doula-client relationship.

Training and Experience
Ask about your doula’s training and experience. It can be especially valuable if they have supported a variety of births - hospital, home, medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, etc.

Birth Philosophy
Every doula approaches birth differently. Some incorporate faith-based support, while others do not. The best doula for you is one whose philosophy and values align with your own.

Availability and Backup Support
Babies rarely arrive on a predictable schedule. Be sure to ask about your doula’s on-call availability and whether they have a backup doula in place. Clear expectations can help avoid stress later on.

What to Look for When Choosing a Midwife

Midwives are trained medical professionals who provide prenatal care, attend births, and care for mothers and newborns after delivery. Many families choose midwifery care because it often emphasizes personalized attention, informed decision-making, and support for physiologic birth.

There are several types of midwives, including:

• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)

• Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)

• Licensed Midwives (LMs)

It’s helpful to understand their credentials and scope of practice as you make your decision, as this can vary by state and practice setting.

Midwives may attend births in hospitals, birth centers, or at home, so it’s important to choose a setting that aligns with your comfort level and birth preferences.

When choosing a midwife, consider the following:

Care Philosophy and Approach to Birth
Midwives often take a holistic, patient-centered approach to pregnancy and birth. Ask about their views on natural labor progression, pain management options, and use of interventions to ensure their philosophy aligns with your goals.

Experience and Credentials
Ask about their training, certifications, and experience attending different types of births. It can also be helpful to know how they handle higher-risk situations and when they recommend consultation or transfer of care.

Continuity of Care and Time Spent With Clients
One of the most valued aspects of midwifery care is the relationship built over time. Midwives typically spend more time during prenatal visits, offering personalized care that addresses physical, emotional, and lifestyle needs throughout pregnancy.

Collaboration and Emergency Planning
Even in low-risk pregnancies, it’s important that your midwife has a clear plan for collaboration with physicians and transfer of care if needed. Strong relationships between midwives and OBs help ensure safe, seamless care if complications arise.

Postpartum Support
Ask what postpartum care looks like. Many midwives offer in-home visits, breastfeeding support, and continued care in the weeks after birth, which can be incredibly valuable during the early transition into motherhood.

What to Look for When Choosing an OB

An obstetrician (OB) is a medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and reproductive health. OBs are especially important for high-risk pregnancies or when medical interventions may be needed.

When choosing an OB, consider:

Communication Style
Your provider should listen to your concerns, answer your questions clearly, and respect your preferences without judgment. During appointments, ask yourself:

• Do they take time to explain options?

• Do they encourage questions?

• Do I feel comfortable speaking openly?

Feeling respected and heard is essential.

Approach to Birth
Different OBs have different approaches to labor and medical interventions. It’s important that their approach aligns with your goals. Consider asking about:

• Induction rates

• Cesarean rates

• Policies around movement during labor

• Support for low-risk, low-intervention birth plans

These conversations can give you a clearer picture of how your provider practices.

Hospital Policies and Environment
OBs work within specific hospital systems, and those policies can influence your birth experience. It’s helpful to understand things like:

• Number of support people allowed

• Use of labor tubs or birth balls

• Eating and drinking during labor

• Delayed cord clamping policies

It’s also important to understand your provider’s personal standard of care, which may differ slightly from hospital policy.

A birth doula can be especially helpful in this setting, offering support and advocacy as you navigate your options and keep your birth preferences at the center of your experience.

Lastly, remember: you are always allowed to change providers. Whether you are 8 weeks or 38 weeks pregnant, if you feel unsupported or unheard, you can switch providers or even entire practices. Some hospitals also have midwives on staff, which can be a great option if you’re seeking a more holistic, low-intervention approach.

Trust Your Instincts

Choosing your birth team is deeply personal. Above all, you should feel safe, respected, and supported by the people who will be with you during your birth journey.

Take time to ask questions, meet with providers, and trust your instincts. The right birth team won’t just provide care—they will help you feel confident, informed, and empowered as you welcome your baby into the world.

Looking for Doula Support?

If you’re currently expecting and looking for personalized birth support, our team would love to connect with you. As a team of birth doulas, our goal is to help families feel informed, supported, and confident throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Submit an inquiry here to learn more about how doula support can help you prepare for a positive and empowering birth experience.