Choosing a Prenatal Care Provider in Wilmington & Raleigh NC

Written By Daybreak Doulas

Finding the right prenatal care provider for you is an important task!

Each person is going to have unique things they are looking for in a provider to care for them in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

While searching for your prenatal care provider, we recommend finding one that most aligns with your philosophy on birth.

If you aren’t even sure what that is yet, no need to worry. Spend some time writing out what you initially believe about birth, what you hope your experience to feel like and any concerns you have about birth. Write out questions to ask. Read reviews on their websites if they are available. Consult trusted family or friends on which providers they had good experiences with. Spending this time to reflect will only benefit you in your search for the prenatal care provider that is the perfect fit for you!

Let’s take a look at what these different types of prenatal care providers do…

Types of Providers:

When it comes to prenatal care providers, you will either have a Obstetrician or a Midwife. Neither is above or below one another, but rather, each has different paths of education and can offer different types of healthcare services.

Obstetrician:

An Obstetrician (OB) will care for you from preconception, throughout your pregnancy, at your childbirth and the first following weeks postpartum. Most have combined their study of the reproductive system gynecology and may have the GYN title as well, OB’s have undergone medical school and specialize in routine care for those in pregnancy. They are skilled in high-risk or complex pregnancies and deliveries. OB’s also have the skills to perform any interventions needed and have the ability to perform cesareans. In addition to Obstetrics, OBs can also practice Maternal-Fetal Medicine. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist) receives a traditional obstetrics and gynecology education but with an additional three years of training to learn how to treat medical complications that are related to pregnancy.

Midwife:

A Midwife is a healthcare professional that cares for you throughout your pregnancy, at your childbirth and during the postpartum period. Typically, midwives care for lower risk pregnancies and births. You can learn more about the Midwifery Model of Care -> here.

There are 5 different types of midwives:

  • Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)- CNMs are nurses that have completed a graduate-level nurse-midwife program (master’s degree) and passed a certification exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board. They can perform any interventions needed for birth except for cesareans. Apart from providing healthcare in pregnancy and childbirth, CNMs can also provide healthcare from adolescence and throughout life! CNMs typically work in the hospital setting but are also qualified to work in health clinics, OB/GYN practices, birth centers or homes.

  • Certified Midwife (CM)- CMs are not nurses. They have a master’s degree in midwifery and have passed a certification exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board except they have not completed nursing school. CMs can also provide healthcare from adolescence and throughout life. CMs can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, health clinics, OB/GYN practices, birth centers, and homes.

    Just a handful of U.S. states (New York, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island and Delaware) legally recognize and license CMs.

  • Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)- are professional independent midwifery practitioners who have met the certification requirements of the  North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Applicants can qualify to take the NARM exam by either apprenticing with a qualified midwife and completing an Entry-Level Portfolio Evaluation Process or graduating from a midwifery program or school. If the program or school isn’t accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, applicants must complete the Entry-Level Portfolio Evaluation Program. CPMs do not provide full healthcare and are focused on providing care for pregnancy and childbirth. CPMs are usually less intervention oriented and typically work in home birth settings.

  • Direct-Entry Midwife- non-nurses that provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance. These midwives generally work in non-hospital settings. No national certification or licensing is available for direct-entry midwives. Each state has its own legal requirements for education and licensing (if any). A Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Midwife, or Certified Nurse-Midwife can be a direct-entry midwife, and some states do require some type of certification, while other states don’t. Most direct-entry midwives are self-employed.

  • Lay Midwife- An uncertified or unlicensed midwife who often has an informal education, such as apprenticeship or self-study, rather than a formal education. Some states do have licensing for lay midwives, while other states don’t.

Throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum…YOU are in the captain’s seat!

If you are not feeling best supported by your care provider, it is never too late to switch providers. As your doulas we can definitely assist you in finding the best provider that is the perfect fit for your needs. Our goal is to bring your entire birth team together & help you feel supported every step of the way!

Local Birthing Options:

Wilmington, NC & Surrounding Areas:

Raleigh, NC & Surrounding Areas:

Daybreak Doulas
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