How to Build Your Birth Team

As you begin to envision your upcoming birth, it's important to consider who you would like to be on your Birth Team, the group of people you select to support you while you're pregnant and in labor.

Your Birth Team can consist of:

• your medical provider (midwife or doctor)

• your loved ones (spouse, relative, friend)

• your doula

• your supplemental maternal health practitioner(s)

• your birth photographer/videographer

1. Reflect on the type of birth experience you envision.

Get clear on which birth experience feels right for you, so that you can connect with the Birth Team that can best support you in that birthing experience.

• Vaginal, unmedicated

• Vaginal, medicated

• Scheduled c-section

2. Choose a suitable birth location.

Where you give birth plays a big role both in how you give birth and what medical providers are available to join your Birth Team. 

• Home Birth → Vaginal, Unmedicated Births → Midwives 

  • For low-risk pregnancies, home births offer the comfort and familiarity of your own space and are a holistic, low-intervention option for vaginal, unmedicated births.  

    
    

• Birth Center → Vaginal, Unmedicated Births → Midwives

  • For low-risk pregnancies, birth centers provide a more home-like environment with medical equipment and staff trained in holistic methods for vaginal, unmedicated births. They are often near hospitals to facilitate transfers, if necessary. 

    
    

• Hospital → Vaginal, Medicated or C-Section Births → Doctors & Nurse Midwives

  • For high-risk pregnancies or those envisioning c-sections, hospitals are equipped with advanced medical technology, neonatal care units and emergency facilities, ensuring safety for both mother and baby. They specialized in a medicalized approach and can offer many interventions throughout the birthing experience. 

3. Consider supplemental roles for your Birth Team.

Preparing for birth presents many opportunities to deepen the level of care you give to yourself educationally, mentally, emotionally and physically. At Maternal Resource Oasis, here are just a few roles we highly recommend adding to your Birth Team.

• Doula- a trained birthworker specializing in educating clients about pregnancy, birth and postpartum; advocating for client’s Birth Vision: providing hands-on compassionate coaching during labor; tending to the family’s wellness after baby arrives

• Chiropractor- a licensed healthcare practitioner who subtly adjusts the musculoskeletal system in order to alleviate prenatal discomfort and prepare the body for labor

  
  

• Massage Therapist- a licensed healthcare practitioner who can help alleviate muscular tension through hands-on bodywork 

• Mental Health Counselor- a licensed professional who can help you work through the emotional concerns you may encounter during pregnancy 

  
  

• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist- a licensed professional who can help treat incontinence and pelvic pain while teaching you hot to relax your pelvic floor muscles in preparation for for birth

  
  

• Birth Photographers/Videographers-creative professionals who can help you capture your special day on camera

4. Interview different providers.

Since not all providers practice in the same way, spend time interviewing different providers before you choose who will join your Birth Team. It is possible to switch providers partway through care up until you’re about 31-33 weeks pregnant depending on the practice. 

During your first consultation, share your Birth Vision, and ask key questions like these:

• How do you view birth? 

• What is your approach to interventions? 

• How do you support people in bringing their Birth Vision to life? 

  
  

While you’re in the room with them, consider how this provider makes you feel:

• Do you feel dismissed? Belittled? Rushed?

• Do you feel calm, and safe around this person?

• Do they make uncomfortable/inappropriate comments?

5. Invite those who align with your values.

You deserve to feel safe and supported throughout your pregnancy and birth! Be intentional about inviting people onto your Birth Team who:

• Support your Birth Vision

• Give off positive vibes

• Respect your heritage, faith, preferences etc.

We launched a unique Directory for Maternal Health Resource Providers designed to connect families with Resource Providers who reflect and respect your values—whether that’s shared language, faith, cultural background or flexible payment options!

FIND A RESOURCE PROVIDER