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Career options in women's health care & maternal-infant education and support

30/8/2017

3 Comments

 
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For those called to the field of birth work, it can be hard to find the niche that is the right fit for you. There are many options. Some are medical, others are non-clinical. Some are support roles while others are educational roles. Gravitate towards where you belong. You are needed there.
 
You may serve multiple roles at the same time such as being a childbirth educator, birth doula, and lactation specialist. Or you may transition from one role to another, perhaps doula to midwife or doula to labor and delivery nurse. Many birthworkers struggle trying to figure out exactly what path they belong on in this field. May this blog clarify your options and help you find where you are meant to be.  

Medical care

  Doctors
  • OB/Gyn
  • Reproductive Endocrinologist
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
  • Neonatologist
  • Pediatrician
  • Chiropractors may see pregnant women and infants for adjustments
 
Physician Assistant working in obstetrics  
 
Nurses
  • Women’s health nurse-practitioner
  • Neonatal nurse practitioner
  • Nurse-midwife
  • Labor and delivery nurse
  • Postpartum nurse
  • Neonatal nurse
  • Obstetrics office nurse
  • “baby nurses” doing house calls postpartum (This seems more common outside of America, but there are RNs who do home health care postpartum.) 
 
Other patient support health professionals
  • Lactation consultant or breastfeeding counselor
  • Massage therapist specializing in prenatal, postpartum, or infant
  • Registered dietician
  • Respiratory therapist (NICU)
  • Physical therapist  
  • Occupational therapist (NICU)
 
Office or hospital unit support staff
  • OB surg tech
  • Sonographers
  • Medical assistants
  • Nursing assistants and patient care techs
  • Clerical workers 
 
Management and administration in a birthing center or maternity unit
 
Out-of-hospital birth professionals (typically working in home births or birthing centers, but may work in hospitals in some areas)
  • Certified professional midwife (CPM)
  • Direct-entry midwife (DEM)
  • Midwife assistant
  • Monitrice
 
Mental health professionals
  • Counselors specializing in prenatal or postpartum depression
  • Substance abuse counselors that provide services to pregnant and postpartum women 


Education

Teaching professionals
  • Teaching continuing education for professionals in the field
  • School program creator or instructor
  • Professional workshop host
  • Aid for teachers and programs such as administration, business, tech support, graphic design, social media management, etc..
  • Student mentor
 
Teaching parents
  • Teaching classes to parents on childbirth education, breastfeeding, and other mother-baby topics
  • Prenatal yoga instructor
  • Baby yoga instructor
  • Fitness instructor specializing in prenatal and postpartum exercise
 
Writing and media
  • Researcher  
  • Author of books or pamphlets and patient handouts
  • Publisher of maternal-infant materials
  • Filmmaker for education and awareness
  • Website creator and administrator
  • Blogger
  • Administrator of an educational social media page 


Prenatal support 

  • Registered dietician
  • Prenatal doula  


Birth support 

  • Birth doula
  • ​Lactation professionals 


Postpartum support 

  • Postpartum doula
  • Breastfeeding counselors  
  • Placenta encapsulation services
  • Belly binding services and closing the bones services 


Baby care and support 

  • Infant massage therapist
  • Child passenger safety technician
  • Child care 


Retail

  • Belly casting artist
  • Henna artist doing maternity henna
  • Maternity clothing and apparel store
  • Baby boutique
  • Baby wearing merchandise
  • Cloth diaper store  
  • Selling related artwork 


Other small business services 

  • Photographer
  • Videographer
  • Nursery decorator  
  • Baby shower planner
  • Baby fair organizer 


Others

  • Bereavement support for perinatal and infant loss
  • Public health professional working in a mother-baby program
  • Community health workers targeting improving maternity care
  • Social worker in an area that deals with mother-baby support  


Comment on the blog and tell me what area of this career field you belong in :) 
3 Comments
Carol
12/7/2021 19:51:15

I want to do something in the lactation/breastfeeding field. I already do volunteer work for La Leche League. I am a certified postpartum doula and I did receive some training in breastfeeding, but I want to go a step further and receive some sort of certification. I prefer not to do IBCLC because of all of the required hands-on training. I just don't know what to choose. Thank you for all of the great resources!

Reply
Leanna Mae
24/7/2021 16:26:48

Hi, Carol :)
I have a few blogs for lactation professionals. One explains the different types of lactation professionals. Another explains how to become a lactation consultant. There is also a directory of training programs for lactation professionals. That one makes note of the programs that offer credentials on its own either before or without going for the IBCLC credential. Those can all be found at https://www.leannamae.org/cbbp.html

I personally went through Lactation Education Resources in 2014 and again in 2020. I love them. I highly recommend it. You gain a certificate as a breastfeeding specialist. You are able to practice on your own in uncomplicated mother-baby support. There is also the CLC credential. That doesn't have as many hours of training, but their scope of practice allows for supporting both uncomplicated and complex dyads. I recommend CBS.

Reply
Carol
24/7/2021 17:08:13

Dear Leanna, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this valuable information! I have recently looked into Lactation Education Resources and that is my choice, too. I appreciate you response so much. I'm looking forward to becoming lactation specialist! My next thought is where would I find employment after becoming certified as a lactation specialist. I'm not sure I want to pursue postpartum doula work at the moment. My main focus is to help mothers with breastfeeding. Thank you so much.

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  • Home
  • About Leanna
  • My books
    • where to purchase
    • Happily Frugal
    • The Subject of Salvation >
      • bible study
      • Bible reading schedules
      • My faith journey
    • Lessons on the Author Life >
      • Book coaching
    • Lactation Lessons From Leanna
  • My blogs
    • blog topical directory
    • blog timeline directory
    • the scroll
  • Recommended reading
    • request a book review
  • Maternal Infant Wellness Education
  • Classes I teach
  • Birth & Breastfeeding Support
  • Christian Birth and Breastfeeding Professionals
  • Contact
  • Donate