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

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 :)