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

30/8/2017

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!

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.

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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