Obstetrician/Gynecologist
(OB/GYN) More than 90% of women choose an OB/GYN
— a physician that specializes in women’s
reproductive and general health — as their
prenatal care practitioner. OB/GYNs oversees
prenatal check-ups, ultrasounds and tests.

They also take care of non-pregnancy-related
female needs, such as pap smears, breast
exams and contraception.

OB/GYNs almost always deliver babies in
hospitals. They are the best choice for women
with high-risk pregnancies — those who are
over 35, are underweight or overweight, are
carrying multiples, have had a problem with a
previous pregnancy, or have a health problem
such as diabetes or high blood pressure. OB/
GYNs are also trained to perform Caesarean
sections (C-sections), which account for
more than 31% of U.S. births, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Keep in mind, though, that OB/GYNs are
more likely than midwives to use surgical
and technological interventions, such as
episiotomy (an incision made in the perinium
to make more room for the baby) and a
vacuum or forceps during delivery. And if
you’re hoping to labor without drugs or an
epidural, an OB/GYN may not be right for you.

Family Physician
A family physician can serve as your primary
care provider, your OB/GYN and the baby’s
pediatrician, thereby meeting all of your family’s
medical needs. But family physicians typically
don’t perform C-sections, so if complications
occur, you’ll need to switch to an OB/GYN.

Midwife A midwife is not a doctor, but a trained health-
care professional who cares for women during
pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post birth.

“Midwives are trained to support the
natural process of birth in a way that is holistic
and family-centered … while providing the
least amount of intervention necessary,” says
Paige Barocca, a midwife with Moonstone
Midwifery in Maryland.

That makes midwives a great choice for
women who want to avoid an epidural or
labor-inducing drugs (though midwives can
prescribe these if the woman changes her mind).

Midwives are also more likely than doctors
to offer breastfeeding and lactation support.

While midwives often perform hospital
births, many also deliver babies at birthing
18 Washington FAMILY JUNE 2021
CREATING A BIRTH PLAN
A birth plan will help you communicate your birth preferences to your
medical team. Here are some of the main things to include:
LOCATION: Where do you want to give birth? Most women give birth at
a hospital, but hospitals differ in the types of birthing rooms they offer
and the protocols they follow. Home births offer women with low-risk
pregnancies much more comfort, but you won’t have the amenities of
a hospital if something goes wrong. Birthing centers feel more relaxed
than hospitals but offer some of the same medical amenities.

PAIN MANAGEMENT: Do you want to try to give birth without an
epidural or pain medications?
INDUCTION: Do you want to be induced if your labor is going slowly, or
would you rather have more time to let things progress naturally?
ATMOSPHERE: Do you want to play music? Would you like a certain
type of lighting? Do you want to use a birthing ball or have the freedom
to move around during labor?
TYPE OF DELIVERY: Would you like to try for a water birth? If you’ve had
a C-section before, do you want to try for a vaginal birth after Caesarean
(VBAC), or would you rather schedule another C-section? If you opt for a
C-section, do you want to see the baby coming out?
A doula can help you come up with any other items to include in your birth
plan. Just remember that these are simply guidelines, not requirements, and
that they may need to change based on how your labor goes and whether any
complications arise. T
centers or, like Barocca, in women’s homes.

Many health insurance plans cover midwife
deliveries at a hospital, but not at a birthing
center or home. However, birthing centers
and midwives are typically less expensive than
hospitals and physicians.

Karissa Harris of Burke, Virginia, used
midwives to deliver her third baby at a
hospital via water birth.

“Even though she was my biggest baby by
almost a pound, her birth did not result in
any tearing like my first two did,” Harris says.

“I attribute that in part to the midwives and
their willingness to let me listen to my body.”
There are three main types
of midwives:
• A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a
registered nurse with a graduate degree
in midwifery. CNMs are certified by the
American Midwifery Certification Board
(AMCB) to perform births in all 50 states
and Puerto Rico.

• A certified midwife (CM) has a graduate
degree in midwifery and is certified
by the AMCB.

• A certified professional midwife (CPM) is
educated via a midwifery school,
apprenticeship or other professional courses
before being certified by the North American
Registry of Midwives. CPMs typically
perform home or birthing center births
and cannot prescribe most medications.

Midwives cannot perform C-sections, so you
may be transferred to an OB/GYN if there’s
an emergency.

Doula A doula is a trained pregnancy and labor
companion who provides emotional and
physical support to the mother and her family
and helps to ensure that a woman has the birth
experience she wants. A doula will generally
meet with a family at least once during the



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pregnancy to get to know them and to discuss
their birth plan (see sidebar). The doula can
help the woman find a physician or midwife,
educate her on childbirth options and help
ease her anxieties and concerns.

“Once a family hires me, I am theirs,”
says Elizabeth Oldham, owner and CEO
of Doulas of Northern Virginia. “We’re
walking through this together, and they
know that they have somebody they can
lean on through the pregnancy.”
During the birth, the doula will employ
various techniques to help the mother and her
partner (if she has one) relax. This can include
massage, aromatherapy, music and more. The
doula will also serve as an advocate to help
ensure the family’s preferences are followed.

Stacey Trost, a mother of two, hired a
doula for the birth of her first daughter.

The doula helped Trost move into various
positions to ease her pain, guided her through
meditations and spoke with the medical team
to ensure her wishes were met.

“She was firm on my behalf, and I really
appreciated that,” recalls Trost. “I felt so very
looked after. I don’t know what I would have
done without her.”
Like midwives, doulas are an excellent
choice for women who want a natural
childbirth with few interventions. Studies
have shown that women who use doulas
are less likely to have C-sections, epidurals,
pain medications and labor-inducing drugs.

Doulas can also help reduce the length of
labor, improve mother-baby bonding and
increase the chance of breastfeeding success.

What all of these prenatal care providers
have in common is their desire for you to
have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

“We are not just growing babies,” says
Barocca, “but growing resilient parents who
are taking an active role in their children’s
lives from the very beginning.” T
2021 Baby &
Maternity Directory
Child Care
A CHILD’S PLACE
achildsplaceinc.com 703-698-8050
3100 Prosperity Ave. , Fairfax, VA
A Child’s Place in Fairfax was established in 1981.

We take children eight weeks to five years. Please
stop by for a visit.

A MOTHER’S PRAYER NANNY SERVICE
ampnannies.com 301-744-9AMP
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD
2 Wisconsin Cir #700, Chevy Chase, MD
Offering baby nannies, babysitters and doulas.

Over 20 years experience in childcare.

CHI AU PAIR USA
chiaupairorg; chichris@chinet.org
703-528-5152 CHI Au Pair USA offers safe and affordable
childcare in your home. Approximately $345 per
family, per week. Carefully screened and trained au
pairs ages 18 to 26 available from many different
countries. Au pairs can stay up to two years, have
legal visa, medical and liability insurance, and
childcare experience. U.S. Government designated
cultural exchange program. Local support provided
in your community. Discounts and special
promotions available.

Children’s & Misc. Retail
BELFORT FURNITURE
belfortfurniture.com; info@belfortfurniture.com
703-406-7600 22250 Shaw Rd., Dulles, VA
Belfort, Washington’s only Stanley Young America
Signature Shop, where you’ll find the area’s largest
selection of cribs, twin and full size beds, plus
sleigh, bunk, loft, novelty and storage beds at
affordable prices.

Classes & Instruction
ACORN HILL WALDORF
KINDERGARTEN & NURSERY
acornhill.org; info@acornhill.org
301-565-2282 9504 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD
Ongoing birth to three parenting classes,
September through June. Parent-infant (six weeks
to one year), parent-toddler (1 to 2 years), parent-
child (2 to 3 years). Parents learn games, songs
and spend time mindfully attuning to their babies,
supporting development.

BEANTREE LEARNING ASHBURN CAMPUS
beantreelearning.com 43629 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn, VA
BeanTree Learning offers private early childhood
education and care through pre-K. With a robust
learning curriculum, BeanTree offers stimulating
academic learning, experiential play, and specialty
programs in art, music, foreign language and
technology taught by degreed, experienced
educators. All programs are offered in small
classroom environments to promote learning. Year
round open enrollment available. Call for a personal
tour today.

BEANTREE LEARNING WESTFIELDS CAMPUS
beantreelearning.com 703-961-8222
5003 Westone Plaza, Chantilly, VA
BeanTree Learning is fully accredited through the
prestigious AdvancED/SACS CASI organization
offering full day private Kindergarten and a
robust after school program. With a team of
degreed, experienced educators, BeanTree
offers an advanced curriculum taught in small
classroom settings, providing students with one-
to-one attention and homework help after school
to reinforce subject matter. Year-round open
enrollment available. Call or a personal tour today.

BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL
brooksfieldschool.org sarah@brooksfieldschool.org
703-356-5437 1830 Kirby Road, McLean, VA
Ages Served: 3-10
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Mindfulness, nutrition, Spanish, dance, music &
art, outdoor adventure program, extracurricular
activities and summer camp.

FEYNMAN SCHOOL
feynmanschool.org admissions@feynmanschool.org
301-770-4370 11810 Falls Road, Potomac, MD
Grades: Preschool-Grade 8
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

The area’s leader in educating academically-gifted
children, Feynman School features extraordinary
WashingtonFAMILY.com 19