Navigating all the things for pregnancy and postpartum can feel so overwhelming. It is hard to know where to begin. This is a whole new world! There are so many choices to be made and little guidance as to how to make these choices and who you need to enlist.

So many families find reaching out to a doula or doula agency is a wonderful place to start! We often know all the people that someone may need to connect with. We can also explain how everyone can help.

I remember when I was pregnant with my first. Surprisingly, I didn’t even understand the difference between a midwife and an OBGYN! I had no idea which questions to ask to figure out if my OBGYN was a great fit. I actually didn’t even know what would make a care provider a great fit. It felt overwhelming and stressful until I had found my doula. Once I made that connection, things felt so much easier. She was able to offer guidance and explain why each resource may or may not be needed. It was a game changer. Not only was I unfamiliar with the resources available, but I was also overwhelmed by knowing which resources I needed.

Over the past 14 years I have built amazing partnerships with perinatal professionals. I have become very dedicated in helping expecting families find their village. If you are expecting, you may find yourself needing and wanting to connect with the following professionals along your journey. 

A birth doula provides information, guidance, emotional support and physical support in pregnancy, birth and immediately postpartum. You can hire a birth doula at any point in your pregnancy. They will be there to support you in a kind and non-judgmental way. Birth doulas support families in the hospital setting as well as at birth centers and home births. They support for both medicated and non-medicated births.

A postpartum doula supports families as they are transitioning home with their new baby. They provide care for mom, baby, family and household. They act as teachers, caretakers and help families get the must-needed rest and support so they can gain their footing.

Families utilize postpartum doulas for the first few weeks through the first few months for both daytime and overnight support. An overnight doula can help a family get much needed rest overnight while providing tailored care for a new baby and creating healthy routines.

Many families have the choice even if delivering at the hospital to have an OBGYN or a midwife as their medical provider for pregnancy and birth. Most people do not realize that there are many hospital-based midwife groups and that midwives can be your primary health care provider for pregnancy, postpartum, and general women’s care.

Midwives specialize in vaginal birth and often you can expect slightly longer appointments. Some may feel more supportive of a less medical birth. OBGYNs work within the hospital setting and have a greater capacity to provide medical care to those with complications, higher risk, and they can also perform surgery.

A pediatrician or family practice doctor can provide medical care and guidance about your newborn. Many families find that beginning a relationship with a doctor for your new baby while pregnant makes for a smooth transition home from the hospital. You will typically need to see a pediatrician within the first week of your baby’s life and you will likely have questions and need their insight early on.

A chiropractor provides care in both pregnancy and non-pregnancy and can provide care for all ages. They can help by manipulating the musculoskeletal system and in pregnancy can support proper alignment and creating space for a healthy vaginal birth.

Many families who engage in chiropractic care in pregnancy seek a Webster-certified chiropractor as they are certified to utilize the Webster technique. This technique has been known to create space and even move a baby in the breech position to a head down position. There are also certified pediatric chiropractors and they specialize in infants and children.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine where small needles are placed at strategic points on your body to create movement and support healing. Many expecting families find that acupuncture can help with pain, headaches, insomnia, and can even help with initiating labor.

Counseling through a therapist or social worker can be so helpful in all phases of life. With so many changes and feeling overwhelmed, a counselor can be especially helpful with processing emotions and even planning for what to expect.

They can also help you and your partner establish expectations and communication around the new life phase you are entering. Establishing care with a therapist in pregnancy can also help with coping with the emotional changes postpartum.

Join fitness classes that specialize in prenatal and postpartum fitness. This will not only help you create friendships with other expecting families, but you will also have the guidance of someone who specializes in the phase you are in.

Connect with an International Board-Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC) in pregnancy so that you can have an established relationship with an IBCLC when you need it. All breastfeeding issues are immediate. Having an established and trusted relationship with an IBCLC will help you to troubleshoot and possibly prevent breastfeeding issues. This will make your nursing journey less stressful, more manageable, and enjoyable.

A pelvic floor physical therapist specializes in the pelvic floor. They can help you to have a strong pelvic floor for pregnancy, birth and postpartum. This can make a huge impact on your birth and postpartum recovery.

Many families find that having a pregnancy, birth, and newborn photographer lined up and ready to go can make documenting these incredible life events less stressful.

Finding your baby and family a nanny often starts in pregnancy. If you know that you will be in need of a nanny, it is always best to start the process as soon as possible. Working with an agency to match your family with a nanny can help to take the burden off of your family. They will do all of the leg work of background checks and onboarding.

Knowing which products you will need and how to find them can feel like a full-time job. We created an Amazon store to help families navigate this in the simplest way possible. Here are the top products we recommend.

Take childbirth and baby classes to prepare for what to expect! Classes will help you understand what you are wanting and how to navigate that. We have so many amazing classes available both in-person and virtual to help you in this journey. Learn more here.

If you are due after September, attending our Baby in Bloom: Birth & Baby Conference is a MUST. You will have a chance to meet with all of these perinatal experts and more. You can find your entire team of birth and postpartum professionals in one place. Here is more about the amazing conference.

To learn more about all of the partnerships and professionals we have connected with over the years, please check out our list here.

This post is written by Anna Rodney, owner and founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University. She is a leader in the perinatal field and a trusted resource for expecting families and perinatal professionals.