At a bare minimum, you deserve to work with a healthcare provider who treats you with respect. What this looks like in practice is that the provider listens to your wishes, concerns, and preferences for care. It also means that they explain things plainly and honestly, and welcome your questions. They should encourage you to feel in control of your body and your care. 

Beyond this, ideally, you can also work with a healthcare provider who makes you feel comfortable. When you’re being cared for by a provider you’re not that comfortable with, it can present a number of challenges that can stand in the way of you getting quality care. This sort of discomfort can make it feel hard to communicate with your provider honestly or really feel heard. Some folks do find that thanking their provider for hearing their concerns can be a good place to start in expressing their wants and needs, so this can be a simple, meaningful tool to feel a bit more comfortable. 

But to find someone you’re really comfortable with, you may want to seek out even more personalized care and work with a provider who can offer you culturally relevant care.  This might mean that you prefer a provider who is from your community, shares your beliefs, or identifies the same way as you. Care that’s personalized in this way — where you feel like your provider really gets you, understands where you’re coming from, and who you feel truly comfortable being yourself with — can be incredibly meaningful. For example, if you’re Black, you may want to work with a Black care provider, if that’s possible. Black midwifery groups, Black doula groups, and other such organizations or community health groups exist to provide just this sort of care. 

Keeping some of these things in mind can ensure you find a healthcare provider who feels like a true partner in your care.

Read more

• Find a healthcare provider that really gets you
• How to advocate for yourself as a patient to get the care you deserve

How much should I exercise?

A 2017 study showed that 30 to 60 minutes of exercise two to seven times per week may reduce hypertension. If possible, try to space out exercise during the week. This rest may help your body recharge. 

What is the best kind of exercise?

There isn’t one “best” kind of exercise. It depends on your level of comfort and what you enjoy. For example, if you were a runner before becoming pregnant, you can likely continue. If you’re new to exercise, try fast walks and low-impact options such as prenatal yoga, walking, light weights, and swimming. See how you feel and shift your plan as needed. 

What exercise should I not do?

This will depend on your health. However, some exercises are usually riskier than others. Try to avoid exercises that:

1. Involve collision, physical contact, and falling
2. You haven’t done it before becoming pregnant
3. Make you feel overly tired

What are the risks?

If you have a healthy pregnancy, exercising while pregnant has no known risks. It will not increase your risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or early delivery. 

Is there anything else I should remember?

Yes! Here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Listen to your body 
2. Focus on what works for you 
3. Work with a trusted healthcare provider 

You and your healthcare provider can work together to make sure you are safe and comfortable. You can also read more about preeclampsia and exercise below.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read More

• Preeclampsia: What you need to know 
• Being your own health care advocate
• Low-impact exercise during pregnancy
• What’s a risky exercise during pregnancy?

Sources

• Magro-Malosso, Elena R. “Exercise during pregnancy and risk of gestational hypertensive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Obstetrics and Gynecology. 96(80: 921-931. Web. August 2017. 
• “Healthy Pregnant or Postpartum Women.” Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. June 3, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/ basics/pregnancy/index.htm
• “Exercise During Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. December 2021. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/exercise-during-pregnancy#:~:text=Regular%

Cassandre is a marketing executive, mom of two, and a trained doula. We sat down to talk about discovering she had PCOS, opening the conversation around infertility, and helping other families through their family planning and birth experiences.  

Can you tell me a little bit about your family?

I come from a big family, on both my mom and dad’s sides. I’m one of five girls and grew up in a house in Brooklyn with about 20 family members — siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. I’ve always had a lot of kids around me (I don’t even know how many cousins I have)! 

I always knew I wanted kids. I used to say I wanted four — that was my magic number. My career was also important to me, but I knew I wanted a family. 

What role did your career play in your life? How did that influence your family plans?

Balancing family planning and my career was a challenge, but once I began dealing with infertility, starting a family became my top priority. I still worked — which probably made it harder because I was in a stressful job — but family planning was #1. The thought of not being able to have kids really scared me. 

Tell me a little more about your experience with infertility. 

I got married in my early 30s, and we waited four years to start having kids because we wanted to enjoy marriage and have fun. I recommend that to everyone, if you can!

Once we started, we tried for 6 or 7 months before my midwife recommended an infertility specialist. It took her a while to diagnose me with PCOS. I will never forget that day in the infertility specialist’s office when she told me, “You’re not going to be able to conceive naturally.” At that time, I didn’t know much about fertility treatments. I didn’t know anyone in my life who went through this because no one talked about it. I had no clue where to begin. 

No one in my family knew. Finally, my husband told me, “You have to tell your sisters.” So I finally told them and my parents. Eventually, I told everyone, in part because I wanted people to stop asking me when we were going to have kids. From that point on, whenever someone would ask me, “Hey, why don’t you have kids yet?” I would respond, “Because we’re having fertility problems.” That got them to stop asking. 

Starting IUI was emotional. I had to take shots every day. We had two cycles, the second one took, and we finally had our miracle baby!

Tell me about your pregnancy experience. 

Pregnancy was good, but it was emotional. If you go through infertility or miscarriage, when you finally do have a successful pregnancy, it’s hard to enjoy. I was so worried something would go wrong. I didn’t take any photos when I was pregnant for that reason. We moved recently and I found the one picture I took when I was pregnant. I was so happy to find it.

Once I had her, though, I said to myself, “Never again will I not share this story.” I tell everyone now. And I found the more I was honest with people about my experience with infertility and IUI, the more people reached out sharing they were dealing with the same issues. And it just continued. In my life so many people are dealing with infertility issues. All of a sudden, I became this unofficial, unlicensed infertility specialist! 

I wanted to know everything about PCOS and infertility — I dug all the way into the research, I bought books, I joined online communities — and I realized there is this whole world of people going through the same thing and no one is talking about it. Especially in the Black community. No one. 

Why do you think that is?

Black women seek medical treatment for infertility at much lower rates than their white counterparts. There is a stereotype that Black women are super fertile and have lots of kids. And culturally within the community, we do it to each other. You’ll hear Black folks say things like, “Oh she’s a fertile myrtle.” These stereotypes make it feel like we don’t have fertility problems, like we don’t do IUI. I had two friends who froze their eggs recently, and I was so proud of them. It’s an investment in their future, but there are barriers that need to be broken. 

I dealt with infertility in silence with no one. It was just me, my thoughts, and my little online communities. It was very isolating. I’m happy to see the conversation becoming more normalized now. 

Yes, it does feel like people are getting more comfortable having conversations about women’s health: periods, fertility, postpartum health, and menopause.

Yes. Education is a huge part of it, and so is listening to your body. Part of the reason I found out I had PCOS (even though it took my doctor forever to figure it out) is because I went through this period of 3-4 months where I was regularly exercising, eating well, and I lost no weight. I was breaking out (which I never do). I knew something was wrong. 

I got some regular bloodwork done at my doctor’s office. A few days later, she called me and told me that something was wrong with my hormone levels. She referred me to an endocrinologist (my fertility specialist), and that’s when we realized I had PCOS.

Moral of the story: listen to your body!

And your body changes! I had a baby 12 years ago and had all kinds of challenges, and then at 44, I got pregnant with no problems. We weren’t trying. I was done having kids. It’s so important to trust your body. Work together with your doctors, but you know your body. 

Yes, and when you’re used to ignoring pain or discomfort, that becomes your norm. 

When you’re used to needing to minimize how you’re feeling, you don’t think anything of it when you’re actually feeling pain. 

I wonder about the role that weathering plays in this fertility space too and how holding generational pain within the body might impact fertility. 

I think it absolutely does. Among unmarried couples, Black women are five times more likely to be the head of household than Black men. When you have the responsibility of providing and caring for your family, the added pressure of infertility adds another layer of stress. And stress is absolutely a huge factor in infertility. 

We tried to conceive when I was at my previous company, and it just was not happening. The moment I left and joined another company, I became pregnant. The exact same thing happened to two of my other coworkers. Stress is a major factor. 

Do you think your experience influenced your decision to become a doula?

It was a big part of it, but what really convinced me was when my sister-in-law was pregnant. Her doula was very late to the birth, she literally almost missed it. So I ended up naturally working as her doula. When I left, I started looking into doula work. I didn’t have a doula with my first, but the more I dug into it I realized I could do it and it connected with my story. Especially being about to help people through infertility — it’s such a soft spot for me. I did a training specialized program for infertility work during the pandemic. 

Tell me about the differences in your birth team for your first versus your second pregnancy. 

I’ve always gone to midwives. Because I had a midwife, I had a great birth experience. Midwives labor with you — that’s the difference between a midwife and an OB. 

And for your second pregnancy, you gave birth far from your home, right?

Yes. I live on Long Island now. It’s diverse and great, but I did not feel comfortable giving birth here. I got great OB recommendations, but there are no midwives near me. So I commuted all the way to Brooklyn for my midwife. I just made it happen. I was not going to sacrifice that part of my care. 

How has having a second baby later in your reproductive years impacted your birth and parenting experience? 

Because I’m a doula and I’ve attended so many births, with my second I felt like a complete expert in terms of what I want and didn’t want. 

Basically, you could have delivered the baby yourself…

If I could have, I would have! I knew I wanted to be induced. I had some fear about my age, but while it was unexpected, I had less fear the second time around than I had with my oldest. With my oldest, I didn’t have any information. Information is so critical. 

Now, I’m leaning on my first pregnancy, my work as a doula, and even working at Ovia. Working at Ovia while having kids is truly a blessing. I can’t count the number of times I’ve emailed an Ovia Health Coach (shoutout to Lisa and Lilly!) with a question about breastfeeding or something else. They are just amazing and have helped me so much. 

But overall, the beauty of having a baby at this age is the confidence, the education, knowing I can disagree with my midwife, knowing all my opinions; it’s been so much easier. 

Do you have any advice for someone going through a first pregnancy or feeling nervous about pregnancy for any reason? 

I’m a strong advocate for midwives, but the most important thing is to trust your body. You have to get to the place of trusting yourself and trusting your body. I was so nervous when I was pregnant with my first that my body was going to fail me. But you have to remember that your body is built for this. There may be some complications, but listen to and trust your body.

This article is part of Ovia’s Black Birth Experience series.

Read more

• Identify your advocate
• Advocate for your health by bringing a support person with you to appointments

Midwives

The term “midwife” covers a range of different care providers, from certified nurse midwives, who are registered nurses (and usually possess a graduate degree like a Masters of Science in Nursing or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice) who have also completed special training specifically in midwifery, all the way to lay midwives, who enter practice directly following apprenticeship to an established midwife.

Midwives, regardless of their level of certification, share a common foundation: they are trained in women’s reproductive health. While obstetricians mainly concentrate on the delivery itself, midwives take a broader approach, focusing on the entire “birth year” of both the woman and her baby. This period encompasses labor and the first year of the baby’s life. Birth is a significant life event that impacts women in various ways — mentally, physically, and socially. Midwives play a vital role in educating women and their families on how to maintain wellness before and after childbirth. Essentially, midwives view pregnancies and births that do not involve serious risk factors as natural life events, rather than purely medical ones.

This doesn’t mean midwives don’t monitor pregnant women carefully for signs that could turn into medical complications. In fact, midwives who detect medical issues often have the ability and authority to treat them. They also often have established relationships and protocols for transferring the care of pregnant women with health conditions to obstetricians or for working alongside doctors. 

So why go to a midwife for care when it’s possible to end up under the care of an obstetrician anyway? Midwives provide continuity of care, both by attending all prenatal appointments and by staying with you throughout labor and early infant care. Women who feel strongly about natural birth or alternative birthing methods often feel more supported in that preference by midwives, too.

Beyond that, certified nurse midwives are medical professionals qualified to provide most prenatal monitoring and care and make recommendations for further care. In the U.S., depending on state regulations, many certified midwives can write prescriptions for medications, and outside of the U.S., certified midwives are often qualified to give all types of prenatal care and care during birth except for C-sections.

Doulas

Doulas are not medical professionals unless they have independent medical training in another area. Instead of providing medical care, doulas provide physical and emotional support before, during, and after labor. Doulas can share information about pregnancy, the process of birth, and newborn care with new parents, and help to make sure you know all your options as you’re going into labor.

Doulas can help new parents feel a sense of stability during labor, since they often arrive either before the midwife or before new parents are recommended to head towards the hospital. Doulas also generally stay with parents throughout labor, which can be especially valuable in a hospital setting, when shift changes may mean that your doula is the only face that stays constant throughout the process.

Labor nurses

Labor nurses are entirely different from midwives or doulas, though in some ways, their functions can overlap with both. In hospital settings, labor nurses can take on some of the monitoring that a midwife would do in a birth outside of a hospital setting. They can also provide some of the support and education before, during, and after the birth, such as what a doula might provide.

This overlap doesn’t mean that labor nurses are equivalent to either. Labor nurses don’t attend to each stage of birth in the way that either a doula or a midwife would. Unlike midwives, labor nurses do not generally deliver babies, and unlike doulas, though labor nurses may provide some emotional support and education, their jobs are not defined by that.

Also, unlike a midwife or a doula, labor nurses often have multiple patients at a time and may move from room to room during labor. Their shifts are independent of any individual woman’s labor and may change midway through or even multiple times, depending on the length of labor.

Different medical needs, availability, and new parents’ preferences mean that no labor team is exactly the same, but they are all teams—every member plays a part. Having a good idea of what each team member can provide is the best way to ensure that you’re making the best choices when you’re picking your team.

Sources

• Jessica Austin. “The Difference Between Midwife and Doula Explained.” BirthTakesaVillage. Birth Takes a Village, Dec 2011. Web.
• Yvonne Butler Tobah, MD. “Doula: Do you need a doula?” MayoClinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Jan 15 2016. Web.
• “Differences between a Doula and a Midwife.” AllNursingSchools. All Star Directories, Inc., nd. Web.

OB/GYN

You’ve likely heard about OB/GYNs, but here’s the formal definition. An OB/GYN is a doctor whose specialty is obstetrics (the branch of medicine dedicated to childbirth and the care of women giving birth) and gynecology (the branch dedicated to the reproductive system).

Many women with low-risk pregnancies who plan to give birth in hospitals often choose OB/GYNs as their primary care providers during pregnancy, but when it comes time for delivery, they are safe in the hands of other providers like nurses or midwives. For women with high risk pregnancies, OB/GYNs are the recommended birth providers because they are the most well-equipped to deal with any complications and surgeries like C-sections.

If you’re considering giving birth at a birth center or other non-hospital setting and want an OB/GYN present, it’s important to note that OB/GYNs often serve as consultants at birth centers, but likely will not be present unless there are complications. Find out where your OB/GYN delivers as you create your birth plan.

Midwife

Midwives are healthcare providers who offer comprehensive care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labor, and birth. Midwives are also trained to serve as primary care providers Midwives can provide much of the same care that an OB/GYN can.

Women with low-risk pregnancies who work with midwives often experience fewer medical interventions, and may deliver babies in a variety of settings, including hospitals, birthing centers, and homes.

One of the biggest differences between a midwife and an OB-GYN is a difference in philosophy — midwives view pregnancy and birth as natural life events rather than major medical events. If this philosophy rings true for you and your pregnancy is low risk, a midwife could be a great fit.

Birth Doula

Birth doulas are labor coaches who help prepare you mentally and emotionally for delivery, and guide you through it. Doulas know about every facet of the labor process and can help you get a firm grasp on what will definitely happen, and what could.

Doulas can be useful for women who have had other pregnancies as well, because every pregnancy and delivery is different. It’s important to note that doulas are not doctors, and so may not be knowledgeable about a specific high-risk or complicated pregnancy. Postpartum doulas can also help you adjust to life with your new one and breastfeeding.

Birth Partner

Think of your birth partner as your right-hand. This person could be a partner, parent, sibling, or friend, as long as they are a person who supports you and you feel you can trust. Delivery is intense, and someone who helps you work through stress and discomfort is an ideal match for delivery day.

You get to decide who joins you for the birth journey, so spend a little time thinking about who can help you prepare for delivery and join you for the process.

Read more

• Building a birth plan
• Finding the delivery location that is right for you

Find your primary support person

Determine your primary support person. This person would be responsible for driving you home, making sure you are fed, and helping you with basic needs. This could be your partner, a close friend, a family member, or a postpartum doula — whoever they are, it’s important that you can rely on them. 

Make a clear, documented plan of your expectations for those first forty days with your support person. If it seems like too much for them to take on alone, bring on more than one person so they can work in shifts to support you and your baby. It’s important that whoever you choose is encouraging, nonjudgemental, and capable of supporting you holistically. 

Set up a food chain

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Everyone is going to want to meet your little one, so ask them to bring basics when they visit. Request that family and friends drop off food so you don’t have to spend any energy thinking about what you are going to eat and preparing food. 

Make sure to clearly articulate your dietary needs ahead of time! Here’s one option for organizing meals: https://www.mealtrain.com. There are plenty of other resources with similar functionality. 

Arrange your appointments before delivery day

Book your postpartum wellness check ups before your little one arrives! Schedule your appointments now, and put them on the calendar so your primary support person can refresh your memory and help transport you to the appointments. Although, if something doesn’t feel right before your scheduled check-up, don’t hesitate to call your provider. 

Plan for the worst, but expect the best

Life can sometimes take some unexpected twists. It’s important to be as prepared as possible for the worst. Talk to your provider about your specific health conditions to get a better understanding of what could happen during labor and postpartum. Ask questions about what you can expect physically and emotionally during those first 40 days and what are common warning signs. Once you have a clearer picture of what to expect during labor, make a plan for each emergency scenario and clearly talk through it with your primary support person so they can advocate for your needs and wants.

The bottom line 

Create a postpartum plan now. It is important to start thinking about your first 40 days and beyond, so you can set expectations with your support network well in advance. Lean on your network to support you in communicating with your provider if something doesn’t feel right.

Read more

• Feeling more like you after giving birth
• The nitty gritty: Emotional stress after giving birth

How can doulas help?

Starting in pregnancy, doulas can support you by helping you learn more about labor and delivery, answering questions you have about the process, and helping make sure that you know all your options before the big day. Doulas can also support you throughout labor, helping you position your body to find more comfort, offering hands-on touch to provide relief and promote calm, and helping you communicate with your healthcare provider to ensure that you feel in control during the process.

And because, in many instances, you might not deliver your baby with the healthcare provider who has been seeing you throughout your pregnancy, a doula can serve as a great source of consistency and stability throughout your pregnancy journey. They can even provide you with support postpartum as your body recovers, as you learn to breastfeed (if you choose to) and care for an infant, and as you adjust to how this major transition reshapes your life. 

Another big way doulas offer support is by helping you to advocate for the kind of care you want and need. Self-advocacy when it comes to the medical care you’ll receive during this time is hugely important, especially if you experience a medical professional who is not really hearing you. Because you’ll have been working with your doula for sometime and they’ll really understand what you want and need — and because you’ll likely be very comfortable speaking with them honestly about your wants and needs — they can help back you up, communicate your needs, and make sure you’re heard.  

In addition, recent research shows that doulas can help lead to better health outcomes. Folks who work with doulas are less likely to experience complications that involve them or their baby, are less likely to have a baby with low birth weight, and have higher rates of breastfeeding.

Why it’s important to find one who gets you

Clearly working with a doula has some major benefits, but how can you choose one who’ll be best for you? It can be incredibly helpful to work with a doula who can provide you with personalized support — physically, emotionally, and educationally. Often finding a doula who works in your community — someone who you feel you can really connect with and speak with honestly — is the best choice.

How doulas can play a role in helping with birth equity

Health inequity in the United States has devastating consequences for Black women and families, who experience disproportionately worse maternal and infant health outcomes for a number of reasons — including limited access to care, dismissal of pain and other health concerns, and higher rates of underlying health conditions — racism and unconscious bias in the healthcare system are huge factors in each of these areas.

Doulas can play a role in improving  birth equity, which is “the assurance of the conditions of optimal births for all people, with a willingness to address racial and social inequities in a sustained effort.” There are, for example, doula groups run by and for Black women, so that those doulas can really understand what the people they are working with are going through, the challenges they may be facing, and can help support all of their unique needs. A personalized doula experience, where you really feel like your doula understands your unique needs and wishes, can greatly improve health outcomes. 

You deserve support

So if you’d like to work with a doula, try and seek one out in your community who you connect with and who understands where you’re coming from. A quick internet search may help you find independent doulas or doula groups in your area (DONA International, a leading doula certifying organization, has a database to search by location). You may also want to ask your healthcare provider if they have any recommendations. And it’s also worth noting that some healthcare offices and community clinics may even be able to help get you set up to work with doulas in your community, some of whom may be available to support you at no cost during pregnancy and postpartum.

Doulas can be expensive and inaccessible for some people to hire on their own, so even if free community doula services are not available through your healthcare office or clinic, many student doulas do offer free or discounted services. So if you’re interested in doula services, start your search today. You deserve to have the kind of support a doula can provide. 

Read more

• How to advocate for yourself as a patient to get the care you deserve
• Why bringing a support person with you to appointments can help you advocate for the best healthcare

Sources

• Kenneth J. Gruber, Susan H. Cupito, Christina F. Dobson. “Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes.” The Journal of Perinatal Education. 22(1): 49-58. Winter 2013. Retrieved August 31 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/.
• “Find a Doula.” DONA International. DONA International. Retrieved August 31 2020. https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/find-a-doula/.
• “Obstetric Care Consensus: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2016. Retrieved August 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2014/03/safe-prevention-of-the-primary-cesarean-delivery.

As a queer Black person, it can be especially helpful to see a care team that shares your cultural background. Studies show that seeing Black providers typically leads to better health education and health outcomes for Black patients. Here are some tips to help you navigate the system and advocate for yourself.

Find a provider who gets you

First things first: it’s critical that you find a provider who really understands your position, whether or not they’re queer and Black themselves. Finding a provider that takes the time to correctly pronounce your name and use your pronouns, can go a long way in making you feel comfortable and taken care of.  If your provider is consistently misgendering you or mispronouncing your name, this can be a clear sign that they are not a good fit for you. 

Don’t be afraid to shop around for a provider that makes you feel comfortable. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and the OB/GYN your friend loves so much may still not be the right fit for you. Ovia Health’s coaching team can help you find in-network providers who fit your needs across specialities, location, queer-friendliness, racial and ethnic identity, and more. Once you have your list together, schedule a few appointments and be sure to ask each provider specific questions during your first visit about how you will work together towards your reproductive health goals. about finding the right provider. 

Consider alternative options

More and more people are choosing to work with a midwife for their ongoing reproductive care rather than a traditional OB/GYN. Midwives offer most services that OB/GYNs do and focus on taking a whole-health approach to patient care. They can address low-risk to normal-risk conditions, whether around sexual health, pregnancy and birth, or postpartum. They can help with things like STI counseling and testing, common concerns like yeast infections or UTIs, and fertility support. In fact, due to their holistic approach, many midwives focus on ensuring that you and your body are prepared to have the healthiest pregnancy possible if you are trying to conceive. The ability to prescribe medications can vary by state. 

If you already have a provider but aren’t satisfied with their care, or if your goals have changed (perhaps you’re now trying to get pregnant), consider switching providers for one that better fits your needs. Advocate for yourself and find the right fit for you.

Advocate for your needs

During every visit, you have the right to ask as many questions as you want to understand exactly what is going on with your body. Try keeping a list of the concerns that arise in between visits and bringing it to your next appointment (and be sure to talk to an Ovia Coach in the meantime!) Check out these helpful resources on talking to your provider. 

You have the right to be seen, heard, and get the care you need.

Sources

• “What is a Midwife and Why Might a Woman Want to See One?” Jessica Costa, CNM. Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. December 12, 2018. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/health-essentials/what-is-a-midwife-and-why-might-a-woman-want-to-see-one. 
• “Benefits of Using a Midwife.” Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/obgyn-womens-health/depts/obstetrics-family-maternity-center/midwife#benefits-tab.