Surrounding yourself with a strong support system and care team while pregnant and in the postpartum phase can make a big impact on your experience. Progyny was joined by various pregnancy and postpartum experts to help you learn about the various services that can play a role in your overall care. From doulas and lactation experts to a doctor you can trust, learn how you can build the care village that is right for you.
This webinar featured:
- Lissa Kline, LCSW, Senior VP at Progyny
- Dr. Whitney Booker, MD, MS, Maternal & Fetal Medicine
- Melanie Silverman, IBCLC, RD, Chief Clinical Officer at Pacify
- Rachel Carbonneau, CD, CPD, VP of Doula Programs at Pacify
Understanding Care Specialties
Each care specialty serves a different purpose with one shared goal: to ensure you and your baby are healthy, safe, and comfortable.
Your OB and picking the right one for you:
An OB is responsible for monitoring the health of both the birthing parent and the baby, identifying complications, and helping families understand what’s normal versus what’s concerning. Beyond medical checks, OBs also play a vital role in emotional reassurance and mental health support. When searching for an OB, finding a provider who you trust and can have open communication with is key. If something doesn’t feel right, getting a second opinion or choosing to switch providers is normal.
It’s important to note that there are different types of providers you may engage with, each bringing their own strengths and backgrounds. These include different levels of physicians (residents and attendings), nurse practitioners, physician assistants (PAs), and midwives. Understanding the strengths of each provider and how they’re supporting you can help you feel more confident and at ease. Your OB and clinical providers are also there to continue supporting you in the postpartum phase.
The role of a doula and the different types:
There are a wide range of doulas depending on the type of care you’re looking for and what part of your journey you’re in. From fertility, pregnancy, and birth to postpartum, doulas can provide both in-person and virtual services. Doulas offer emotional, mental, and physical support across your journey. They help families navigate the healthcare system, prepare questions for providers, clarify goals at each stage, and build confidence.
Doulas do not serve the same purpose as midwives. While midwives are clinical providers, doulas do not provide medical checks. Instead, they act as coaches who advocate for the birthing parent and families throughout each stage. They are compassionate guides who help clarify goals, and choosing a doula you trust and connect with is vital to feeling heard and supported.
The role of a lactation consultant:
Lactation consultants support families even before feeding begins by providing guidance on feeding basics, setting expectations, and connecting families to the right resources. Feeding can be an emotional experience, and having a compassionate professional guide can ease the mental burden. After birth, unexpected challenges may arise, and lactation consultants can help with latching issues, pain, milk supply concerns, and formula-related questions.
Lactation consultants are trained to support weaning and formula feeding and should never shame families for choosing a path different from breastfeeding.
Pregnancy: What should you expect and how can you prepare?
Pregnancy is a different experience for everyone, and the experience also differs for each pregnancy. Building your care village with a team of professionals is important but talking to trusted friends and family if you’re struggling emotionally, or talking to a therapist or counselor is valuable to support your holistic care. Check in early for your mental health and well-being, or if you’re the supportive partner, friend, or family member, offer a compassionate hand or listening ear when they need it.
What to expect at your first OB appointment, and throughout pregnancy:
Your first visit can be information-heavy, so bringing something to write with or coming in with questions can be helpful. Your provider will review medical history, explain testing options, ultrasound schedules, and set expectations for care. Being comfortable with your provider and not being afraid to openly communicate with them and ask what the purpose of a lab or test is for can help ease anxiety.
After the first appointment, your provider will monitor you and your baby’s health, including your mental and emotional well-being. New parents may develop anxiety or mood swings as a symptom of hormone fluctuations, sleep disturbances, or reminders of past grief. Along with routine blood pressure checks, ultrasounds, and labs, monitoring your emotional well-being is just as important as the physical.
How can families advocate for equitable, respectful care?
Advocacy starts with asking questions, requesting clarification, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. Key strategies include bringing a support person to visits, requesting a translator when needed, writing down questions between appointments, finding a provider who you feel comfortable and safe with to ask questions when something doesn’t feel right, and incorporating a doula who will help advocate for you throughout your journey.
Translating your birth preferences with the help of a doula:
Doulas help families figure out what their birth preferences are: whether that’s more intervention earlier, more medical oversight, delaying procedures that aren’t immediately necessary, and so on. A large part of the doula role is communication with your care team, who will help translate your preferences so you can receive care that feels good to you. There might be additional cultural barriers, language barriers, etc. where your doula can step in and make sure you are fully heard.
How expecting parents can prepare for feeding:
Getting the right resources and reliable education while pregnant is essential for managing expectations while feeding. Understanding milk physiology and newborn feeding patterns helps to alleviate early worries.
Postpartum: What should families expect in the fourth trimester?
What postpartum medical care looks like, and acknowledging postpartum depression:
The postpartum experience varies widely based on delivery and number of births, and physical recovery may take anywhere from weeks to months. Your OB can help manage expectations and make sure you’re recovering well.
Having a newborn can bring a whirlwind of emotions. You might be sleep deprived, feel physically exhausted, feel overwhelmed, or feel isolated. If you’re struggling postpartum, reaching out to a mental health professional is completely normal, and letting your care provider know what’s going on can help you determine if you’re struggling with postpartum depression.
The doula’s role in postpartum:
Doulas are often recognized for the birth, but they’re here for every phase through pregnancy and postpartum. You can reach out to your doulas for virtual appointments, where they can offer encouragement, give you resources, help you connect with other resources within your community, and validate the feelings that you’re having. Postpartum doulas can also provide in-home care in certain cases, and help with guidance on newborn care, overnight support, and more.
Lactation support after birth:
After birth, lactation consultants help families take feeding “one session at a time.” They normalize early challenges, help parents problem‑solve, and prioritize mental health. Sometimes reassurance or flexibility, such as pausing breastfeeding or adjusting methods, brings significant relief. If you’re having anxiety about feeding your baby, going to your OB and pediatrician visits to know your baby is at a healthy weight can help ease unnecessary mental stress.
If you are a Progyny member, know that Progyny is always here to support you across life’s milestones, and you can access additional resources at progyny.com/education.
Progyny members can contact Progyny at 888.597.5065 or via their employer specific phone number to learn more about your employer-specific benefit and available care options.