Just when “doula” has finally became a household word, even being featured in movies and tv series, there’s a new birth worker title out there: monitrice (pronounced mon-uh-tree-ss).
What is a monitrice and what are the differences between a doula and a monitrice?
A monitrice is either a midwife or a nurse who is acting in a doula role, supporting someone prenatally, during labor, or postpartum, but not catching the baby or managing the labor once you arrive at the intended venue of birth. The main differences between a monitrice and doula are: a medical degree, a medical license, and acquired skills that can be utilized during the perinatal period. In contrast, to become certified as a doula, completing a weekend course and attending 3 births is all that is required although there are plenty doulas that have many years of experience, additional certificates such as Lactation Consultant and offer a valuable service.
What specific things can a monitrice offer?
Midwives and nurses acting as monitrices can offer a wide variety of skills during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience! At this point I will just be speaking from my experience as a midwife and monitrice as I don’t know any nurses actually providing monitrice services. These are most of the things I provide as a monitrice.
Prenatally:
- Nutrition and supplementation counseling
- Prenatal and birth risk reduction counseling
- Extra belly checks to confirm baby’s position
- 2nd opinions or additional information about something. your doctor has said or offered
- Belly massage to change a breech position early in the 3rd trimester, if needed
- Lifestyle and supplement support for those with gestational diabetes
- Educating about birth options without judgment for YOUR preferences
- Assistance in making a birth plan
- Natural labor encouragement options for pre-hospital admission
- Connection with resources and physical support for perinatal mood disorders
- Comfort measure education for your partner
In labor:
- Comfort measures
- Thorough assessment of baby’s position and descent if desired
- Intermittent fetal monitoring with a Doppler
- Monitoring of mom’s vitals
- Cervical checks if desired (usually clients want at least one to decide when to go to the hospital)
- Labor management to enhance efficiency
- Helping your partner know how to support you
- Labor support at the hospital or birth center
- Talking through options as they are presented at the hospital or birth center so you can make the choice that feels best and safest for you!
Postpartum:
- Weight checks for baby
- Breastfeeding support and latch correction
- Help with assembling and using a breast pump
- Preparation of sitz baths or vaginal steams to help with postpartum healing
- Nutrition guidance for a full postpartum recovery
- Neck, shoulder and upper back massage (areas that get sooo tight after weeks of breastfeeding!)
- Mastitis education and prevention
- Breastfeeding snack prep, if desired
- Cesarean incision monitoring, if needed
- Cesarean scar healing, if needed
- Postpartum Mood Disorder screening and support
- Baby wearing demonstrations
- Safe baby sleep education
Still have questions? Send me an email at krawlyann@gmail.com
