Birth Attendant Versus Birth Assistant
A distinction must be made between "birth attendant" and others who may provide support and care during pregnancy and childbirth, based on professional training and skills, practice regulations, as well as nature of care delivered. Birth attendants are typically trained to perform clinical functions for basic and emergency obstetric and neonatal care, including administration of parenteral antibiotics, oxytocics and anticonvulsants; manual removal of placenta; removal of retained products of placenta; assisted vaginal delivery; and newborn resuscitation. Depending on the legal scope of practice, this may also include performing cesarean sections.
A birth assistant, also known as a doula, "birth worker", "labor support person", or "childbirth educator" is someone other than the above who provides emotional support and general care and advice to women and families during pregnancy and childbirth. A doula usually offers support services to the family in the weeks following the birth ("postpartum doula") and may also assist during labor and childbirth ("birth doula").
In many developing countries, a traditional birth attendant (TBA), also known as a traditional midwife, is a person who provide basic pregnancy and birthing care and advice based primarily on experience and knowledge acquired informally through the traditions and practices of the communities where they originated. They usually have no modern health care training and are not typically subject to professional regulation.
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