Kirsten Fisch
Co-Founder at - Momentum Health NetworkKirsten Fisch, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, LCCE Kirsten is a women's health nurse who specializes in high-risk pregnancy and postpartum care. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing, a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. She works with women from conception through the postpartum period. Passionate about empowering women throughout their reproductive journeys, Kirsten combines evidence-based care with compassionate support to promote the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
A recent California court ruling stirred debate about whether nurses with doctoral degrees should be allowed to use the title “Doctor” in healthcare settings. While the legal back-and-forth continues, one truth remains: for families, what matters most is understanding who is caring for you, what their role is, and how they can help you thrive during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
When you’re navigating the healthcare system, especially during the perinatal period, it can feel overwhelming to keep track of all the professionals you encounter. Let’s break it down.
Obstetricians (MD or DO)
Obstetricians are medical doctors who specialize in pregnancy, birth, and women’s reproductive health. They complete medical school, residency, and board certification. OBs can manage both routine and high-risk pregnancies, perform cesarean births, and make final decisions around complex medical care. They are often considered the “buck stops here” providers when it comes to medication and surgical interventions.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)
Midwives are advanced practice nurses with master’s or doctoral degrees who specialize in supporting healthy, low-risk pregnancies and births. They are experts in normal birth and often provide more personalized, holistic care. Midwives can prescribe medications (including pain relief and birth control), manage deliveries, and collaborate with obstetricians when complications arise. Many women choose midwifery care for its emphasis on empowerment, education, and support for natural childbirth.
Nurse Practitioners (NP, DNP, APRN)
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who can diagnose, prescribe medications, and manage various aspects of healthcare. In perinatal care, you may meet women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) or family nurse practitioners (FNPs). Some NPs hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, an advanced doctoral-level education.
Here’s where the confusion sometimes happens: a DNP may technically hold the title “Doctor,” but they are not a medical doctor. They are highly skilled clinicians who consistently deliver excellent care, particularly in areas such as prenatal education, postpartum recovery, and newborn health.
Physician Assistants (PA, PA-C)
Physician assistants are master’s-prepared clinicians who, like nurse practitioners, can diagnose, prescribe medications, and manage a wide variety of health conditions. In perinatal care, PAs may be part of OB/GYN practices, family medicine, or urgent care teams. Their scope of practice is very similar to that of NPs, and they often provide high-quality, patient-centered care in collaboration with physicians.
Registered Nurses (RN)
RNs are often the team members you’ll see the most during your hospital stay. They are your advocates, educators, and hands-on caregivers. In labor and delivery, postpartum, and newborn care, nurses assess your health, monitor your baby, give medications, provide breastfeeding support, and keep you safe. Many have additional certifications in maternal-newborn nursing, lactation, or fetal monitoring. They are often the ones who notice subtle changes and advocate for timely interventions.
Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)
If you choose to breastfeed, you may meet an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). These specialists are trained to help with everything from positioning and latch to milk supply and complex feeding challenges. Having an IBCLC on your team can make the difference between a frustrating start and a confident breastfeeding journey.
Pediatricians and Neonatologists
Once your baby arrives, pediatricians take the lead in your baby’s care. Pediatricians are medical doctors who specialize in the health of children. If your baby needs special attention (for example, in the NICU), a neonatologist, an MD who specializes in newborn intensive care, may be involved.
Why Titles Matter—And Why Teamwork Matters More
You may hear different people introduce themselves with titles like “Doctor,” “Nurse Practitioner,” or “Physician Assistant.” It can be confusing, especially when degrees and roles overlap. What matters most, however, is not the title but clarity and teamwork. Every family deserves to know exactly who is caring for them and what that person’s role is.
Doctors, nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and lactation consultants each bring unique expertise to the table. The best outcomes happen when they work together, communicate clearly, and center on your needs.
What You Can Do as a Patient
- Ask questions: “Can you tell me your role on my care team?” is always a fair question.
- Clarify decision-making: “Are you the one who makes final decisions about my medications or procedures?”
- Value each role: From the RN checking your vital signs to the OB performing your surgery, everyone contributes to your safety and experience.
The debate over who can use the title “Doctor” in healthcare will continue. But as a patient, what matters most is that you feel informed, respected, and supported by every member of your team. Titles aside, your healthcare journey during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is powered by collaboration, and that’s something worth celebrating.
Kirsten Fisch, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, LCCE Kirsten is a women's health nurse who specializes in high-risk pregnancy and postpartum care. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing, a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. She works with women from conception through the postpartum period. Passionate about empowering women throughout their reproductive journeys, Kirsten combines evidence-based care with compassionate support to promote the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
