Ohio

Ohio offers a wide range of healthcare providers and support professionals to assist families during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, ensuring personalized options to meet diverse needs across the state. Some family doctors in Ohio provide prenatal care and attend deliveries, offering continuity of care throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

Perinatal Providers

Physicians: Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYNs) are available throughout Ohio in hospitals, private practices, and health clinics. These specialists manage both routine and high-risk pregnancies. These hospitals provide extensive obstetric care, including maternal-fetal medicine services for complex cases.

Family Physicians: Many family doctors across Ohio offer prenatal care and may attend deliveries, especially in smaller or rural communities. They often emphasize continuity of care before, during, and after childbirth.

Nurses and Midwives: Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and licensed midwives in Ohio support patient-centered, low-intervention births in hospitals, birth centers, and home settings. These centres offer midwifery-led care in welcoming, home-like environments.

Physician Assistants (PAs): Working alongside OB-GYNs and family physicians, PAs provide prenatal checkups, health screenings, and postpartum support. They help extend access to care in both densely populated areas and underserved regions.

Other Perinatal Professionals

Doulas: Doulas offer non-medical emotional, and physical support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Groups like the Northeast Ohio Doulas connect families with trained doulas who support birth plans and postpartum recovery.

Home Visitors: Ohio’s Help Me Grow Home Visiting program supports expectant and new parents through in-home visits focused on child development, parenting skills, and maternal wellness, especially for families facing social or economic challenges.

Behavioral Health Professionals: Perinatal mental health support is available across the state through providers. These services address issues like postpartum depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Lactation Consultants: Certified lactation consultants offer expert guidance on breastfeeding and infant nutrition. Many hospitals in Ohio provide in-hospital and outpatient lactation services. Additionally, private lactation consultants and peer support groups are widely available.

Rural and Underserved Community Support

Ohio’s rural areas benefit from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and regional public health departments that deliver prenatal and postpartum services. The Ohio Department of Health collaborates with local agencies to ensure access to maternal care across all 88 counties, including resources for underserved and minority populations.

Programs like the Ohio Equity Institute (OEI) also work to reduce disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes, particularly among African American and Appalachian communities.