VBAC: stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarian.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): an individual trained and licensed in both nursing and midwifery. Nurse-midwives possess at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): an individual trained in midwifery and meets practice standards of the North American Registry of Midwives.
Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): an independent individual trained in midwifery through a variety of possibilities that include: self-study, apprenticeship, a midwifery school, or a college/university program.
Certified Midwife (CM): an individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives possess at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Lay Midwife: an individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife; however they are trained informally through self-study or apprenticeship.
Doula: A birth doula is a trained labor support person who provides emotional and physical support to a laboring woman and her partner. While she is usually not a medical professional, she can offer a wide range of comfort measures during labor - from massage to aromatherapy to continuous reassurance and coping techniques.
Breech: Where the fetus is positioned head up to be born buttocks first or with one or both feet first. Breech positioning is relatively uncommon, occurring in fewer than five percent of all births.
Pitocin: A synthetic form of oxytocin administered intravenously to induce or augment labor by causing potent and selective stimulation of uterine and mammary gland muscles.