Medical training for labor and delivery?

Question

What kind of training, certification, education do you need to work in the labor and delivery department taking care of the babies?

Answer 1

That would depend on whether you're a doctor, nurse, physician's assistant, midwife, whatever.

If you're a doctor, first you become a doctor, then you specialize in neonatology.  If you're not a doctor, you might become a CNA, LPN, RN, or Physician's Assistant.  If you're a nurse-midwife you would work in labor and delivery but be more concerned with the mother and getting the baby delivered safely than with infant care.  Each of these jobs has its own training and certifications.  CNA is the least amount of training, Physician's Assistant the most, in the nursing line.  BTW, most hospitals believe in "rooming in" now, where the babies stay in the same room as the mothers so they can bond, so the babies aren't necessarily "little bundles all in a row" like we see in the movies anymore....

Answer 2

You might also really want to look into becoming a DOULA. It is a minimum amount of time invested (with intense training). If you eventually want to become a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife), you will need DOULA training and experience.