Birth Assistant
New Birth Midwifery·Chaska, Minnesota
New Birth Midwifery·Chaska, Minnesota
Provide hands-on labor support and clinical assistance to midwives during birth and the immediate postpartum period. Maintain the birth space and assist with newborn care, including APGAR scoring and thermoregulation.
Overview The Birth Assistant plays a key supportive role during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. Working closely with the primary midwife, the Birth Assistant helps provide safe, attentive, and family-centered care for birthing clients. This role is focused exclusively on birth assisting and does not include routine clinic, administrative, or home visit duties. This position may be filled by a licensed nurse or a certified medical assistant with appropriate training and experience.
Key Responsibilities Provide hands-on labor support, including comfort measures such as positioning, massage, hydrotherapy support, and emotional reassurance Assist the midwife with clinical tasks during labor and birth, including intermittent fetal heart tone monitoring with Doppler and maternal assessments as directed Prepare and maintain the birth space, ensuring rooms, supplies, and equipment are clean, stocked, and ready for use Assist with sterile procedures and set-up as needed during birth and immediate postpartum care Support immediate postpartum and newborn care, including APGAR scoring, newborn measurements, thermoregulation, and initiation of breastfeeding Assist with medication administration and IV support as allowed by licensure and birth center protocols Assist the midwife in the management of birth and newborn complications, including but not limited to postpartum hemorrhage and newborn resuscitation, in accordance with training, licensure, and established protocols Assist in accurate documentation and charting of care provided during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period Communicate clearly and collaborate with midwives, student midwives, and other team members Follow all birth center policies, safety guidelines, and infection-control standards Respond calmly and effectively during urgent or emergent situations, following established protocols
On-Call Expectations This position includes on-call birth assist shifts, scheduled in 12-hour increments Birth Assistants are expected to work a minimum of one (1) on-call shifts per week Birth Assistants may be scheduled for a maximum of six (6) on-call shifts per week to maintain per diem status Ideal team member lives within a 30-minute travel radius of birth center (or makes plans to be within a 30-minute radius while on call) and be able to arrive promptly when called in On-call team members must remain available, reachable, and able to respond reliably for the duration of their scheduled shift
On-Call Hour Equivalency Birth Assistant positions are per diem and not benefit eligible For workload and scheduling purposes, each 12-hour on-call shift is considered the equivalent of four (4) working hours Time actively worked during a birth is paid separately at the applicable hourly rate and does not count toward benefit eligibility or full-time status
Required Qualifications Licensed nurse/nursing assistant (RN, LPN, CNA) or Certified Medical Assistant in good standing in the state of Minnesota Training or experience in birth assisting, labor support, or maternal-newborn care Current BLS certification required Current NRP certification required (or willingness to obtain within a specified timeframe) Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team setting Ability to remain calm, flexible, and supportive in high-intensity situations Availability for on-call shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Experience in labor & delivery, birth center care, postpartum care, or home birth Doula training or experience providing labor support Lactation training or certification (IBCLC, CLC, CLE, CLS) Completion of an AABC-approved Birth Assistant course or similar training
Must be a licensed nurse (RN, LPN, CNA) or Certified Medical Assistant in Minnesota with current BLS and NRP certifications. Requires experience in birth assisting or maternal-newborn care and availability for on-call shifts.
Market context
Minnesota nursing openings often reflect steady demand in senior care settings, where employers look for RNs who can support older adults and work reliably across shifts. These roles are competitive because an accredited nursing degree, an unencumbered RN license, and prior senior-population experience are common screening points; a bachelor’s degree can strengthen candidacy. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save time, then confirm your license status and tailor your application to senior-care experience.
