How to Choose between a Midwife and an Obstetrician

The decision to have a baby is a happy one, yet it is often wrought with anxiety and worry. One of the choices that must be made early in the first trimester is deciding who will provide your prenatal care. When you have the opportunity to choose between a midwife and an obstetrician, consider these facts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know the difference between a midwife and obstetrician. Although both are qualified to care for you, both pre- and post-natal, as well as deliver your baby, their philosophies surrounding birth are different. Midwives provide a more natural approach whereas obstetricians make the medical technology available to the patient.

2. Evaluate your needs. If upon initial examination your pregnancy is considered "high risk," your care will be assigned to an obstetrician. Midwives can care for you as long as your pregnancy is normal.

3. Consider your lifestyle and philosophy. Midwives view birth as a solo process and they intervene as little as possible during labor and delivery while still being available to you. Obstetricians generally use well-trained nurses to care for you throughout the early stages of labor, and are then present at the final stages.

4. Decide what pain relief, if any, you want during labor and delivery. A midwife is apt to assist in non-medicinal forms of pain relief, such as breathing techniques. An obstetrician can work with you on a variety of pain relief options, from none at all to full pain management.

5. Determine where you want to deliver your baby. Midwives typically deliver babies in a hospital or birthing center and some may even consent to a home birth. Obstetricians deliver babies in a hospital.

Tips & Warnings

• In medical facilities where there is more than one midwife or obstetrician, having the chance to become familiar with them all is a good idea. The person who provides your prenatal care may not be the same person to deliver your baby.
• If you are not happy with the care you receive, it is okay to find someone better suited for you.

Resources

• Read more about how to choose between a midwife or obstetrician.

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[bookmom]

on 6/4/2008 Great article! Also, it is helpful to tour both facilities before deciding. Looking at where you will give birth and talking to the people involved can be very revealing, especially if you are new to this.