Midwife Vs. Obstetrician

How do you make a choice about who your care provider should be? It can be so automatic for some to make a decision about this based on what they are most familiar with. Yet, it may be important to know that who you choose as a care provider may determine the kind of birth you will ultimately end up having. The following are generalizations; not all doctors and midwives strictly fall into one of these categories. It is importan that you feel comfortable with whichever care provider you choose.

A midwife or a certified nurse midwife (CNM), is a trained professional who specializes in natural childbirth and low risk pregnancies, and also have medical background. Midwives often take more time with their clients and take a very hollistic approach to their care. They usually see chilbirth as a natural process and will view you as a woman giving birth to a baby and not as a medical procedure or sick patient. Some midwives work independently doing home births. There are also midwives who work at birth centers or hospitals. Sometimes, you may still have the option of getting medications under the care of a midwife. During labor, a midwife typically checks in with you to see how you are laboring and may make suggestions of things you could try to help labor progress. The midwife also works in collaboration with a doula if you choose to have one present for your birth. If complications arise during birth, your care may be transferred to an OB.

An Obstetrician (OB) is a physician who specializes in surgical birth, medical interventions and high risk pregnancies.  OBs have a depth of knowledge for situations in which unexpected circumstances arrise. They often have larger clientelle than midwives, and therefore may have less personallized care. It is not uncommon for an OB you have met with prenatally, and then to only be present for the birth of your baby. Care under an OB may mean more medical interventions. These physicians tend to have a medicalized view of birth rather than viewing birth as a natural process.

Choosing your provider should match with the kind of birth you are hoping to have. If you would like more personalized care, no interventions and are considered low-risk, a midwife may be the right choice for you. If you are high risk and need specialty care for you or your baby, an OB may be the right choice for you. It is also important to know that you can always begin under the personalized care of a midwife and then be transferred to the care of an OB if you are later deemed high risk. If you think there may be a possibility of this, you could also begin under midwife care and find an OB that you like in advance of birth so that you are familiar with their personality and practices. If you begin care under an OB, you will not be able to have the personalized care of a midwife during labor and delivery. In either case, it is a good idea to interview care providers in advance. Find out what kind of experience they have. Ask if you have a concern for them performing an intervention. What is the cesarean rate at that hospital? What is the rate of natural births? Is this provider open to your choices? Do they support your personal decisions for birth?

Whichever care provider you choose, it is important that you feel very comfortable with them, and the decisions they may make during the birth. You should feel confident that they will support your wishes for your birth.