Midwife or Ob-GYN?

Question

This is my first pregnancy and I'm at the point here I need to decide who to visit for my prenatal appointments. How do you decide between seeing a midwife or an Ob-GYN? 
I'm nervous about labor and delivery and so am looking for a supportive, positive experience. But I am not looking for a natural birth. I think I will likely have some sort of pain management medication. I would prefer only see women for my appointments and during labor because I am quite shy. And I have found a birth center that recommends both types of caregivers.

How should I go about deciding on a caregiver that's right for me?

Answer

I would go with midwife care and move on to OBGYN if you pregnancy becomes complicated.

Answer

If you want pain relief you can go with an OB or midwife. It is an anesthesiologist that administers epidurals or other pain medications so your midwife/doctor just needs to be willing to request that for you. I saw the midwives until I had some complications at the end. Once the complications ended I went back to the midwives and had a wonderful (medicated) birth experience. The OBs were wonderful but I must say the midwives at my practice had a better bedside manner.

Answer

I want a natural birth with no interventions and unnecessary medical testing and such so I went with a midwife. I love her. She's so professional and caring and we are planning my (hopefully) beautiful home birth.

Answer

You could look for an office with both. Mine has both, the regular visits can be either a midwife or OB (they try to make sure you meet everyone). In the hospital most births are midwife run, but the OB checks in be is there if anything comes up.

Answer

Obgyn are really ment for high risk pregnancy. I would talk with some midwives and find one that works for you! You still have the same things offered to you with a nurse midwife I just honestly feel you are going to get much better support with a midwife and much less likely to experience unnecessary interventions!

Answer

I was going to a private suite  and I had a obstetrician. I moved and they gave me a midwife. Honestly I miss my obstetrician.  I have seen any ultrasound pics since I seen my obstetrician, and that was at 7 weeks.

Answer

Interview more than one provider. I chose a midwife for the personalized care and attention she gave. Not all midwives are against medicated birth but you will have to work to find hospitals that allow midwives privileges (in the U.S.). If you choose an OB be sure you know if they have other providers in the practice (other doctors or an NP) because they may not be there for the birth and if that's important to you then you should find someone who practices alone. I'm an RN and was really upset at how the OB treated me like I didn't need to know anything because I'm a nurse- like I know anything about pregnancy and babies being a cardiac nurse? Then my cousin said she had a solo OB the whole time who didn't make it to the birth- she walked in 5 minutes after the nurse delivered her daughter

Answer

I had a midwife team from the hospital, and it was a great experience, however I think I will go with an OBGYN my next child because there were complications with birth and there ended up being all sorts of docs and NICU staff there anyways. Also some of the problems were due to having a large baby (10lbs 9.5oz) and could possible have been prevented with closer monitoring and more ultrasounds and tests which an OB would have done but midwives did not.

Answer

Midwives! I have 2 & they both help me w/my pregnancy! If one is busy during labor the other will be there! If both are busy in that case Im meeting the OB for ultra sound in 2 weeks but I have MIDWIVES for the win! They're so sweet!

Answer

It was no question for me to hire a midwife because they're so nurturing and supportive. I'm going with a birthing center that's in a hospital so if there were any reason to want medicine (not for me though) the regular L&D rooms are a floor up and the midwives still deliver there. You should go visit a few of each, midwives and OBGYN,  and tell them you're trying to decide, talk to about  their policies or opinions about birth in general but more specifically what your vision is, and see which type of provider sticks with you more. I love that I'm meeting two midwives in a practice, I get seen by both throughout pregnancy and then one do those two women are with me the entire delivery, no residents, no students, no busy doctors rushing in for a few minutes then out to see someone else.

Midwife or Ob-GYN?

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