Midwife or OB?

Question

Hey ladies!
So I need some input.
My previous pregnancies I just saw an Ob the whole time and he delivered my babies. This time we live in a different state that has the option of a midwife delivery versus an ob delivery. I’m 29 weeks and I had chosen the midwife route but now I’m not sure.
I don’t even know at this point if my practice will let me switch. They say you must stick with one or the other. 
When I deliver it will be a midwife but obviously an ob will be on the floor in case of an emergency. 
Do you guys have a preference or any positive experiences to share either way?

Answer

I had a midwife that worked out of an OB office and delivered my kids in hospital. She was SO NICE! And she stretched me down there really well. I didn’t tear or need stitches for either of my kids! 10/10 would recommend

Answer

Not sure if this fully pertains but I have 2 kids. My oldest I deliverers in a hospital with an OB. I hated the experience so much I told myself with any other children we had I wouldn’t go to the hospital again if I could help it. So with my second child I saw a midwife and delivered at a birth center. It was 10x better in my opinion and I could not have been more happy with my care and birth experience. Even when I was pregnant my OB would take five seconds and then leave during appointments. I found the Ob to always be in a rush and rude. My midwife spent as much time as I needed and listened to me and answered questions and was nice. During labor My midwife was more of a coach and was super helpful and encouraging, and allowed me to do whatever I needed during labor and she let me listen to my body. The OB wasn’t there until I delivered but being in the hospital I was confined to the bed with all the wires and monitors. So all I all I liked my midwife experience far better. Doesn’t mean all OBs are bad! Just my experience.

Answer

It depends on the experience you want. I hate attention when I am in pain, I want everyone to leave me the F alone and let me whine by myself lol. Midwives are more hands on, they are there every step of the way because you are their only concern - they don’t have other patients on the floor needing them. They are highly trained nurses specializing in fetal medicine. So they’ve done 4 years of school for their nursing degree and another 2-4 to specialize in fetal medicine and become a licensed midwife. Most places are 4 so that is a total of 8 years. Most doctors have done 8-12 years. Midwives tend to offer a more natural approach and work beside you as a doula where an OB will do their checks and be present while you push, they don’t offer much coaching or any birthing techniques to help you through. They are strictly business. That being said some will offer tips here and there, not all are the same. With an OB you have to birth in a hospital and you have to stay until discharged. With a midwife you can birth where you please (for the most part) and you can go home right away as they will come to you to do wellness checks.

Answer

What's the actual difference between a midwife & an OB? I'm just curious, I have no idea what the difference is. I've gone with an OB for all my babies.

Answer

I chose a midwife but she’s not in practice with a doctor, she works out of a birthing center. Ones that work with OBs tend to be very similar to OBs, more medically minded. So it really just depends on which person you like more!

Answer

I've seen people in my family with terrible midwives I rather an ob and I loved mine she was so nice

Answer

Honestly you need to research the midwives near you, because I always read about these midwives who cannot do things and I've never experienced that. My midwife went to all the same schooling as an OB, plus extra training. She could do everything the ob could, except she could only be an assistant I. The case of a c section. Other than that she could do everything, all emergencies she would be the one to take care of it. You could even pick whichever pain relief you want,  which I know some midwives won't let you

Midwife or OB?

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