Midwife, OBGYN or doula? & why?

Question

New to this becoming a momma. Trying to determine the best options for me and my journey. Feel free to share your thoughts!

Answer

OB because the other two don’t have the capability and equipment to save my baby in the worst case scenarios. They also can’t save me, and I don’t want to be transferred to the OB that just happens to be on call in an emergency. I’d rather pick one with a fantastic surgical and delivery record that I’ve developed a relationship with. You can still opt for a doula if you have an OB and feel the need to have additional emotional support. I never want to look back and regret not having the best care possible. I have a sibling that almost died in childbirth (otherwise perfectly healthy pregnancy). Absolutely would have if it wasn’t for the doctors. He still spent quite a while in the NICU.

Answer

Midwife - it's the standard here even if high risk. An obgyn is only there to for multiples, C-sections, emergencies, or breech vaginal deliveries. 
A doula is just a support person and birthing helper - can't really do anything medically.

Answer

Midwife, 100%. My mom is also a certified doula (not a medical professional, you can have a doula at any type of delivery) so she’ll be there when I go into labor.
I’m going to a birth center which is around the corner from the hospital where they have an amazing OB and a staff of their own midwives, so that if I do end up having to transfer, I’ll be comfortable with the team there. 
My experiences with midwives have been so much better than my experiences with traditional OBs and gynecologists, even for non-pregnancy related things like birth control and well women’s exams. I’d choose a midwife over an OB any day of the week. I have to say, the OB who works with my midwife birth center is amazing! If all OBs were like him, the world would be a better place lol.

Answer

I am a first time mom and i am going with a midwife. I want to try to go unmedicated and with a midwife they’re really about letting your body do what it’s suppose to without intervention. Also, I’ll still be at the hospital so if worst case scenario I’ll still have the emergency equipment and an ob there if I need it.

Answer

As other people posting I am in the Uk and love that we are midwife led. Midwives have been discriminated against in the US because pregnant women are customers and midwives were stealing their customers. The propaganda against them was misogynistic and racist. 
Midwife led care has better overall outcomes, they spend more time with you and are highly skilled. Unless you are high risk I’d highly recommend it. I’d read Ina May Guide to Childbirth and watch the Business of Being Born. 
OBs are great but they potentially won’t have ever seen an entirely natural birth. They are trained to see risk and take the maximum steps to control that risk, including unnecessary interventions. Interventions are important if they’re necessary and lifesaving but if they’re not can cause trauma and unnecessary harm. The WHO says c section rates should be around a third of current rates (they’re higher in certain places). 
I think you need to do your research into what type of care you want. Heavily managed care where you’re expected to meet certain “norms” like dilating exactly 1cm per hour and if you’re not complying you’ll be induced or given synthetic drugs (pitocin) is called active management. You will have effectively no say or freedoms. 
From there it ranges to conventional, instinctive birth then free birth (effectively completely out of the system). Instinctive births are largely left to evolve as it does naturally and midwives or care providers only get involved if needed. 
Doulas are great for helping you achieve a more instinctive natural birth. They have tips, techniques and provide emotional support. Midwives will be there as a medical support not in the same role as a doula.
I’d do your research and reading into what type of birth and care you want. Then as other have said interview your potential care providers to see how much their in alignment with your plans. 
Good luck x

Answer

Midwife because they tend to use less medical interventions that can lead to emergency csections, they are more educated on holisitic/natural approaches, and in my personal experience tend to be more approachable and more personable. 
I had midwives and obs for my first pregnancy and connected with the midwives much, much more because they understood my priorities and my own personal birth goals. Unfortunately i had to change practices late in my pregnancy and was only serviced by OBs at the end. The OB that performed my csection i never had met until i went to the OR and i was completely ok with that. 
My second pregnancy (and current) I wanted to go back to the midwifery department for my vbac and unfortunately  cant due to hospital policies. I have had a lot of doubts with the OBs at my hospital and hate that i have to work with them due to a hospital policy.

Answer

I'm in the UK, so we automatically have a midwife unless there are complications and then you get a consultant. For us, even though we are midwife led, there is always a doctor on duty in the labour suite for if intervention is required.

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I saw midwives and OBs during my first pregnancy. OB ended up delivering but midwife assisted. Midwives are more go with the flow, they treat pregnancy a little differently.

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Midwifery is the standard practice here in NZ unless you chose to go with a private OB or have a complicated pregnancy, then your midwife will get an OB to be involved while she becomes more like a support person.
Honestly i love the relationship between me and my midwife, i don't feel rushed or just like a patient or a customer, she is there for me all the time even if its not directly relate to pregnancy, sometimes i call or text to ask about baby shopping advice, she supports mentally too and there for my husband as well since we are first time parents. We plan on staying at home as long as we can during labour before heading to the hospital, so she plans on coming over to my house to check on me and help out before we head to the hospital together.
an OB on the other hand would have been strictly medical, and only show up at the hospital.
Also my midwife is planning on coming over to our house for the 6 weeks postpartum to check on both me and the baby and make sure that we are healthy and healing properly. 
Again an OB wouldn't do that.

Answer

OBGYN. I’m a healthy 26 year old but will not feel comfortable just smiths midwife. I see a variety of highly trained surgeons who have great records in case of anything. 
Even people with low risk can end up in life threatening situations. I have friends that are example and it made a difference that she was at the hospital with a surgeon instead of waiting to be transported and on the surgeon.

Midwife, OBGYN or doula? & why?

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