OBGYN vs Midwife?

Question

Can someone explain how the experiences are different and share their thought process on choosing? 
How have your experiences been?

Answer

Hi! I work on L&D so thought I'd share my thoughts. Midwives typically are going to err on the side of minimal interventions and may encourage methods of coping with labor that don't involve medication. Additionally, they will be working with women who are not considered high risk. A good way of thinking about midwives are "low tech, high touch". OBs are trained to manage higher risk pregnancies and have the training and ability to intervene during births. They can manage high risk pregnancies, perform c sections, and use other interventions to facilitate delivery (forceps, vacuums). It's possible that you may have more interventions using an OB, but they're also able to handle any high risk issues that may arise. At my practice I use a combination of my OB and her midwife and it's wonderful! Ultimately it's going to come down to what type of birth experience you're hoping for :) good luck

Answer

Obgyn us always my first choice. Which also means always a hospital birth. My first Obgyn and delivery was horrible, terrible experience. However, if I would have trusted my gut I could have avoided that. My last two births were with a new Obgyn and with my last lo had u not been at the hospital with doctors m, it could have ended terribly for both me and my lo. I just like to be safe then sorry. All doctors say if things go bad they go bad quickly and if your already with a doctor at a hospital, then your chances of the problem  ring taken care of are better. That's just my thought process.

Answer

With my daughter I ended up having a midwife until 38 weeks and then transferred to an OB for an induction. Loved my midwives (and going that route with number 2). The midwives were a lot more like friends or family. You get to know them very well, appointments tend to be longer. Hated having an OB because the one I got transferred to didn't even deliver our daughter (which I'm actually thankful for), seeing them always felt rushed and they seemed to see all these problems that didn't exist. OBs are trained to see pathology, while midwives are trained with normal uncomplicated births. Like I said, I'm seeing a midwife with baby number 2, but this time it's with a midwife at a birth center attached to a hospital instead of a freestanding birth center. Just in case.

Answer

I've literally seen a different midwife at every appt I've had.. they're all really nice and all, but it gets annoying.  With my son I had a obgyn, and it was nice to talk to the same person at every visit that knows what's going on with you and doesn't ask the same old questions time after time.  Also,  I was told that if I have to get a c-section, none of the midwives will attend.  Hope this helps ☺

Answer

I'm using an OB, but I have some health issues that could complicate delivery. If I were super low risk I'd consider a midwife, but still might end up with an OB just because I'm pretty risk-adverse. 
Like the others have said, midwives tend to avoid interventions more than OBs and they coach you to do your thing more than anything else.  All the women in my life who have used them have loved their experiences, but they had no complicated factors whatsoever. An Ob is also basically a surgeon, so if something happens and a c section is needed ASAP they will be ready vs a midwife who will have to transfer your care.

Its basically how much risk you are ok with. And if you're doing hospital/center/home.

Answer

My first son was delivered by midwife. Not my choice but she was the one on call that day. She refused to called the doctor when my son was under stress during child birth even though the monitors clearly showed something wrong. Because of this, my son had complications once finally delivered and ended up in the nice for a week in a different state.

My second son, luckily, was delivered by an obgyn. Although he had some issues, they were quickly taken care of and and he was issue free when born.

With this child, I am hoping for a no-midwife delivery. Although the midwife at my new doctors office is great, that first experience has never let mine or my husband's memories and we do t want to have to worry about a similar situation happening. I would rather have a c section that let my child be in any danger and the first midwife would have nothing to do with that.

Answer

I had to have an unexpected c section (I got preeclampsia out of nowhere and baby went into distress ) and I'm glad my Dr who I was comfortable with performed my surgery. I do like the idea of a midwife in a way but I personally want a skilled surgeon in the delivery room with me. My obgyn has great bedside manner and takes time with patients so top me that is ideal if you find a good dr.

Answer

I've had both. I had a wonderful OB. She was a little by the book and leaned more towards medical intervention. She wasn't present during labor until I was ready to push but she was still personal and helpful. She got to know me and my family, took her time with me, gave me her personal home number around my due date because she was off duty. She was more by the book and less open to natural things but all around a great dr. 
My midwives are very open to natural, lets me be more in charge of my care, labor and delivery and aren't by the book. They are present during labor and delivery, with you the whole time, and less prone to medical intervention.

Answer

From my experience midwives are less medically involved and try to be hands off. They use more natural approaches and are less invasive. I went with a midwife with my first pregnancy that ended in mc. This time around I'm going with an OB because I want more medical involvement and monitoring, especiallt early on. The midwives that I saw only do one ultrasound at 20 weeks (some don't even do any) and obs do them more frequently. I think it's all up to you and what you personally prefer and feel more comfortable with.

OBGYN vs Midwife?

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