what's the difference between a midwife and an OB?

Question

i'm seeing a midwife on the 5th of october. i just need to know what the differences are so i can choose wisely.

Answer 1

Hi - I am not sure if you are asking about nurse-midwives or professional midwives. Nurse-midwives have a degree in nursing and have further training in the field of midwifery. They can do prenatal care, normal deliveries, well-woman care, newborn care. They are trained in doing proceedures like labor induction, pain management, laceration/episiotomy repair.
They are not able to do C/Sections, but most have consulting phycisians who assist when there is a need for proceedures beyond their scope of practice. Women who choose midwives often do so because they like the woman to woman care, the decrease inmedical intervention, the opportunity to be an active member in dicision making as well as the awareness of alternatives (water birth, herbs, laboring positions) that many MDs are not taught in medical school. CPMs have had education as well - they may or may not have a nursing background. Many are very qualified for managing normal births in the home setting or birth center setting. Go to the site for ACNM (American College of Nurse-midwives) for more information - hope all goes well with your birth.

Answer 2

A doctor has a medical degree and training (4 yrs college + 4 yrs med school + 4 yrs ob-gyn residency). A certified nurse midwife has a regular nursing degree plus two to three years’ additional training in “low-risk” obstetrics. Often midwives are previous ob nurses who, after years of working as a nurse decided to make the transition to certified nurse midwife. Midwives are not able to perform C sections and Dr's are. I have had both a Dr and midwife. I HIGHLY recommend a midwife. With my first one 14 years ago, I had Dr. With the my last three pregnancies I had the same midwife. I was able to delivery without pain relief, no episiotomy and no stitching or tearing. She was much more personal and caring. She treated me like a human being and not a patient. With the Dr the delivery was all chaos. With the midwife, they were always very calm and relaxing. Very personal. Kamal..that is not true. A lot of midwives deliver at the hospital and do have access to those things. A midwife is well qualified and can detect those medical conditions you mentioned. If you do have a high risk pregnancy you will be referred to a Dr. But they are able to identify those things. My midwife tested for all of those things you mentioned. Most midwives now work in the same offices as Dr's. In all honesty a midwife spends more time with you, asks you more questions and monitors you and your baby better than a Dr. I worked for a Dr's office for 6 years. Most of the time Dr's are very impersonal.

Answer 3

A midwife is a certified nurse who can handle births, but is otherwise not certified in all OBGYN skills; an OBGYN is a full medical doctor in that field.

When we had our second child, we had a midwife do it, but she could not of performed a cesarean section if it was required, since that is surgery.

Answer 4

a midwife is someone that comes to ur house and delivers and takes care of u when ur pregnant and ob is one that delivers at the hospital and takes care of u there

Answer 5

a midwife is medically trained to assist a normal birth ... if you have a complicated pregnancy, you will need a physician (OB)

Answer 6

MEDICAL SCHOOL AND LICENSING BY THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

These are KEY distinctions that you will want to consider. Mid-wives typically have to obtain a license from the state, meaning they have to pass a multiple-choice exam.

Answer 7

You can look it up on Wilkiapedia

Answer 8

one is licensed and the other?????