OB/GYN or Nurse Midwife ??

Question

I've gone to a Nurse Midwife for my two previous pregnancies. I am considering going to an OB/GYN. Can anybody whose had experience with both, tell me which one they liked better and What was the difference in the the care that you got from each? Thanks for answering my questions.

Answer 1

Not all OB's are impersonal. I loved my OB. She was absolutely wonderful. Just like with any Dr., you need to shop around. Good luck.

Answer 2

I saw an OBGYN for my first and then CNMW for #2 and #3. I would never go back to an OBGYN without a strong medical reason. The care from the MW was much more personalized. I formed more of a relationship with my MW. My OBGYN would only see me for a few mins. My midwives would spend 30 mins to an hour with me at each appointment. I never felt rushed by the midwives. My midwives were at my side for my entire labor and birth. An OB shows up to catch and might check on you during labor once or twice if you're lucky. A MW is also less likely to be intervention happy or require certain things "just because." You probably also have more choices about where to deliver with a MW as well. (Home, hospital or freestanding birth center.)

Answer 3

Nurse Midwife's are great, I was seriously considering that for my first baby. I ended up just going with my OBGYN for some reason and now I'm glad that I did. Sometimes things happen during childbirth that nobody could have been predicted. Me and my baby were doing fine all night and early in the morning (I was being enduced because of gestational diabetes) then without warning, the baby's heartrate dropped. Everything went so quickly, I was rushed into surgery and had a C-section. It saved my baby's life and because they were able to address it so quickly, there were no complications with the baby. If I were at home when the baby's heartrate dropped, who knows what could have happened if I had to wait to get to the hospital for the dr to evaluate and then get the c-section. The baby could have been left retarded or even die due to lack of oxygen for too long of a period of time. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

That depends on the ob/gyn and the nurse midwife. In general I would say choose the nurse midwife because you'll get more attentive care and fewer unnecessary interventions but bottom line is you need to feel comfortable and trust whoever is providing your prenatal care and delivering your baby. Good luck.

Answer 5

I was treated my entire pregnancy by a midwife. The doctor she practiced under however was always available for problems or questions, and I felt very confident and comfortable with that arrangement.

It was however the midwife that saved my life after my son was born, not the doctor (he helped with the post-delivery stitching & then left before they realized I was hemhorraging!).

So, if you've had good results with midwifery previously and have one that you like, then I would stick with it. However, if you've got a high-risk pregnancy then I would recommend finding an OB that you can talk to and trust. Both can and do deliver in modern delivery hospital settings, or in a setting of your choice, though it's typically a midwife who will do the more holistic deliveries.

Good luck!

Answer 6

The biggest difference for me was how much more attentative my CNM was than the OB. When I am w/ my CNM I feel like I am her only patient. She was there through the almost the whole delivery & didn't just come in to "catch" the baby.
I referred my best friend to her who had also had her 1st w/ a OB -she said that she learned more from the CNM in the 1st appointment than she did her whole pregnancy w/ an OB.

Answer 7

I'm not picky as long as they are female. Since nurse midwives tend to be female, I naturally prefer them. I've had both sexes as my primary care and I prefer women. Especially women that also have a child (children). They understand better because they've gone through to same things and never made me feel like my questions were stupid. It seemed like the midwives had more time for me and I never felt rushed to leave the appointment. I have nothing against males, they just don't have a uterus.

Answer 8

I had both. I liked both. Since pregnancies are different I think the person delivering is best considering each situation. I loved the compassion of the mid-wife and the fact that she never left my side. But my Dr. was good too. I do prefer the mid-wife if there are no problems.

Answer 9

Both are great, the OB/GYN is a little less personal but both offer great care to mother and baby.

Answer 10

most people like delivering at a hospital because if something happens the problem is in good hands at that very moment. I would assume you would be more comfortable in your own space, but it's up to you! Good LUck!