midwife or ob/gyn?

Question

i'm having a hard time deciding , this is my first baby so not really sure what to expect and was hoping some of you could share your experiences...?

Answer 1

I went with a midwife after listening to some of my friends relate their own experiences.

OBs: 15 min visits, talk with a nurse if you call, shunt you off to another OB when they're not available. You see them at the birth, then six weeks later.

Midwife: I had half hour to one hour visits. Because I had three working as a team, I always spoke with someone I knew when I called. I did my own strepB test, thankyouverymuch. They came to my house every DAY to check up on me and the baby for the first week or so, coached me through nursing problems, were wonderful.

That said, I wound up needing a C section as my son was footling breech. I was 'handed off' to an OB for that procedure, but my midwife was there for the whole thing. That OB was fantastic, if I need an OB next time I will go to her.

Midwives are trained to know when to hand you to, or consult with, an OB. While OBs are perfectly able to deliver a normal birth, around here there is a higher demand for them than there are OBs available, hence the lack of attention you normally get.


Hope that helps!

Answer 2

It is a personal choice but a couple things to consider:

1) Would you prefer to try a vaginal, unmedicated birth or are you hoping for an epidural?

2) Do you want more a more personal experience with your provider?

If you answered yes to both I would suggest a Midwife (that's the route I went and loved it). OBs are much more likely to use medical interventions and Midwives let nature take it's course within reason. An OB is much more likely to to an episiotomy or a c-section than a Midwife. A midwife usually takes more time with you and is more personal but there are OBs that are that way. I would also recommend that mabye you meet with a couple of each in your area to see who's personality you click with better. Ultimately you want to be comfortable with your provider and meeting them is the only way to know for sure. If you want a home birth or a birthing center it will probably be a Midwife. Hospital births are getting better with the hospitals trying to do more to make it like you're at home but it's still a busy, noisy place.

You also might consider getting a Doula if you go with either - they are there with you and for both you and your partner through the whole birth. They can meet with you several times to get you prepared for labor and alternative pain management techniques. No matter if you use a Midwife in a hospital or an OB (try and find a practice that has both, it makes life easier if there's a complication) they may have other deliveries to do so having one there can be priceless, especially if it's your first. You can do all the reading you want to prepare and it will help some but to be honest, I thought I knew most of what I needed but when it came time to deliver our first it was a whole new ball game! lol You'll be fine no matter what you decide.

Best of luck in your decision and feel free to email me with more questions!

Answer 3

Why not try a group that has both options available - ob/Gyn and midwife. That way you can get to see each and determine which you like better...
I go to an Ob/Gyn but that is because I have c-sections.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I picked a midwife at my doctors office, just because I couldn't find a ob/gyn I liked. Everyone I saw was, well, rude & had the personality of rocks. I picked someone I could talk to & not feel like I was being blown off.

Answer 5

I've used midwives exclusively... at the hospital AND at home.

OBs are trained surgeons. That means they are no more capable or "better" at delivering NORMAL healthy babies than a midwife. They're great if you truly need an emergency c-section - but that's the ONLY place they're needed.

With an OB, you're more likely to have:
An induction
A non-emergency c-section
An episiotomy
A tear

Midwives tend to let you go at your own pace - not by the clock, like a doctor who I watched once in nursing school. He looked at his watch, said he had surgery in an hour, looked at the wall clock and then grabbed scissors and cut the mama. It was really awful.

Answer 6

I chose to see a OB/GYN only because they are prepared to deal with any problems, they moniter things closer and are ready in case something should happen. But that was just my choice. Im now on baby number 3 and ive always stuck with my OB/GYN. im very happy with him. I trust him and i know he knows what hes doing :) Goodluck and happy baby time!!

Answer 7

i only had a ob/gyn and i'm glad i did i ended up with some probs in the last month and ended up with c section

Answer 8

Midwife but a hospital delivery.