Doctor or Midwife?

JonesClan · December 2011

So my DW and I did kind of a per-pregnacy interview with a local OB/GYN that our Dr. recommended. He was a really nice guy and we both decided to go with him. We just had our fist apoint since we have been pregnant and it was with one of the midwifes that works for him. When we set up our next appointment they said it would be with a different midwife. MY DW then told me that most likely we wont even see the Dr. unless she becomes high risk. I was a little upset because I thought we chose a Dr. not a midwife. It is only because I want the best for my LO and thought a Dr. had more training.

So My question is, are you using a Dr. or a midwife? Are you planning on having a midwife deliver the baby? I just don't know much about midwifes and it kinda scares me.

MrsBlindLove · December 2011

If you are uncomfortable you should definitely talk to your doctor about it. Midwives are very well trained but if you are uncomfortable you should speak up. Big Smile

We are choosing to go with a midwife. Many women in my circle of friends have used a particular midwife that they recommend. The care is more personal.

AlleyCatNH · December 2011

We are going with a midwife. I wanted a more personal, natural experience in a homey environment. My DH was uncomfortable with it at first (he thought a midwife would be less qualified if something came up) but learning more about midwives has comforted him. Everyone wants/needs a different birthing experience, so do some research and go with your gut.

sadeathe · December 2011

I looked this up, and basically a certified nurse midwife, which is what I'm going with, has about a year less of school and residency than a regular obstetrician. The only things they aren't qualified to do, according to my research, is use forceps or a vacuum and they aren't allowed to do a c-section.

I plan on using a midwife because they tend to be more willing to do things naturally and look at birth not like a disease, but as a natural occurring event. From what I've read, like previous posters said, they are more likely to be there for the majority of labor rather than just at the pushing. They are also cheaper than an obstetrician.

I haven't met with my midwife yet, but will on January 20th.

ChibiMommy · December 2011

MrsBlindLove:
If you are uncomfortable you should definitely talk to your doctor about it. Midwives are very well trained but if you are uncomfortable you should speak up.
We are choosing to go with a midwife. Many women in my circle of friends have used a particular midwife that they recommend. The care is more personal.

This. Mws are trained in caring for normal births so unless your wife becomes high risk a mw is probably better for her. But if you two aren't comfortable with a mw then you might have to switch practices because from what you've said it sounds like you have a practice where the ob is only called when it a patient is high risk.

JonesClan · December 2011

My DW is comfortable with it. I just never really knew much about them. I am sure I will get used to it but kinda caught me off gurd. only want what is best for my dino nugget and wife.

mghnmouse · December 2011

AlleyCatNH:
We are going with a midwife. I wanted a more personal, natural experience in a homey environment. My DH was uncomfortable with it at first (he thought a midwife would be less qualified if something came up) but learning more about midwives has comforted him. Everyone wants/needs a different birthing experience, so do some research and go with your gut.

This. Ask for more info or do some research on your own, if you still don't feel comfortable then change things so that you are. Low-risk and MW assigned is a good sign though, FWIW.

LoveLo2010 · December 2011

You definitely need to go with who ever you are most comfortable with, but often in a practice you will see many different doctors and then someone else will deliver your baby. Make sure you do your research, there are different kinds of midwives and some have different back grounds or specialtys. You should be able to research their history and credentials and if not just simply ask they should be more than willing to share their knowledge and make you feel comfortable.

I am currently seeing a midwife and I love her. I love the more personalized care. I may have to switch to a high risk ob depending on how severely hearty shaped my uterus is but I really hope not.

nycteach · December 2011

I see a midwife because I am anti-intervention and want to have a natural childbirth.

ChrisnTris · December 2011

Certified Nurse Midwife, definitely!

SHeins · December 2011

I had an OB for both my boys and while the care prior to delivery was amazing, there was never a guarantee that she would be there when I delivered. I happened to have my second son when she was on rotation at the hospital, but my first son was delivered by a resident. Frankly, it didnt matter to me at that point and the nurses did most of the work in both cases.

For me, I was ok with that set up and will be going to an OB the next time around as well. However, I dont like a lot of hovering and attention. If this is your first, or if you want a more one on one approach a midwife is the way to go. That's what it boils down to. As pp have mentioned, a midwife is just as qualified to deliver a low-risk pregnancy with no required interventions as an OB.

drunkindonuts · December 2011

I think most of the time a CNM is more desirable. I feel they create a more soft, natural, and welcoming environment. My office has 2 MDs and 2 CNMs, and throughout my pregnancy I will meet and have appointments with all 4 because it could be any of them to deliver.

triagain2 · December 2011

Former L&D nurse here. I just want to add my 2 cents. The assumption among a lot of people is that midwife = low intervention, loving, natural care. I just want to add that while yes there are midwives like that and perhaps the percentages are more than doctors, its best not to assume this.

I have worked with a lot of midwives (CNM's only, as in Florida they are the only allowed to deliver in the hospital). In my experience some are great (and what you imagine with a midwife), others not so much, they practice like tiny little obstetricians, providing subpar care and have a neurosurgeons ego. Interview and decide on a midwive carefully.

I am a nurse practitioner and an IBCLC and I use an OB that I used to work with as my physician. He has pretty bad bedside manner (we are friends so I feel okay saying this) but I know that he has excellent judgement and has an ethically driven moral compass which in my experience is PARAMOUNT in obstetrics. He does not coddle his patients, offering continous sympathy, he's very much a guy. But I've seen him in action and he's awesome! I don't think I've ever seen him cut an episiotomy, he has one of the lowest primary c-section rates, he refuses to electively induce before 39 weeks (and he gives you a hard time regardless). All good things to ask. Any doctor that won't tell you their primary c-section rate....run! Many lie though, so its best to get a recommendation from someone in the field.

Good luck whatever you decide.

ChibiMommy · December 2011

triagain2:
Former L&D nurse here. I just want to add my 2 cents. The assumption among a lot of people is that midwife = low intervention, loving, natural care. I just want to add that while yes there are midwives like that and perhaps the percentages are more than doctors, its best not to assume this.

I have worked with a lot of midwives (CNM's only, as in Florida they are the only allowed to deliver in the hospital). In my experience some are great (and what you imagine with a midwife), others not so much, they practice like tiny little obstetricians, providing subpar care and have a neurosurgeons ego. Interview and decide on a midwive carefully.

I am a nurse practitioner and an IBCLC and I use an OB that I used to work with as my physician. He has pretty bad bedside manner (we are friends so I feel okay saying this) but I know that he has excellent judgement and has an ethically driven moral compass which in my experience is PARAMOUNT in obstetrics. He does not coddle his patients, offering continous sympathy, he's very much a guy. But I've seen him in action and he's awesome! I don't think I've ever seen him cut an episiotomy, he has one of the lowest primary c-section rates, he refuses to electively induce before 39 weeks (and he gives you a hard time regardless). All good things to ask. Any doctor that won't tell you their primary c-section rate....run! Many lie though, so its best to get a recommendation from someone in the field.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I totally agree with this. You can get bad eggs any where. You really have to get to know the person and know what is important to you. You should be able to get a feel in appts if the person you are working with cares about you or fits your idea of birth.

Ladiebug710 · December 2011

It should be your choice. If you want to see a midwife you should have that option, but if you want to see a Dr, then you need to find a practice that doesn't force you to see a non-physician.

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