Tips for Helping Pregnant Mothers Choose a Doctor or a Midwife
A midwife is an educated individual who obtained the proper certification. As the use of midwives become more popular, more colleges and medical centers are beginning to offer more experience and hands on training for their training students. Midwives generally give more attention to their patients than doctors. It is not because doctors don’t want to spend time with their patients, but midwives generally have a lighter patient load.
Many women who decide to have a natural birth will choose to receive care from a midwife. Many midwives have the option to accommodate the expectant mother by choosing where to have the baby delivered. Some midwives prefer birthing centers or hospitals; however, some will delivery a newborn out of the patient’s home. If you are planning on choosing a midwife for your labor and prenatal care, you should take into consideration a few important details. Midwives cannot write prescriptions or administer pain medication during delivery. In addition, some midwives are not properly equipped to handle an emergency and often times a doctor will end up being called into the delivery room.
Doctors who specifically deal with pregnant women and delivering babies are referred to as obstetricians (OBGYNs). These doctors are highly trained and educated in the care of expectant mothers and the procedures of labor.
It is almost as if the cons of a midwife are the pros of a doctor and visa versa. Doctors may be unable to give their full attention to each patient. When I was pregnant, I chose to seek the care of a doctor. Many times for my prenatal visits most of my required exams and questions were answered by a nurse. Depending on the length of the visit, the doctor was only with me for about five to ten minutes. The delivery of your child is often the same case. When I was first admitted into the hospital, the doctor on call came into my room and introduced herself; however, she did not return until about twenty minutes before my daughter was actually born.
One of the main reasons why I decided to go with a doctor for my prenatal care and delivery was the fact that they administer pain medication during labor. This was my first pregnancy and I do not handle pain very well; therefore, I determined a natural birth would not be an option for me. Unlike midwives, doctors are allowed to prescribe medication during pregnancy and actually give you pain relief during the delivery. I also felt choosing a doctor offered a little bit more security for me, in case of an emergency.
If you have been diagnosed as having a high risk pregnancy, you may not have the option to decide which level of care you would prefer. Since midwives cannot handle certain labor room emergencies or give out medication, many pregnant women with a risk of danger will automatically be directed to a doctor. I would recommend that once you learn of your pregnancy, you try both a doctor and a midwife. Many OBGYN Clinics house doctors and midwives under one roof. At my first few appointments, the office recommend that I had at least one appointment with each side before making my final decision.
Before you make your final decision regarding a midwife or a doctor, you should consider a few more important circumstances. Ahead of time you should determine whether or not your medical insurance will cover the doctor or midwife of your preference. You should also take into consideration which hospital or birthing center you would have to go into labor at. Make sure this center is closely located to your home or work. If you are unable to reach you desired labor destination, you may wind up in a new hospital with an unfamiliar doctor or midwife.
