Congratulations on your new pregnancy! You have an exciting journey ahead of you. There are many childbirth decisions to be made in the future, and the first step is deciding on a healthcare provider.
Do you choose a midwife or obstetrician? It's hard to know what to expect with either healthcare provider if you've never gone through childbirth before. A midwife often encourages a natural labor and birth while an ob-gyn is a specialist in the pathology of pregnancy - the study of disease - and provides a full service of maternity care, including emergency surgery if you need a Cesarean section during a difficult birth.
If you are interested in a natural labor and birth, but are unsure of what to expect with either forms of maternity care, it is important to begin searching for those answers as early as possible within your pregnancy.
The Differences Between a Midwife and Ob-Gyn
Medical training. An ob-gyn is a medical doctor who not only finished medical school, but also is required to participate for four years in an obstetrics residency program. They are board-certified. Some also specialize in other areas of reproductive care. They learn how to manage pregnancy, labor, and birth and may be more inclined to turn to interventions and/or surgery to solve a possible complication.
Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses and have finished a two-year master's degree in midwifery. They often have to perform clinical training as part of the midwifery program and have to be certified. They hold state licenses to practice in their state. They are trained to see labor and birth as a normal and a natural physiological process of the body. If you develop complications, they will transfer your care to a physician.
A certified professional midwife (CPM) or licensed midwife is trained to care for the pregnant woman in cases of healthy, normal pregnancies. They go through an accredited program and extensive hours of prenatal care and attending births under the supervision of another CPM. Licensed midwives usually attend births in a home, a birthing center, and sometimes in a hospital, depending on the state of licensure. Medical services. A midwife doesn't perform surgical services, but has many of the same duties as an ob-gyn. If you develop complications, they will transfer your care to a physician.
Here is what to expect from a midwife:
繚 Gynecologic exams, even if you are not pregnant
繚 Prenatal care
繚 Childbirth classes and education
繚 Childbirth, including the delivery of your baby
繚 Postpartum care
繚 Neonatal resuscitation and care of newborn
While most hospital midwives can offer pain medication during labor if you request it, they often favor a natural labor approach. Midwives use several techniques during a natural labor to help a birthing mother relax and work through the pain without medication. Some of those techniques can include taking deep cleansing breaths, massages, taking a warm bath, changing a laboring mother's position and using visualization and vocalization. Many women are surprised to know that some midwives can give epidurals in a hospital or birth center setting. Do your research to know what to expect.
There are other things to consider before looking into a midwifery practice. When you make an appointment to find out more about her services, ask how she handles labor and delivery complications. Often midwives partner with an obstetrician who can offer a higher level of medical care if necessary, such as performing a Cesarean delivery. Most midwives only take low-risk pregnancies. If complications arise, they will refer you to a physician, surgeon, or perinatal specialist.
Midwives can be a wonderful and safe alternative to traditional pregnancy, labor and delivery care, especially if you want a natural labor and birth experience. As with most aspects of pregnancy, it is up to you. The decision is yours.
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