MIDWIFE vs. OB/GYN

[ashleighnb]

My RE is releasing me next week to an ob or midwife which ever I choose. With DD I had a midwife and my labor was great. I was still able to have meds and she was very interpersonal. I want to have choice during labor and not have medical intervention forced in my face but I don't want someone to tell me no you can't have meds either. Im afraid that at the first sign of anything complicated the doc will want to cut probe. I don't know what to do. I have never had an OB so I wanted to see what you ladies think about the midwife vs. the obstetrician? The practice I want to go to has both its just a matter of me choosing who to become a patient of, this is a different practice from where I went with DD. What are your experiences?

Which would you prefer?

[Victoria01]

I just wanted to say that you need to remember the midwife or the OB work for YOU and you need to treat them like any other employee. You basically need to interview them and make sure their ideals and practices match your own. You will find good and bad in both practices and you need to find one that you are comfortable with and agrees with the way YOU want your delivery and labor to go. No matter which you choose, there are always 'surprises' when a woman has a baby and those possibilities need to be discussed also. The practice I went to for my first son, and the one I am going to now, give a choice of OB or midwife. After speaking to both and finding out their views on delivery and labor, then I made my choice based on what I wanted labor and delivery to be like.

[rebekah385]

With my first pregnancy i thought about having a midwife, i was in my teens when my 3 younger siblings where born and got to atend the births with a midwife ina home birthing center, I really liked the midwife my mother had, but decided to go to a OBGYN that my friend suggested to me. I did not end up liking that OB doctor at all, i ended up in premature labor 3 months early and my doctor would'nt even come into the office!! (although the on-call Dr was better than her anyway!) and at my six week check-up my OBGYN said that she had seen signs that I miht have preterm labor, but did nothing and did'nt even bother to tell me becase she did'nt think it was important! It was not a good experience with my second pregnancy i went to a different OB doctor (since I was considered high risk) and had  a wonderful experience with this OB doctor, i discussed with him ahead of time how i wanted to deliever and made sure that I stuck with it. I wanted a medication free birth and as much freedom of movement as possible, My third pregnancy ended ina MC at 12 weeks and he was there to help me and be supportive. My fourth pregnancy i wanted to be induced at almost 40 weeks, but wanted to do it with no medication if possible, my OB agreed to at least try it the way I wanted, he broke my water and I walked around a lot and had my baby 5 hours later with no pitocin and no medication just the way I wanted. I think that it can be good or bad with either it depends on the doctor or midwife. I think it is more of an individual person and one type of doctor that is good or bad.

[JoyRenee]

Jilly I'm going to PM you some awesome links! Basic difference between OBs and midwives if that midwives practice the Midwifery Model of Care whereas OBs practice defensive medicine. Now that is for the MOST part.

Midwifery Model of Care is the best care for a woman with a normal, low-risk pregnancy whether it is given by an OB or a midwife. I'll include a link about that.

The biggest way you'll see a difference in the model of care is during labor and delivery, during your most vulnerable time of pregnancy. This is why it's important to interview early on in pregnancy because it's kind of too late once you hit L&D. My experience is that an OB wants to treat you like you are in a disease state and wants to monitor everything and hook you up to machines. Whereas a midwife allows your body to do what it needs to do. They aren't anti-medicine but they desire to help you achieve many goals without the use of unnecessary interventions.

The truth is that our bodies were created to give birth! And while the mortality rates ARE lowered thanks to modern science and understanding what is going on during L&D it has little to do with hospital births and doctors. It is proven to actually be safer to give birth at home than at a hospital (with a med. professional present and for low-risk women).

So whether you choose an OB or midwife make sure they are using the model of care you want. There are plenty of OBs who are willing to let women have as natural a birth as possible and others that treat you like a number to be delivered and sent out of the hospital as quickly as possible.

And there are also some bad midwives out there. The BEST way to find someone is word of mouth. Ask women in your church, your friends, other mothers, etc. If you don't know anyone like that then you can look to trusty Google and find "midwife reviews" in your city or "OB reviews" in your city.

[JillyHemp316]

I also need help deciding. This is my first baby, and I have already had issues with the OB I had choosen and am now looking for a new one or maybe a midwife. I need some help, I have no idea how to even pick a midwife or a doctor much less decide between the two. I hope you ladies can clarify a little.

[JoyRenee]

Just as no one OB is perfect, neither are midwives. There are plenty of bad ones out there. A CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) is the one you want as they deliver at hospitals under a doctor.

awalone- I'm sorry that happened to you! How terrifying, especially as that happened with three more of her clients. I'm glad she is no longer practicing. Remember that not every midwife is like that but I can understand your personal reasons for not choosing one in the future.

[awalone]

i have only had one child and preg with my second. my midwife killed my baby and thank god there was an ob standing in that brought him back to life. i will never trust one again.. and she is no longer practicing since after my son 3 more babies were the same way.. im going to an ob and really i dont have a choice since i am high risk. but if iwas i would not chose a mid wife.. ever again

[ashleighnb]

Thanks for all your responses. I am thinking I am going to go with the midwife and I will just be sure to let her know in the beginning what I want during the birth. I don't want a completely natural birth because I am not great with pain. I want to be able to labor on my own until I can't handle it anymore and then have an epidural like I did with DD.

[Limonada]

I had an obstetrician with my son and loved him.  He did both my prenatal care and ended up delivering DS because I was induced while he was on call.  I'm using the same OB for this pregnancy and I hope that he can deliver for me again (crossing my fingers that the birth happens during his office hours or while he's on call).

I've never once felt that he was impersonal, and I've never felt that I was "forced" into anything.  Last time, I was induced because I was 41 weeks and my body was simply not doing the job on its own (I wasn't dilating or effacing AT ALL) - I trusted his judgement as the medical professional he is. I had a great experience even though I needed an epidural (which I don't think has anything to do with the fact I had an OB as opposed to a midwife......I needed the intervention to get through my labour and it was ultimately my decision - if I hadn't had one, I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't have had the energy to push at the end and may have even ended up needing a c-section).

As with most things pregnancy-related, it's a personal decison, so do what feels right for you.  There's always someone at the ready with a horror story about a rude OB or even lacklustre care from a midwife.  

[Victoria01]

I had an OB with my son, and the truth is I loved her. I did end up having an epidural, but that was my choice and was never pushed or looked upon negatively. Up until that point I was allowed to move around as much as I wanted and do anything I wanted to make the labor easier for me. My husband was even allowed to catch out son as he was coming out. I think there is good and bad on both sides and you need to feel comfortable and safe with whomever you choose.

[JoyRenee]

I had epidural births with my first two. The whole OBGYN thing just wasn't working for me. Things happened during their birth that I DID not like and I was told, "This is standard. This is just what we do!"

I decided to stand up and be my own advocate. When 37 weeks pregnant with my third baby I switched to a midwifery practice that delivered at a hospital. I ended up having everything I needed to birth my daughter naturally, without IVs and things strapped onto me (like heart rate monitor and blood pressure cuff and fetal monitors), free to move and get up, free to eat and drink as I wanted, etc.

You are the only one who can stand up for you. Good luck in whomever you choose!

[k10road]

I vote midwife.  With both of my boys, I started off with OB's, and then I ended up switching to midwives.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  This time around, I am just starting off with the midwife.  As you stated, they are MUCH more personal.  They have much better bedside manner and interaction.  IMO, def the way to go!  Good luck!