Doctor vs. Midwife

i would go with a midwife that is who i use and love !! they are more personal to me JMO

I have a midwife too - never had an OB/GYN. She is very personal - I never felt rushed. Mine works with an OB incase something should come up they refer you over to an OB. My midwife only deals with one - not multiples (like twins) and low risk pregnancies.

I know our clinic too has a pamphlet you can stop in and get and it talks about the different drs/midwives on staff. Don't hesitate to just set up an apt to meet with them too. (just like you can do when chosing a peditrician for baby)

A midwife is a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in OB care. I am seeing one now and while she is extremely personal and I feel like she really knows me and knows my case, I also feel like I'm not getting the best care in the world... almost like she lets things go too easily or brushes off symptoms as being part of pregnancy when their could be a real problem.

Well I'm not pregnant yet, but I have an OB/GYN and I absolutely love her. I couldn't imagine anyone else. She's very personal, but she only has a small practice so there aren't that many patients. She's always available to call or page for anything. I've called and talked her ear off about female issues I was having and she never rushes me.

My advice is call around, and make appointments to meet some drs and midwives. Go with who you feel makes you the most comfortable. good luck and never feel silly for asking questions. This is a very important thing to decide.

ask all the questions you have , there are tons of ladies here that love to answer them

my opinion on a midwife is that they like to do things as natural and unevasive as posible, my SIL has had two babies at home with a midwife. and she loved it.

of course midwives usually only deal with uncomplicated pregnancies. we don't have any here in town but we do have doula's

My doctors office has midwives also. When I go for my check ups that is who I see. Because I am having a csection, the doctor will perform it. If it was a vaginal birth and all was normal, the midwife would.

I had the option of mid-wife vs doctor. I choose to have a doctor. I see nothing wrong with a midwife. However, I was told "if there was any complications a doctor would be on site to be called in."

Well... if that's the case - I wanted the dr with me the entire time!!
I liked my doctors and I just felt better knowing they were with me. JMO

I have had both and my advice......

schedule a meet and greet with a couple differant dr's and midwives...however many you have near-by. Then decide.
Make a list of questions based on what you are looking for.....some even suggest making up a birth plan as though you were going to be having a baby and taking it in and discussing your feelings on medication, pain managemnet, IV's, positions, episiotomies, epidurals, # of people you might want in the room,hospital preferances(if you have a choice), who is their back-up,etc.......

After meeting several then make your decision based on your comfort level FIRST....and their practices second. Even if they do every thing the way you would want if you are even slightly uncomfortable move on. This is someone who will know you inside and out..LITERALLY. They will be there for some of your best and worse moments of your life and you need to be 100% on board with them.

I loved my midwife, she was easy going, took her time with me, answered all my questions,got me through a rough delivery with my first born and with my second PG cryed with me through my miscarriage and even called me a couple times afterward to see how I was emotionally. When I got PG the third time we had moved, and all the midwives were in group practices. I HATE group practices, especially for pregnancy......I do not want to be passed around...I want the same person through the whole thing...I want them to know me and my pregnancy without referring to a chart for every detail. And I am picky...I want a woman! After 2 weeks of calling every female practitioner in the book I found a wonderful OB/GYN in a single practice and her back-up was also female. After meeting with her I really liked her and she delivered my last two babies and also saw me through another miscarriage. It wasn't quite as personal as with the midwife, but I was never rushed and she took the time and effort to know me.If you ask me which was better I can honestly say they were both excellent and I couldn't really choose.

I had an OB/GYN. He is excellent. Very sweet and very calming personality. I wanted a doctor in case I had any complications. And I am really glad I did have one, because I ended up having some problems during labor.

My stepsister has 4 kids and used a midwife with all of hers. The first time, she gave birth in the hospital using a midwife, but there was a doctor on call if there were any problems. She went through a midwife clinic and there were four midwives. Whoever was on call was who you saw and who delivered. You didn't have a choice. With the other 3, she used a private midwife and gave birth at home. It worked out fine for her.

I would love to have had a midwife but it didn't work out. The hospital never followed my birth plan


with my next child I will push for the midwife and midwife only. Most doctors that I had we're so impersonable and did everything by the book. I would've liked more care to be taken of me and my mentality rather than everything being focused on the physical part of me.

Being a high-risk pregnancy/Mom, I have to have an OB/GYN. In the early stages, I could work with the Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners because the early stages are mostly just information gathering..... measurements, symptoms, how are you doing type stuff, blah, blah, blah. Now that I'm near the end of my pregnancy I only have the OB's. There are 3 in this practice. I really HATE a group practice, but I was able to find the one with the LEAST OB's (passed around less) and I really do like their group............ for the most part.

I really LOVED my other OB that delivered my daughter. He retired just when I found out I was pregnant for my son.

JMHO - I'd choose a Dr. I'd rather know that the person I see on my visits and develop a
relationship with is the one who will be there when I deliver, and is wholly capable of taking care of me whatever arises.

Can you tell I LOOOOVED my Dr. Kristy ?

The practice I go to does not have midwives, so that was not an option for me when I was pregnant, and I was fine with that. I sort of had the attitude that I wanted a doctor there in case anything went wrong, etc, and as it turns out, I had an emergency c-section, so I would have needed the doctor anyway. My doctor's office has four obstetricians. I don't know if I will do the rotation this time or not since I will have a c-section with this baby.
All of my friends who have used midwives have loved it. It was just never my preference. I love my ob and trust him and wanted him there.

Personally I decided to go with a midwife. I found when I would see the dr. she sometimes seemed to rush the visit or she would be called to the hospitial and I would have to see the midwife anyway. I not only had the midwife for my pregnancy but I continue to see her for my yearly exams etc. She is great. I would suggest you meet a few dr's and a few midwife and go with your gut feeling.

Good Luck