Kinda a dumb question... Midwife Vs Regular Dr - which is better? Differences? - Page 2

[TheDivineMrsM]

Originally Posted by bluepetals

It depends on how midwifery works where you live. Here, midwives have hospital privileges. You can have a midwife-attended hospital birth, if you so desire.

That's what I'm doing too. There are quite a few midwifery groups that have hospital privileges, and also attend home births. Sadly, there are no birth centers close by (which would've been my preference). I opted for a MW that delivers in a hospital.

I went with a midwife because I don't feel like I need a doctor. I'm not sick or hurt. Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just pregnant. When I have my baby, I want my body to to what it's designed to do. I wanted a practitioner that would allow that. I wanted someone that'll look at pregnancy like it's a normal part of life, instead of a crisis waiting to happen. That said, since this is my first, I wanted to give birth in a hospital just in case something goes awry.

JMO though. You ultimately have to go with someone that you trust, whatever their title.

[gummibears]

DH likes the sounds of a midwife, but like me, wants a hospital birth - just in case. I have found 2 that seem to be on staff at a hospital nearby, so I think at this point calls are in order to see how things may work out with either of them.

[CookAMH]

I'm sure this was said, but it really comes down to a very simple idea - midwives view birth as a non-medical, natural event that usually needs little intervention. The OB world views pregnancy and birth as a medical event that needs to be managed. Granted, not all OBs approach it that way, but the FIELD and what they are taught has that philosophy.

So, in choosing, what kind of care do you want?

A great book is The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. It equips you to be educated about birth interventions and decide if you want them or not. If you do, then go for an OB. If you want more hands off but with medical expertise standing by, then go for a midwife.

[Smokering]

NZ perspective here, not sure how well it translates to the US system...

I had a lovely midwife - Sallie. She was great. Continuity of care was particularly important to me, and she was there for all my antenatal stuff, the birth (even though she didn't have to be - planned HB, but got a hospital induction due to pre-e), AND the postpartum care. I got to know her really well in the six weeks PP - she wouldn't just pop in to see I wasn't haemmorhaging to death, she'd hang around for half an hour and admire the baby and just chat about stuff. Plus she was AP, so yay. And yeah, she came to my home, which was super fantastic as I didn't drive.

The way I see it, an OB for a normal pregnancy is overkill. They have better things to do, like treating sick people. What midwives do - and they're trained professionals and usually very good at this - is tell you if and when you need to transfer to OB care. That's what Sallie did for me. She and her backup, Debbie, kept a very close watch on me in the weeks leading up to the birth, even though nothing was wrong - they caught my pre-eclampsia from the moment the symptoms started, monitored me on a daily basis from then on, and made the call for me to transfer to the hospital. It wasn't what I wanted, in terms of a birthing experience - but I'm very grateful they didn't mess around with my care, because... you know... coma and messy death. So even HB-friendly midwives aren't la-di-da pie-in-the-sky she'll-be-right stoners (or if you happened to get one like that, I'm sure you'd notice!) - they call the OB in if and when an OB is required. So unless you're starting off high-risk for any reason - say, a multiples birth or a double uterus - I'd say go with a midwife.

I'd also generalise that the personality profile of a midwife is different from an OB. Pushy parents don't make their kids go into midwifery for the prestige or the money. There's much less power, so people into power are much less attracted to it as a profession; there's less constant stress, so they won't be people who thrive on go-go-go chaos. I'd say midwifery tends to attract a more patient, humble, serving kind of person than hospital obstetrics - but of course there are heaps of exceptions either way.

[greenmulberry]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I'm sure this was said, but it really comes down to a very simple idea - midwives view birth as a non-medical, natural event that usually needs little intervention. The OB world views pregnancy and birth as a medical event that needs to be managed. Granted, not all OBs approach it that way, but the FIELD and what they are taught has that philosophy.

I have one of the cooler OB's. He follows my wishes on everything so far, and I feel like all the decisions we make we make together. He told me if I am committed to a natural birth he will support my decision and defend me from the anesthesia department who he warned me are going to try and talk me into an epidural, because, in his words "They are just jerks like that" LOL. I think one difference may be because he is very young, a resident and works with one of the more enlightened OB's around here.

I actually met him by accident, my regular gyno was who I was going to go to for OB care, but she was on vacation. I never thought I would like a male OB, but I have to say I like him more than most of the female docs I have had.

[Liora]

I had a midwife with DD and I loved it (I birthed at a birth center). This time I'm going with an OB (a perinatologist actually) because I'm having twins.

Either way the MOST important thing to me: treat me as a partner. I want everything discussed with me respectfully. I don't want to have eyes rolled when I ask questions and I don't want to be fear-mongered when I make a final decision. I'm with a very medically-minded OB right now and she tried to push the flu shot but we had a very respectful discussion and I never felt harassed or "you're baby's gonna die!!!!"

Of course with a midwife no one even asked me about the flu shot but I don't feel offended at the allopathic slant of an allopathic doctor as long as it is respectful!