Midwives vs Ob-gyn

Hi!

My sister just had her baby last Tuesday and she used a midwife. I was discussing with her the differences and she said the there really was none. The midwife administered drugs, ordered the epideral, ect. Everything my sister thought she wouldn't want.

I asked her what the point was then and she said, she really didn't even know what the difference was after going through labor and delivery.

Hey C.,
I had a midwife. I don't don't really know what the difference is, except she was so nice and more personal. Not just okay you're here you're fine baby's good see you in 4 more weeks. You know how some doctors can be. She took time to explain everything to me. She delivered in the hospital just like a doctor. Then when it came time for birth control, she explain everything to me, I got the mirena, she showed me how it works and she was so nice. So I guess for me the difference was that I felt more comfortable with my midwife then the doctors. Hope this helps.
H. Mays

Hi C.,

I read the hospital stories and really, not everyone is going to need a c-section. I have four children. The first was with an OB-GYN. She was not the one I wanted to have deliver, but was still pretty good. Due to my experience (mostly negative while in the hospital, but that's for another topic) I decided to go with a midwife for the next pregnancy and delivery. All my births were natural (without pain drugs). The next three were with nurse-midwives. The difference is in how you are treated, whether a hospital or birthing center birth, but with a N-M. I got the kind of atmosphere I wanted (low lights, etc.) as well as an advocate at my side. Only in one birth did I not have to be induced, so that one was at a birthing center all the way. I still had my midwife present at the hospital births, as I didn't need any surgery. She caught them on the way out--I'm told I did the delivery, though! LOL! I was able to give birth in home-like surroundings at the BC. At the hospital, I kept my baby with me, something you have to tell them to let you do. In addition, I used the services of a doula, something I recommend for anyone. Mine was also a massage therapist, a major plus when you're pregnant!

I dont know much about it, but a midwife cant help you if you need surgery or have an emergency during delivery I think. My pregnancy was high risk, and I think if yours ends up being high risk, maybe you're better off with an obgyn and delivering in a hospital.

Hi.
I had my pregnancy tracked by midwives and the actual birth attended by a midwife and it was a WONDERFUL experience all around. Certified nurse midwives have all the required training to do normal pregnancies and births and because they are usually tied in with an OB-GYN, then there is backup if yours is a difficult case.
For the birth of my son (who is now 4), she oversaw the whole delivery, but the OB-GYN from her office hovered nearby in case the baby got "stuck" and that I would need a Caesarian.
The midwives still do my annual Pap. If you have a good, knowledgeable midwife, it should work out fine.
Let me know if you want to know which midwife I'm using.

Hi C.....
I had my little girl with an Ob (shes 17months old...), that Ob was all about inducing and csections...I ended up being induced and after 23hrs of no progression ended up in a csection... I've read up on VBACS and decided to go back to him with the set mind of a VBAC at 1st he was all for helping me have it but I should've known better... I"m now 18weeks pregnant and switching to
Miami Maternity Center
140 NE 119 Street
Miami FL 33161
Tel: 305-754-BABY (2229)
Fax: ###-###-####
Contact: Shari Daniels, MSEd, LM, CPM, President
Email: ____@____.com
Website: www.miamibirth.com
How did you have your 2yr old? What was your experience? was it good or bad? that should help you make your decision whether you want to go through that again or seek the other option... I hope this somewhat helped...
Good luck in whatever you choose...

i had my first baby at a hospital and all the prenatal at the hospital (in new york). my second baby was born at the miami maternity center (in north miami). The second baby was by far healthier upon delivery (no epidural, no laying in the hospital bed trying to dilate, etc). And the prenatal treatment was MUCH more personal and helpful at the miami maternity center.
I highly recommend you go there and at least do a tour. They can probably get you in very soon.

here is something that i found on the web for you to read.... i would rather you find out all the pros and cons to Midwives vs ob-gyn that way than giving you my advice due to bad experiences with mid wives. i guess in my opinion its whatever you are more comfortable with and what you feel more secure doing. hope it helps. ill also provide the link that it came from

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/10207/tips_for_h...

Have you just learned that you are pregnant? If you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, there are many important decisions that must be made ahead of time. One of those decisions includes your medical care during pregnancy and labor.Many women choose to go the standard route of having an OBGYN Doctor; however, the popularity of midwives is beginning to increase. Here are some tips for deciding and a general background of each side and what they have to offer.

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.

C.,
I used a nurse-midwife and was very happy with the experience. For one thing, usually you see the same nurse-midwife during your pregnancy, whereas at a large ob-gyn practice you may rotate between dr's. I felt very comfortable with my nurse midwife and I think she was able to spend a little more time with me than the dr would have.
As long as you have a normal pregancy, the midwife will see you for everything. If you have a complication or need a procedure like an amniocentesis then you will see a dr in the practice.
Give it a try! I'm sure if you are not happy with your midwife you could always switch to a dr.
(let me clarify; my nurse midwife was in the same practice as the ob-gyn group)

Hi there...

I just gave birth to our 2nd child last week--i used a midwife for both this birth and for our son 17 months ago. All though it was 2 different midwives (insurance changes) both experiences were EXCELLENT!!!

There is no difference really; just the license. A mid-wife can't perform surgery but they do everything else; they aren't a doctor but they are alittle more than a nurse. I always see the mid-wife when I go to the ob-gyn; for one the appointment times are more flexible; for two my ob-gyn is a male with no heart or soul and the mid-wife understands female problems alittle better. My mid-wife delivered my last son, she did an excellent job. I would recommend you build a relationship with the mid-wife and start seeing her, if there is a problem and she feels you need to see the doctor they will make sure the doctor see's you on that visit.

Hope the advice helps...

Personally, I would want a doctor. But I have had friends who love the whole mid-wife thing.

I was in labor for 18 hours then needed a c-section. If I would have had a mid-wife and gone through the whole natural birth thing at a birthing center I would have ended up rushed to the hospital, getting a doctor I don't know and who knows what else.

Also, my best friend went into labor and almost immediately, when they attached her to the fetal monitors when she got to the hospital, found out that the baby was in distress and had to do an emergency c-section. If she would not have been at the hospital who knows if the baby would have survived. He was in NICU for 10 days, not breathing on his own for 6 of those days.

I have had other friends who loved the water birth and their experience was great!

For me, the risk is too high. But that is your choice. Chances are you won't have any problem. But you never know, all pregnancies are different.

I am pregnant again, and am scheduled for a c-section next Thursday. With the opportunity to experience both, labor (with and without epidural) and c-section, I highly recommend c-section, that was a breeze. The labor sucked!

Good luck!

When I was pregnant with my fourth child, I started seeing one, they do pretty much the same thing the OB-Gyn does, except for C-sections, I had one so half-way into my pregnancy I started seeing the OB.

I love my midwife. There is a doctor and 2 midwives at my practice. I think the main difference I found between the 2 is a midwife is typically more relaxed. At my first visit to the Ob, she told me no caffine, no tuna, no nuts, etc...! Later in my first trip to my midwife, she EXPLAINED to me why these things arent the best for me and baby and told me to use moderation.
also alot of midwives stay more natural. natural meds, natural births, possibly home, water or a birthing ctr. Not all do, BUT Ob's are not known for any natural methods. So that may be something to consider.
My midwife and I had a real connection. With complications I had in my pregnancy and birth...I do not think an Ob would have been so kind. She almost treated me like her daughter.
The only thing a midwife CANNOT do is preform a C section. But with my C, she was doing more then the Doctor.
And in my 4 days of recovery she came to visit me everyday! With no family in the state, it was so nice to have her support.
I highly reccomend looking into all different Doctors. And ask all your friends for referals, thats how I found mine.
As long as you respect each other, it doesnt matter what the title is.
Good luck!
~S.

Hello C.,

as a Doula i would like to recommend you to do your research and then make a decision based on knowledge combined with your gut feeling of what is the right thing for you to do. There is no better. It is about your comfort zone and the kind of birth experience you want. Feel free to call me at ###-###-#### if you have questions. I will be happy to help you.

S.

Midwives are trained to recognize the signs of trouble in pregnancy and labor. If a complication develops at any time, the midwife should consult a doctor. If your midwife doesn't already have a practice agreement with a doctor, be sure to find out what will be done in case of a complication.

If you plan to deliver at a non-hospital birth center or at home, an emergency back-up plan is especially critical. If you must go to the hospital, your midwife will go with you and will continue to support you throughout your labor.

But it's a good idea to get an answer to these questions:

What training or equipment does your midwife have to handle emergencies?
How far will you be from the nearest hospital?
Do you have fail-safe transportation?

Midwives generally spend a lot of time during prenatal visits addressing a woman's individual concerns and needs, and will stay with you as much as possible throughout labor. They sometimes encourage physical positioning during labor such as walking around, showering, rocking, or leaning on birthing balls — recommendations that aren't usually associated with a typical medical doctor. Midwives also usually allow women to eat and drink during labor.

Certified nurse-midwives, like doctors, will use some medical interventions, such as electronic fetal monitoring, labor-inducing drugs, pain medications, epidurals, and episiotomies, if the need arises. However, a certified midwife, certified professional midwife, or direct-entry midwife may not legally be allowed to use these techniques without a doctor's supervision. And birthing centers may or may not be equipped for these procedures.

Midwives of any licensing degree cannot perform cesarean sections (C-sections). If one were required, an obstetrician would have to perform your delivery. If any potentially life-threatening complications suddenly arose during delivery, midwives should also involve an obstetrician.

Certified midwives are trained in basic life support for newborns and, in the event of sudden complications with your baby after birth, can care for the baby until a pediatrician or neonatologist (an intensive-care specialist for newborns) is available.