Midwife vs. Obstetrician ?

Question

Who would you trust more and would like to be when your giving birth?

Who understands you more?

Is a midwife a good thing?

Answer 1

i would only really trust a midwife, im from scotland UK so thats just my personal opinion really & i get on really well with the team of midwives i see x

Answer 2

Midwife for sure. An obstetrician knows all the medical stuff but the midwife is doing the job on a daily basis.

For the same reason I wont let a doctor take a blood sample, I'd rather go to my local hospital and wait in line for a phlebotomist to do it properly!

Answer 3

I had a midwife with my first pregnacy after seeing an OB for 18 weeks.  I would never go back to an OB unless I had a medical reason to.  From my experpience a midwife gives much better personal care than an OB.

Answer 4

I've only ever seen the midwife so I trust them more as they are usually actually around!

Answer 5

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and see the midwife regularly but was referred to the obstetrician early on in my pregnancy due to underlying health problems.

The obstetrician always seems less personal when I visit, but my midwife is much more involved.

I believe that midwives can be more sympathetic, and feel that to only have an obstetrician present at birth would seem a lot more formal.

Answer 6

AAn obstetrician is an actual DR...a midwife isn't.  So given the choice I would pick the OB.

Answer 7

For a first birth or high risk I would go with obstetrician. Midwives are trained for low risk births. I had my third and still prefer the obstetrician. I feel better knowing there is someone trained to deal with any problem that might arise.

Answer 8

i would trust a OBGYN I think if anything goes wrong I would rather have a doctor that is a resident at the hospital. When dealing with something precious like a baby it's nice to have that piece of mind.

Answer 9

There are good and bad midwives. There are good and bad OBs.

I don't think it's a matter of 'trust' so much as of training and style. OBs are doctors -- they are surgeons, to be specific.  They are trained to think of childbirth as a MEDICAL situation, and to be constantly looking for and anticipating problems. And the immediate solution to any problem found or suspected is going to be a medical (often surgical) solution.  Hence the 25-30% c-section rate in the U.S.

Midwives tend to view childbirth as a natural experience -- a normal part of a woman's life.  Yes, they are aware that things can and do go wrong, and they are trained to recognize problems, and to recognize when problems require the care of a physician/surgeon.  But they  usually are more willing to let nature take its course, and to connect with the woman on a non-medical level.

I had an OB for my birth.  I wasn't, personally, comfortable with a home birth, and there were no certified nurse midwives in my community.  But if I'd had a choice, it would have been a midwife.

(And yes, midwives are a wonderful thing.  Midwife attended births (whether at home, birthing center or hospital)  are cheaper, less likely to have complications, and usually women using midwives are happy with their experinces.

Answer 10

I prefer an obstetrician.  This is my 4th pregnancy and have had two miscarriages.  When I had my daughter I had a very unprofessional midwife that was working with my ob and I requested that I not see her anymore my doctor was wonderful with me.

Answer 11

Hi,

I'm gessing you're in the US?  We don't have specialists attend births in the UK, unless there's something wrong.

If it was the same midwife as I'd been with from the beginning of my ante natal care, I'd like her to continue with the pregnancy and would prefer her there anyway.

However, going on my previous baby, you seem to take pot luck with the staff that are on the shift at the time.

Quite frankly, I was in the throw of contractions and a crowd of millions could have attended, I didn't care, but I do think the midwives are brilliant, and they do a really good job.  So I would prefer midwives.

Answer 12

I have an OB. It makes me feel more comfortable to know how much education they have and if there was an emergency they always know what to do.I have heard a lot of good things about midwives so I think it is what ever you comfortable with.  

Answer 13

If you're in the UK - Midwife all the way. Dunno about other countries, I get the impression that in some places Midwife=Obstetric nurse.  

Answer 14

I would have to say that a midwife is more in-tune with your needs, and understands more ways to make you comfortable (naturally as opposedd to chemically).  If you are a high-risk, or multiple mama I would highly recommend an OB.  Midwives are well trained in their field but they do not have the technology to save you or the baby ina time of crisis.

It really depends on your level of comfort.

Good Luck!

Answer 15

I have an OB, but I'm not saying that I wouldn't trust a midwife. It's really up to the woman and how they feel about it.