Everything to Know About Using a Midwife vs. an OB/Gyn
Expectant mothers are faced with a litany of choices concerning the health of themselves and their baby. One of the most crucial decisions is whether to choose care with a midwife, an OB/Gyn, or both to deliver your future child. There are benefits to all three methods of prenatal care, but every individual has different preferences. At Connecticut Coastal OB/Gyn, we have Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM), and obstetricians/gynecologists, and offer all comprehensive prenatal care. But how do you know what is right for you?
Midwife
Midwives are independent healthcare providers, but may also work in tandem with obstetrician/gynecologists to provide the best care possible for women in their reproductive years. Certified Nurse-Midwives are registered nurses with graduate degrees in midwifery, and have accomplished the rigorous requirements of both practices, but they aren’t trained medical doctors.
The philosophy that midwives employ in their practice is one that promotes the holistic health of their patient. Their goal is to educate expectant mothers on breastfeeding options, nutrition, birthing plans, and more. They also provide information on infant care and postpartum obstacles. However, midwives are not trained to perform surgery, and in the case of emergency c-section, an obstetrician must step in.
The midwives at CT Coastal have the ability to prescribe medication, perform exams, make diagnoses, and admit/discharge patients. They are fully capable of guiding a person through pregnancy and caring for them outside of the prenatal period,
OB/Gyn
Obstetrician/Gynecologists are trained doctors certified in their field and they generally work as members of a hospital’s physician staff or in a private practice. They are primarily focused on medical and preventative care for pregnant people, and are surgeons trained to perform c-sections and gynecologic surgery. While obstetricians value building relationships with their patients, they are more focused on physical health in prenatal care.
If an expectant mother is deemed to be at risk of birth complications, an obstetrician should be highly involved in prenatal care throughout the entire pregnancy. It is also crucial to have an OB present in labor and delivery to assist in a complicated birth or to provide emergency procedures, such as a c-section.
Obstetricians complete comprehensive training in medical school and then complete additional rigorous residency training related to their special field. The OBs at CT Coastal have all the certifications and qualifications that pertain to a patient’s needs in prenatal care.
Making the Right Choice
In the end, there is no “right choice.” We encourage you to meet with multiple providers before deciding which to work with during your pregnancy. Each person’s situation and pregnancy is unique, and the primary factor when choosing a provider is making sure they can meet your needs, make you comfortable, and keep you and your child safe before, during, and after labor and delivery. At Connecticut Coastal OB/Gyn, we are proud to have midwives and obstetrician/gynecologists that work as a team to meet patients’ comprehensive needs.
To learn more about our healthcare services, contact us at 203-562-5181 or schedule an appointment at one of our locations to speak with a provider.
Sources:
https://acnm-acog-ipe.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2_26_21_Role-Clarification_RD.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/midwife-vs-obgyn
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