Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
good Lord
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
I don't know how midwives work to be honest in the US or anywhere else. My experience with ob/gyn was great. I had a tough .. forecep delivery. I don't know if a midwife could handle that. Of course its something unexpected so I am glad I went with an ob/gyn who could perform the procedure right away. My baby was in NICU for the time I was at the hospital. He was well taken care of. I was able to bring him home with me. Can midwives give epidurals or anything like that for pain?
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
No. Thats the job for an anaesthesiologist (sp).
I wonder how much power over a delivery a midwife has in e US. Here they perform any linda delivery be it vaccuum, forcep, etc cept c sec ofcourse. Give episiotomies, sew women up....all the yucky stuff. For a difficult delivery they do call on a dr for 2nd opinion but still decide what route to take.
Ure best bet would be to really call the hospital or find an organization that deals with these kinda things.... Midwives do work in a hospital so find out if the one u deliver at has midwives as a possible part of child birth.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
I went through a clinic that has all midwives and i loved my experience. The one who actually delivered my daughter was a midwife i had not met too often during my checks but she was awesome throughout the whole thing. MIdwives do not handle high risk cases so if someone were to get gestational diabetes, they would refer her to an ob/gyn. I went with midwives because i thought they would be more open to my way of handling things (the less intervention the better). I had this idea based solely on reading internet forums. After i gave birth,i had a 3rd degree tear which teh midwife couldnt sew, so she called an obgyn who luckily was a female and who was able to sew me up. I suppose if it happened to be a male ob on call, i would have been forced to get him to do my stitches.
Are you in Europe?
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Eastern i am not in Europe, rather the midwest.
Khawa, it took even the obgyn quite some time to figure out which skin layers went where so i am guessing i had a bad third degree tear. I remember getting impatient because i was still in so much pain and starting to develop a fever and just plain uncomfortable. But Alhamdulillah it all ended well.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Ira..so far I guess you are the only one in US who went with a midwife and since the OP's question was for people in the US actually,so will you go to them again or would want to do it differently..??
I am just curious...
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
yep, will definitely go with a midwife again inshaAllah. I have nothing against obgyns, but the first one i went to, i really didn't like much. So i switched to midwives. Incidentally, the obgyn who sewed me up was the one i had rejected prior, lol.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
thanks ...
I guess the most important thing is to be comfortable with your provider...either a doctor or a midwife...
I was comfortable with my doctors so it was and is good...
Whatever works for a person..nothing against anyone...
But I seriously love some of the remarks in this thread...!!!..
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Both my daughters were delivered by midwives.
Midwives are medical professionals, usually registered nurses, trained in caring for pregnant women, delivering children, and post delivery care. They have great experience and unlike what most people think, they aren't self-taught village folks who come and deliver your child.
The only reason you'd ask for an OB/Gyn is if you have complications that require surgical intervention, but they can handle pretty much everything else in the most loving and professional way. Most hospitals now have a midwifery department within the OB/Gyn department and many docs now do want you to use midwives for your pregnancy so OB/Gyns can spend more time in other areas.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Thanks girls.. such an interesting thread! so out of 3 people who had midwives, 2 recommend it! thats good!
midwives may not be the trend in the US but where I live, almost everyone that I know of has been to the mid wives and they are all goris so I was just wondering if its quite popular or what.. I haven't decided yet... for me the deciding factor would be to choose a practice with no male obgyns or at least where it will be guaranteed that there will be a female obgyn available.. I dunno if it's possible or not but I will try my best! inshaAllah!
none of you girls answered an important part... did you interview your obgyn/ or midwife or just took the one that was presented to you???? ok I feel like I am making a big deal out of something but I guess I am just paranoid of the unseen and all this tear talk didn't help much! Do I really need to know that!?!?!? :-(
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
I believe you can interview midwives from different groups based on if they're available for your due date, but OB's are doctor-assigned? Or at least that's how it is in Toronto. Finding an OB without a doctor referral isn't easy! And no, you are not making a big deal at all- you should absolutely be comfortable with the person who will be there for you during this very important time in your life. As for female OB's being guaranteed, I know how it works at my hospital is that there is a group of 12 OB's that make up the maternity division. Any given time during 24 hours, two of them are on call. When you show up to deliver, either of the two on call will assist in your birth. There is no guarantee of a male or a female doctor- it could be either/or. This was stressing me out but then the OB I was assigned is male and he's very good at what he does so I'm more comfortable with the idea, and also, I figure by the time I'm in labour and giving birth, I really won't care whose doing what! I'll probably just want the baby out. Plus, I asked for a female OB and my doctor didn't know anyone in that group to refer me to, so I really had no choice. It was more important that I got the hospital of my choice than the gender of my choice when it came to the OB, but that's just me.
I would say meet both and explore both options thoroughly and then go with the person who makes you feel the most comfortable. They're both medically qualified to deliver babies and have likely done so 1000's of times before for other women, so don't worry about not having the necessary access to care. So long as you are in the hospital, you are in good shape with either a midwife or an OB.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Thanks girls.. such an interesting thread! so out of 3 people who had midwives, 2 recommend it! thats good!
midwives may not be the trend in the US but where I live, almost everyone that I know of has been to the mid wives and they are all goris so I was just wondering if its quite popular or what.. I haven't decided yet... for me the deciding factor would be to choose a practice with no male obgyns or at least where it will be guaranteed that there will be a female obgyn available.. I dunno if it's possible or not but I will try my best! inshaAllah!
none of you girls answered an important part... did you interview your obgyn/ or midwife or just took the one that was presented to you???? ok I feel like I am making a big deal out of something but I guess I am just paranoid of the unseen and all this tear talk didn't help much! Do I really need to know that!?!?!? :-(
I did not interview any OBs...I did interview pediatricians so maybe I can tell from that experience.But interviewing does not tell you that much IMO unless you go and visit the doctor as a patient.I did mention in an earlier post that the most important thing is for you to be comfortable with your provider.Insurance might impose some limitations on your choice of provider (if you have such a plan) but if you are not comfortable with one you can change to another one.Didn't you have an ob/gyn before getting pregnant....??..(assuming that you will be going to one,nothing against a midwife here..!!)..If so do you want to change her...??
Its more important where you want to deliver...I mean what hospital...then look for providers at that hospital....
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Part 2 of my post...I wanted a female doctor too...I was referred to a practice which had 7 females and 1 male..I was seen by him too,and I was comfortable with him ....
I wanted a female doctor at the time of delivery.But where I delivered I think 3 group practices rotated on a regular basis for on-calls....so there was a chance for me to end up with a male from another practice.I was delivered by a female doctor but then the anesthesiologists were all male....I seriously never even had a chance to care because it was a critical time for the baby....(this is just my experience....I hope you never have to go through anything of the sorts,iA...)
During the 5 day stay at the hospital,after giving birth,we had a note outside the door that said no males allowed...doctors/nurses/housekeeping anyone...And they respected our wishes....
It all comes down to...what 'you' are comfortable with....find that and you are all good...!!
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
nopse I dun have any obgyn.. my pcp has been taking care of anything and everything.. I wish she woudl deliver babies too.. seriously she is the best doc I ever had.. she has called me twice this week to check on me.. I will be seeing her tomorrow and we will discuss all my options.. I will definitely keep her recommendation in mind! by the way, she is a pediatrician too so my children will be all set!
Honestly I dun think I have much choice of a hospital.. we have one hospital that is about 30 mins away from our place and another one about 45 mins (add more during rush hours) so I know where I will end up! It's a great hospital though so no issues there, at least I have inspected their cafeterias/kitchen and I know food is safe and good!! :-D
oh man, I really don't know how I will react to a male doctor.. I am not comfortable with the idea at all (at least as of now) but who knows if things will change later or what.... you guys are right, it's all about being comfortable with the provider.. I will see how my experience goes! my insurance is quite good alhamdulillah.. I don't have much exclusions/restrictions so I am willing to explore and decide inshaAllah.. all that high fee for insurance will finally pay off :D
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
I don't have any experience with a midwife, as both my boys were delivered by obgyn's.
As SGC already mentioned, even though you have a female obgyn, when it comes down to delivery time, it's the doctor that's on call at the hospital that will deliver your baby. Could be male, could be female. So you shouldn't just chose a female obgyn because you think that she'll be the one delivering your baby.
And I know that we all think it's a lot more comfortable having a female doc, but when push comes to shove (quite literally, lol :D), you just want that baby outta you. When you're hooked up to machines and IV lines, yelling at every contraction and nurses comes every 10 mins to check how far you've dilated, being embarrassed is the last thing on your mind. And we have to remember, that male doctors have done this hundred's of times. It's their job. They're not there to oogle your privates. In fact, the actual delivery doctor comes in practically 5 mins before the baby has to come out.
But don't stress! If you find a midwife, that's great! Aren't the majority of midwives, females anyway? So if you find a midwife, no male doctor required! :D
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
I did not have any preference before my son was born and went to see ob/gyn. I did not interview any one but went on line to read the reviews about the group practrice. I picked the group practice associated with the hospital of my choice.
My whole preg was fine and did not have any complications. It was like a breeze until I started having contractions. I called the ob/gyn and she told me that it is the start and I should keep an eye on timing of contraction. At night time my MIL told me that she does not think that I will be able to spend night at home and should call ob/gyn. I called her and she asked me to come to the hospital. She was on the call. I went and after doing all the check up, ob/gyn told me that baby is not taking stress very well. I was able to hear the baby's heart beat and it was not normal. I was not able to hear it for a split of a sec. I had emergency C-section and everything went well without any wait. Now I am glad that I went to ob/gyn and was taken care of right of way.
Try to call around and find out if there is only female ob/gym group practice. I am in midwest and there are quite a bit female only ob/gyn offices. Good luck with everything, InshAllah you will be able to find the best ob/gyn and hospital.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
i had an appt at obgyn practice but I was seen by a midwife... didn't like her at all! I have requested to see the obgyn that was recommended by my pcp but so far no luck, apparently our schedules dun match and they are always in a rush to get me in with whoever is available! and besides that they have two male obgyns and of course there is no flexibility for the delivery doctor!
I am seeing the midwives practice tomorrow.. if I like them, I will probably go with them! There are five midwives and their only obgyn is a male who deals with complications, if needed! and their definition of complication (as far as I know ) is a c-section! Which I am perfectly okay with in case there is a need!
Raima.. I live in a town with no females only practice... in fact we don't even have a practice, I am in fact going to the neighboring city that has only 3 obgyn practices and 3 midwives practice (2 of them do only home births though) so I really don't have much of a choice!
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
Every single doctor of mine right from the begining was a male doctor. Due to high risk pregnancy I saw atleast 8 doctors who saw me on regular basis. At the time of my delievry a female doc was on call. Honestly it doesnt matter male or female. Whoever it is, they should be a good doctor.
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
you are right Spiral but I am not comfortable with a male doc.. and Alhamdulillah mine is not high risk so I am going to look around until I find someone I am comfortable with.. if I go with the midwives practice, I understand that (god forbid) any complication I will have a male obgyn and that risk I am willing to take for the health and safety of the baby... but if everything is and stays normal, I will prefer and nice female obgyn or midwife, whoever I like more!
Re: Midwife or OBGYN?
^ but that's the thing, GtG, unless you go with a midwife, you cannot guarantee you'll have a female doctor on call when you deliver. your OB might or might not be there, so you should think about the* possibility* of a male doctor even if there isn't an emergency (and iA that won't happen) :) never say never!