I am watching Baby Story these days on TV, and I saw a couple use a midwife instead of a doctor. What’s the advantage of that? Cost? There is still hospital and its staff involved, so I don’t see how the cost can be significantly lower.
And how is the midwife taking that risk? Doctor’s have malpractice insurance to cover themselves, which is paid for by the generous salaries they get. Midwife’s get doctor like salaries to cover themselves?
Re: What's the advantage of using a midwife over a doctor for child birth?
Many big hospitals have midwives as part of the OB/Gyn department and these ladies are your primary caretakers after your first visit with the doc to establish that you are pregnant. There are usually 4-5 midwives and you get to see them all during your prgnancy visits so at the time of your delivery one of them will be available to deliver your child. They are trained nurses with special certifications in childbirth and care. A medical doctor/ OB is always available in case there are complications.
I've had both my daughters delivered by midwives and I have no regrets. They were highly professional and used many natural ways of dealing with issues during my pregnancy. Most of them had 10-15 years of experience and great track records.
I guess the program is very popular because doctor's time is freed up and they can focus on special needs/high risk care. It's just better service and organization if you really don't have complications during your pregnancy.
Re: What's the advantage of using a midwife over a doctor for child birth?
in Ontario, mid-wives are covered by OHIP, which means there can be huge waiting lists. i was told to call as soon as the home test showed a positive.
from what i've read, midwife care usually is more holistic- whilst doctors tend to focus more on your physical condition as a baby-carrier and on the baby- midwives focus on both of you and also on how you are coping mentally. midwife appointments tend to last up to 45 minutes, whilst most ob-gyns see you for around 20 minutes if all is well. midwives can guide you through a homebirth, or like niks said, can be your reps in the hospital too, but in the case of a homebirth are not permitted to give pain relief like epidurals.
more of what i've read-- keep in mind, most ob-gyn's are trained in emergency medicine primarily and therefore are quick to push for c-sections. midwives are also schooled in natural childbirth and its ways, so can provide insight into other pain relief and labour-handling techniques.
a good friend of mine had both her girls using midwives- the first in hospital, the second at home. AH all went well and she had a great experience. for the homebirths, she had two midwivews attend her. also after each birth, one of the midwives visited her at home every single day for two weeks after she gave birth to check up on her and the baby and make sure all was well. that point is THE most appealing one to me, personally, because my mummeh (who would normally have done this), lives abroad and depending on time of year, might not be able to fly in. which would be traumatic enough as it is.
Re: What's the advantage of using a midwife over a doctor for child birth?
Midwives in the UK have to go to Uni and training for almost 5 years and after that they're able to do all the things like a doc except writing prescription and doing surgeries(they're also trained to tear and stitch).
Re: What's the advantage of using a midwife over a doctor for child birth?
I chose to go through a midwife myself and was highly pleased with her support. They are generally thought to have provided more natural ways of dealing with pregnancy and labor while the obgyns can be much more straightforward and mroe rigid in theri approach.
Alhamd i had a natural delivery and the midwife i had was extremely supportive. She let me call the shots as much as medically safe and possible. I doubt i would have had the same support from an obgyn since they are there to catch the baby at the end.
Re: What's the advantage of using a midwife over a doctor for child birth?
I definitely want a midwife, hope I can get one when its my time inshallah!!!