Doctor or Midwife: Which One is Right for Me?

Just finding out your are pregnant is an exciting time in your life leading to many important decisions. One of the most important decisions is whether or not to choose a doctor or midwife to take care of you during your pregnancy and after. While both have their advantages and disadvantages there are some big differences between the two. Here are some things to consider before making that decision.

A CNM or certified midwife is someone who has gone to school and gotten their degree in midwifery. Midwives have been around for many, many years and most of them work hard to combine not only the new technologies of today with some of the world's natural medicines. Many women who have been under the care of a midwife claim that they received more personal care from their midwife than from a doctor and that they recovery was much smoother after delivery. Midwives also work hard to try to prevent you from having to be induced or end up having to have a c-section. Midwives are an excellent choice if you are leaning towards wanting a more natural experience or for those who are having a low risk pregnancy. While they do work in the majority of hospitals, midwives also go to birthing centers and also assist in those who choose to have a home birth.

An Ob-gyn or obstetrician gynecologist is someone who has attended medical school and specialized in women's health. They are skilled on all the latest technologies and if an emergency arises they are fully trained to take care of you and work to ensure you give birth safely. If you have underlying issues or previous major medical issues you will almost always be referred to seeing a doctor rather than a midwife so they are able to keep an eye on these issues throughout the pregnancy and birth.

Choosing a doctor or a midwife really depends greatly on what experience you want to have during your pregnancy and birth. If you want to have a more natural experience such as an un-medicated birth then perhaps choosing a midwife is your best option. This also applies if you are interested in having a home birth or a water birth.
If you believe that will want pain medication through labor or you are concerned that an emergency could arise then it is probably better to choose a doctor who is trained to take care of such matters.

While there are several differences between doctors and midwives, both should be committed to ensuring you give birth safely. Always be sure to trust your instincts and choose the one who shows the most interest in your birth experience and with whom you feel the most comfortable with.

Sources Cited: http://www.babycenter.com/0_doctor-or-midwife-which-is-right-for-you_9348.bc, and my own personal research