Making the RIGHT Choice!
If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, or you are already pregnant, it’s extremely important that you have access to good medical attention for you and your baby. Many studies have shown that early and sufficient medical attention is vital for you and your baby’s health and well being. If you choose to be treated by an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) and if you have a doctor who you have the utmost confidence in and feel “at ease” talking to, then your choice is an easy one. However, if you choose to be treated by a midwife or doula route, then do your homework. Acquire a midwife or doula that has plenty of experience and we suggest to you that you hold many interviews before selecting one to help you through your pregnancy.

However, if you’ve relocated to a new city or town, changed insurance plans, or don’t feel comfortable with your current medical doctor, then you may find a new one. If this the case, you should ask around about doctors, meet with a few, and choose the one you feel the most contented with.

We here at Babies Online have put together some guidelines and recommendations:

Three Pieces of Advice:

1. How much?
   Make sure when you make the appointment with an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) you ask the receptionist about pricing. Most doctors set aside 10 to 15 minutes for an initial consultation. If your discussion lasts longer than that (up to a half an hour), there is a chance you may be charged another fee (consultation).
2. The Hospital?
   During your decisions regarding an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), you will also be deciding where you will deliver your baby. Ask questions about the hospital, like “Does it have a birth center?” or “Is it family- and child-friendly?” or “What kind of relationship does your obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) have at this hospital?”
3. The Paperwork Formalities?
   When the choice has been made, remember to telephone your old doctor and ask to have your medical records mailed to your new obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN). Your new OB/GYN will need access to your complete medical history.

Questions for the OB/GYN:

• Their Background:
  Find out from the doctor how long he/she’s been in practice and what he/she likes best about a job as a doctor. How long will it take you to contact them in a non-emergency situation? How would you reach your doctor in an emergency?
• Group or Solo Practice:
  If the doctor is in a group, ask how often you’ll see the other doctors. What percent of the doctor’s own patients does he/she deliver? If the doctor works privately, ask him/her about who you will see when they are away.
• Typical Pregnancy Care:
  Ask the doctor which tests he/she routinely performs. Do you, the patient, have any concerns about one of them? If so, ask the doctor how he/she would handle those concerns. If you’re thinking of working with a midwife, talk it over with the doctor in the beginning. Is the doctor open to working with a midwife? Is she associated with a midwifery practice? Find out how experienced the doctor is with high-risk pregnancies (for example, twins or multiples, gestational diabetes or hypertension can all result in a “high-risk” classification) and what you could expect if your pregnancy becomes high-risk. Does the doctor perform vaginal births after cesareans? Finally, ask if he/she recommends that you take a childbirth class, and if so, which one.
• Labor, Delivery, Postpartum
  Ask if and when the doctor (or the doctor from the practice who’s on call) typically meets a patient in labor at the hospital. If you’d like to use a doula (labor coach), see if the doctor has any suggestions. Does the doctor like working with coaches? Is there someone the doctor can recommend? Does the doctor or the practice have recommendations for labor pain? What procedures does this doctor routinely perform during labor (for example, fetal monitoring, IV’s or episiotomies). Is there any procedure you don’t want to have, and if so, what happens then? Ask what happens after your baby is born: Will you be separated? If so, for how long? Can the baby stay in your room with you? Can your partner? Are there any special services for new moms? Are there lactation consultants or other professionals available to answer special questions?

Conclusion
Above all do not worry about asking too many or too few questions. Don’t feel dumb or stupid about questions. Remember: the only dumb or stupid question is the one that is NOT asked. It is important to get answers, and it’s also important to give yourself the chance to figure out if this obstetrician/gynecologist’s (OB/GYN) demeanor and approach is a good match for you.

Today’s pregnant woman has many different choices when it comes to her prenatal care. Often, the first choice a woman makes is who to have take care of her during her pregnancy, a midwife or a doctor.

For some the decision is simple. Women who either have medical problems or have had a previous c-section and know that they are going to have another one, choose to see an obstetrician because only they can perform c-sections. However, for most women, the choice isn’t as obvious, and careful research must be undertaken to determine what choice is best for her and her family.

Midwives
Prior to labor, during office visits, a mother to be might find that a midwives’ office is much more personal, friendly, and quicker than a doctor’s office. The wait isn’t as long, and the midwife is willing to listen and answer all your questions no matter how long it takes. While in labor, either at home or the hospital, a midwife will generally not leave the mothers side until labor is over, remaining with the mother to give constant support.

Midwives are generally believed to be more personable and more willing to listen, and to do exactly what the mother-to-be wants during her pregnancy and birth. Midwives generally support and believe in a more natural, comfortable birth for the mother and baby, as well as using less traditional birthing aids such as birthing balls and water births. A midwife also is knowledgeable about perineal massage to help avoid tears and episiotomies during labor, as well as using oils and teas to help your cervix soften and prepare for labor. Also, if a mother-to-be wants to have a homebirth, a midwife is who she would choose to assist her.

Doctors
Doctors can offer a lot of benefits as well. Often a doctor can come with a lot of recommendations from friends. Also, if you register with a group of doctors you will have more than one option of who to see. Many times you will actually see all the doctors at different appointments so you’ll get to know each one. You will also be able to get several different opinions regarding any problems you might be having in your pregnancy in one place, rather than having to go elsewhere for a second opinion. Another benefit is that if your doctor is ill, or has to deliver a baby, you probably won’t have to reschedule your appointment because there should be another doctor that you could see in the practice that day.

Often, you will find that the doctor’s office is packed and you have to wait for your appointment. When you finally get in to see your obstetrician, he is rushed and doesn’t want to take the time to answer your questions. These are common complaints from women who have a doctor versus a midwife for their prenatal care.

Obstetricians can also support and believe in a more natural method of childbirth, but they can also be quick to recommend pain medication during labor. They might also be quick to recommend a c-section if labor is not progressing as fast as they want. You also often won’t find the doctor at the hospital or in your room until it is time to actually deliver the baby, instead leaving the labor, early pushing and delivery up to a nurse to take care of.

The choice between an obstetrician and a midwife is purely personal for each mother-to-be. It is a decision to be weighed carefully and not taken before first getting all the facts. In the end, the mother-to-be wants to be happy and 100% comfortable with whoever she chooses, because this is the person she is going to be depending upon to bring a new life into the world safely.