Who Will Deliver This Baby?

Posted by mamas

Posted: April 12, 2008 - 6:27 pm

This question is a weighted one for most moms-to-be. There are several matters to consider when selecting a primary care provider for the birth of your baby. Start by doing some soul searching. What values and priorities do you hold and what kind of birth experience are you looking for? Time and time again I have heard the sad stories of someone staying with a care provider who they really weren’t comfortable with or of feeling like they were pressured by the provider’s personal feelings on the subject of birth. So please select carefully. This person is more than just a “baby catcher” they will have an impact on the whole birthing experience.

Obstetricians (OBs) are physicians who specialize in the management of pregnancy, labor, and pueperium (the time-period directly following childbirth) as well as other areas of female care. If you are looking for an OB, check with your insurance to see if they will cover all OBs or if there is a preferred provider. However, if you are not comfortable with the preferred provider, you may want to consider paying more for a doctor who truly meets your requirements. Many OBs work in groups and also have a different “on-call” group. Try to ensure that you meet as many of these doctors as you can prior to the birth to get a feel for the group. OB’s primarily deliver babies in hospitals.

The two main categories for midwives are nurse-midwives and direct-entry midwives. A midwife as defined by Citizens for Midwifrey is “a knowledgeable and experienced person (usually a woman) who helps a woman have a healthy, normal pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. A good midwife does this by offering education, counseling and support before, during and after the baby is born, by not interfering unnecessarily with the birth process, and by getting appropriate medical attention for mother or baby if it should be needed”. Midwives are usually available to birth babies at home, birth centers, or hospitals (check with each independent midwife as there are licensure differences). Oftentimes midwives work in groups as well and you will want to meet with each of them individually before the birth.

Then there is you. What? Yes, it’s true; there is a growing trend around the globe called “free birth” or unassisted birth. This is more common in areas where there is a lack of midwives or doctor availability. However, even in some cities women are choosing to birth their own babies with only themselves or a family member present. Although this method is not endorsed by health care professionals or the medical community, it continues to gain in popularity among certain groups of women. They usually experience the birth in their home and in their own way and are comfortable with birthing their own babies.

When hiring a care provider, be sure that you meet them early on in your pregnancy in order to interview them and get a feel for their practice. Don’t feel bad if you want to shop around before settling on a provider. Some general questions to ask when selecting a provider are:
1.) Where do I want to give birth (hospital, home, birth center)?
2.) Will they listen to me and support my birth plan?
3.) Will they validate and respect me and my values?
4.) How much will it cost to hire them and when are fees due?
5.) What type of care do I want? Very involved or less invasive?
6.) What is their experience level and C-section rate?
7.) Do I feel comfortable with the provider and their on-call group?
8.) Will they educate me so that I can make informed decisions?
9.) Will they offer the support I need and are they approachable?
10.) Is their licensure current?

Making the decisions that are right for you are so important. Do your research and go with your internal feelings. When you need assistance, take someone with you for another opinion such as a spouse, mother, doula, or friend. Ask questions and notice the provider response to being asked questions. Find out what issues are non-negotiable to you and then find a matching care provider. Good luck with the search and may you find the provider that suits your unique needs.

Who delivered your baby? Was it a doctor, midwife, yourself? Let us hear your thoughts on the matter.

login or register to post comments