One of the most crucial decisions for a future mother is choosing between a midwife, an OB-GYN (obstetrician-gynecologist), or both to deliver her baby.
What do they have in common?
Both trained midwives and OB-GYNs are experts in prenatal care, labor, and delivery. They are both licensed and highly regulated healthcare providers, and your health insurance will probably cover both of their services if you deliver in a hospital.
What's the difference?
The main difference when comparing OB-GYNs and midwives is their medical training. OB-GYNs complete four years of medical school followed by four years of post-medical school training specializing in women’s reproductive and general health. Midwives are also medical professionals, but they usually start as registered nurses and then go on to complete a midwifery program.
Midwives and OB-GYNs have different certifications and different philosophies and abilities.
OB-GYNs can use surgical or technological interventions during labor and delivery. Research shows that OB-GYNs are more likely to use medical interventions during labor than midwives. [1]. However, that’s not to say OB-GYNs won’t encourage you to have a vaginal birth.
Midwives tend to be more holistic and supportive of natural approaches to pregnancy and birth. But if you have high-risk complications during labor or an emergency C-section is needed, they will call in an OB-GYN immediately. Midwives are trained to provide pre and postnatal care, deliver babies, and provide breastfeeding and nutritional support. These medical professionals are an excellent choice for mothers with low-risk pregnancies, as well as those who prefer to give birth without epidurals or labor-inducing medications.
An OB-GYN or a midwife?
Currently, only 12% of births in the United States are attended by licensed midwives [2]. On the other hand, the percentage of hospital deliveries attended by midwives is rising. ACOG supports midwife-led deliveries in hospitals and licensed birth centers for low-risk pregnancies [3].
Your best bet is to discuss your options with your healthcare provider and decide the ideal one for you and your baby. Both professionals can prescribe pain medication, use fetal monitors, and keep track of your health during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. However, a midwife can not perform a C-section. That’s why if you have a high-risk pregnancy or have any issues of concern, an ob-gyn is your best choice.
