My OB has midwives on staff. They shuffle us around so we see everyone in case we get one of them in delivery.
In my area, midwives handle low risk pregnancies and the OB will oversee. If the pregnancy is high risk, the OB will have to handle them as the midwives aren't equipped.
Midwife all the way
Loved having midwives my first pregnancy and going that route again. Midwives are also board certified just as an OB is. The main difference is OBs are “doctors” while midwives are “certified nurse practitioners” With my first pregnancy I had my first appointment with an OB and it felt very rushed and impersonal. They basically handed my pamphlets and sent me on my way… they last minute sent in a nurse practitioner and I didn’t even get to see the OB because she was so busy! The first midwife appointment I had wasn’t rushed, they sat with me for an hour to answer all my questions, and answered other things I never even thought of. It felt more welcoming and accepting of how I wanted my birthing experience to go and didn’t feel as there was pressure to “go with the norm” as OBs tend to lean towards. However, if you are high risk, you likely will have to see an OB as midwives typically won’t oversee a high risk pregnancy.
I’m going with an OB. She has delivered over 5,000 babies.
@Taylor Salentine you won’t know who’s delivering until day of and shift changes if they are all on call. I had midwife for my first and ob delivered by the time the baby came (3.5 hours later and he almost cut but my nurses advocated for me that was not my birth plan) and for my second - I landed a incredible midwife based on the time I went in - who delivered my daughter in until 5 minutes That’s why typically they said to meet all the staff to be ready for anyone of them :)
@Shawna I understand. I have a medium to high risk pregnancy since I have a bleeding and a blood circulation disorder which is what my doctor specializes in so that’s why I’m going with her.
How do you go about finding a midwife?
@Taylor Salentine same here had to go to oncology every few weeks to be monitored 🩷 just giving my perspective that they normally have you meet different people so you are comfortable the day of if your “doc or midwife” of choice is not on call that day for delivery :) best of luck!
Same! I like the idea of a midwife but if a practice has both I wouldn’t be opposed