Your midwife and you

 
You can receive prenatal care from either an obstetrician (OB-GYN) or nurse-midwife, and which ever you choose will also attend you at the birth of your baby.

Think carefully about what kind of birth you’d like before opting for one of other. If you feel more reassured by the idea of having your baby in hospital, your pregnancy is high risk and the delivery is likely to be complicated (for example, if you’re expecting twins or multiples), choose OB-GYN care – but keep in mind that you’ll probably have a more medically managed birth and your risk of having an induction, assisted delivery, episiotomy or cesarean section will be higher.

If you’d like a natural birth, consider a nurse-midwife. They either work in a birthing center, which can be independent or attached to your hospital’s labor and delivery unit; or can attend you at home if you’re planning a home birth. Research shows that women who have their babies with a nurse-midwife in attendance are less likely to have medical interventions and problems during their recovery.

Arranging your care with a nurse-midwife is the best way of ensuring a familiar face will be with you all the way through your labor and delivery, since your OB-GYN is unlikely to stay with you in the early stages and your labor could cross over more than one shift of the hospital’s labor and delivery nurses. If you’re having a hospital birth and would like to ensure someone familiar is with you throughout, consider hiring a doula, a certified labor specialist who can offer support during and after the birth.

• The American Pregnancy Association (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/) has an online midwife finder.

• Doulas of North America (http://www.dona.org/) has an online doula finder

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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