The many choices of pregnancy become more involved the further along you are. Undoubtedly by the time you receive your first positive home pregnancy test - you are thinking about who you are going to call - a doctor or a midwife. If you plan on giving birth in a birthing center or a hospital - you do have that choice. There are few, if any, doctors who will come into your home to deliver your baby nowadays. The choice of a doctor or a midwife has many considerations and both merit looking into.
A doctor that delivers babies and specializes in pregnancy is called an obstetrician. Usually they are both an obstetrician and a gynecologist (doctor that specializes in women’s reproductive health) or an OB/GYN. Some family practitioners deliver babies and some general doctors who do nothing but treat women in the area of reproductive health, pregnancy and delivering babies - these are the three types of doctors I’m speaking of.
The advantages of a doctor are numerous. The number one advantage is their expertise. Should a problem occur - they are well educated and equipped to handle it - even to the point of performing a cesarean if necessary. Their knowledge and know how can well treat a high risk pregnancy and comfortably treat a low risk pregnancy as well. They can order pain relief in the hospital during labor - which has many options itself. Because of their education - they do not have to answer to anyone else in the event an emergency arises. This in itself is reason enough that many women choose a doctor.
The number one disadvantage of using a doctor is lack of personal attention. Doctors see many patients in one day and have to spread themselves out. During the labor and delivery of your baby - a doctor may come in to check on you once during labor and will show up in time to catch the baby. The cost of having a doctor is higher than that of a midwife. *see note below.
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