Would you like an obstetrician-gynaecologist, midwife, or doula to assist you in giving birth? Your pregnancy care is an important and extremely personal subject, and if you have yet to make any decisions, we hope this article’s discussion of all your options will help. Each of these providers has different qualifications and takes a certain approach to care. Let’s begin with a medical doctor.

Obstetrician-Gynaecologist

Your obstetrician-gynaecologist (OB-GYN) would be an MD trained in obstetrics (pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum) and women’s reproductive health, or gynaecology. The broad range of expertise necessary to attain their qualifications makes many patients see them as the gold standard in pregnancy care. They can offer you a wide variety of services, including preconception, antenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. They usually work with a team of nurses, midwives, and anaesthetists at hospitals or in birthing clinics. They are trained to manage pregnancies of all kinds as well as to perform medical interventions, such as caesarean sections.

If your pregnancy is high-risk or you have an underlying condition, you may be able to find an OB-GYN who has plenty of experience in relevant areas to put you at ease. Depending on your location, their care is likely to cost more than that of a midwife.

Midwives

Your midwife will likely specialise in low-risk pregnancies, including natural childbirth, and a one-to-one approach that you may prefer. Midwives can provide antenatal care, delivery care, and postpartum care. They typically work in birthing centres or hospitals, and some may offer home birth services. This professional is also highly likely to be female, if this is important to you, as men still make up a relatively small percentage of midwives worldwide.

Midwives often have a holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth. For mothers seeking natural childbirth methods and interventions, such as massage, water birth, and breathing techniques, a midwife can be the perfect choice.

Doulas

A doula can’t support you medically, so she should never be the only healthcare provider you consult. However, they do typically work well with doctors and midwives, and you may value the emotional and physical help they give women in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. You may have had doulas recommended to you if you are concerned about pain management or need help focusing on your relaxation. They can also help you with breastfeeding problems, though of course Unii recommends you take our Baby Feeding Journey, too! Our lactation expert, Ms. Wendy Lever, is terrific. Doulas can be of particular interest to women who need additional support during labour and delivery. You may like to consider one if you plan on being a single parent, for example.

How can you choose?

Choosing the professionals you want around you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum can be challenging. It’s an exciting but often vulnerable time, and you need to be certain of the people in your environment. We suggest you ask yourself a few questions. What kind of birth do you dream of, and which services can support it best? Is your pregnancy high-risk or otherwise in need of someone with lots of medical training and expertise? How much medical intervention are you comfortable with? Costs can be a real issue. What does your insurance or personal budget cover?

Have you asked your siblings or friends with children about their pregnancy care experiences? They’ve been there, done that, and won’t sugarcoat things. Online reviews and testimonials about professionals that interest you can also be illuminating.

The questions you have for a doctor, midwife, or doula are especially important. Your comfort level with this individual matters just as much as their qualifications and reputation, so book a consultation. Make sure to take your time with them and assess whether they match your expectations.

What do I need to know about obstetrician-gynaecologists, midwives and doulas?

For Unii’s Preconception Journey, we look at the professionals you may want to support you through pregnancy and childbirth.