Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, and Doulas (Pros and Cons Regarding Birth)
It’s easy to be confused about what role everyone in the birth industry has to play and how to choose what’s best for your birth. If you are frustrated with trying to figure this all out, it’s okay to feel that way. Everyone will tell you something different about which birth route to take, but that’s not up to anyone but you. Everyone should be presenting you with your options instead of pushing their opinions on you 🤦🏼♀️. Strive to find birth workers that will provide you with all the options so you can choose what is best for your family.
Even your mom friends may largely relate their birth stories (whether good or bad) to the medical professionals that attended. There is definitely some merit to that, but I recommend tossing most of those horror stories out, mamas can be dramatic when it comes to their birth stories. What you need is honest and unbiased information that doesn’t try to manipulate you using fear. My goal today is to provide you with that and help you to see things more clearly.
Take a look at what each of these birth professionals offer:
OBSTETRICIAN
An Obstetrician (OB) is: “a physician who specializes in obstetrics” - obstetrics is “the branch of medical science concerned with childbirth and caring for and treating women in or connected with childbirth.”
An OB/GYN (an Obstetrician and Gynecologist) has the same qualifications as an OB but also specializes in gynecology: “the branch of medical science that deals with the health maintenance and diseases of women, especially of the reproductive organs.” Obstetricians provide surgical care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. They have great knowledge concerning medical/surgical care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Some obstetricians specialize in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM). This branch of obstetrics focuses on pregnant women who have chronic health problems or abnormal issues that arise during pregnancy. Because of this, MFM doctors are considered to be high-risk experts.
Pros👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻:
OBs of any form are equipped to provide urgent care for every serious situation that may arise during pregnancy, delivery, and immediate postpartum.
The MFMs specialize in high-risk pregnancy/delivery.
They can perform surgical tasks if needed (cesarean, episiotomy).
They are skilled in stitching in vaginal or cesarean births.
Cons 🙅🏼♀️:
You must deliver at the hospital.
OBs don’t attend water births.
They don’t provide much in the form of support for the mother besides medications and urgent care.
They can sometimes be pushy (depending on the doctor).
They provide the bare minimum in supporting the mother during labour and delivery.
They often aren’t present until the baby is ready to be delivered.
They may not make it in time for delivery/may be delivering another baby, in this case, another OB would have to step in.
Most women report feeling a lack of trust in their OB during delivery because of the lack of relationship and communication leading up to birth. It may take a few weeks to see your OB about something you’re wondering about and sometimes requires you to meet with different doctors at the clinic because of low availability.
They may or may not have the knowledge to support a natural birth or different birth positions.
They believe delayed cord clamping is only one minute and no longer.
MIDWIFE
A midwife is: a person trained to assist women in childbirth. They can have varying levels of training so it’s beneficial to ask about their training when finding a midwife. Midwives have been around for ages, they were the ones that delivered baby’s long before birth became hospitalized.
Pros 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻:
They can provide pain-reducing medications (epidural) and labour-inducing medications (oxytocin/pitocin) just like an OB can.
They perform episiotomies if needed.
They are skilled at stitching vaginal tears if needed.
They can manage postpartum hemorrhage and more complications than a delivery nurse.
They promote unmedicated, highly natural, noninvasive methods of birth.
They attend water births and regulate births at home or at the hospital.
If you deliver in the hospital with a midwife, other OBs can help if a situation needs additional support.
Many midwives have knowledge of natural methods of labour support and progression.
It is sometimes easier to contact a midwife throughout the pregnancy than it is to contact a doctor.
Cons 🙅🏼♀️:
They do not perform Cesareans.
They (usually) do not specialize in high-risk births.
They don’t have the extensive medical knowledge that an OB has.
They aren’t as fully trained in handling all of the serious situations that may arise.
If urgent care is needed during a home birth, the mother/baby will have to be transferred to the hospital by an ambulance which comes with the wait time for the ambulance to arrive and the drive to the hospital.
It is often difficult to hire a midwife because there are not many available (book your spot as soon as you can).
NURSE
A registered nurse is: “a graduate nurse who has passed a state board examination and been registered and licensed to practice nursing.” A labour and delivery nurse works directly with women throughout the birthing process. They perform many important tasks, including administering some medications, monitoring the mother’s vitals and contractions, monitoring baby’s heart rate as needed, and showing new mothers how to do everything from changing a diaper to feeding a baby. They do not take the place of a doctor or a midwife and are not trained in delivering babies, their role is to care for the mother’s and baby’s medical needs.
Pros 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻:
At the hospital, a nurse can be very helpful in getting you what you need.
They often speak to your doctor about questions you may have and calls them to come when they are needed.
Some nurses learn positions that help labour progress.
They typically work well with doctors and midwives (some work well with doulas while others don’t).
They are highly focused on the health of the baby.
They will get snacks, pillows, and blankets for the mother if needed but may take some time to return.
A nurse supports mother and baby immediately postpartum until they are discharged from the hospital.
May teach breastfeeding.
If you desire your vitals and your baby's vitals to be checked continually, having a nurse on your medical team can be of great value to you.
Cons 🙅🏼♀️:
The majority of nurses aren’t there to fully support the mother through labour and delivery the way a doula would.
They typically are caring for other mothers in labour as well as you so their time is divided.
A nurse only assists with births at the hospital (not home births).
If you desire a very natural/uninterrupted birth, having a nurse on your team comes with many interruptions.
You must always have a nurse attending to you when delivering at the hospital, there are certain protocols they must follow.
DOULA
The word doula is Greek for ‘woman’s servant.’ She is there to serve you by caring for you and supporting you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The relationship with your doula develops long before your due date arrives. A doula helps you plan how you’d like the birthing process to go and provides answers to the many questions you likely have. She probably has some cool tricks to help you overcome things like morning sickness, acid reflux, and so much more. An on-call period begins 2 weeks prior to your due date and continues about 2 weeks overdue/until the baby is delivered. Her priority is to support you through labour and delivery by providing physical, emotional, and informational support.
Pros 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻:
Causes labour to progress.
Decreases chances of cesarean by 39%
Proven to ncrease partner participation.
Teaches breastfeeding and formula feeding.
Provides immediate postpartum care.
Can also provide postpartum care at home (many birth doulas are also postpartum doulas).
Shortens labour by a minimum of 41 minutes.
Increases satisfaction with the birth experience by 31%.
Can start assisting you from the moment labour begins.
A doula is well educated in the symptoms and issues that may arise during pregnancy and birth.
She can provide support for a home birth and hospital birth.
Women report having greater confidence about birth when hiring a doula.
Can help you build your medical team.
Doulas often teach classes in preparation for birth.
Most doulas only take on 4 or fewer clients per month in order to support their clients better.
Cons 🙅🏼♀️:
Doulas do not perform medical tasks.
You must still have a doctor or midwife scheduled for the delivery.
You must pay for a doula (insurance coverage is sometimes available).
Bravo! That was a lot of info to take in and there could have been a ton more. If you still need more information, don’t hesitate to go and find it. Just remember to find unbiased opinions that give you the facts. Think about your options, do some research to find which care providers are available in your area and ask them all the questions before you accept them onto your medical team.
Step 1 - Choose your preferred place of birth (at home 🏡or at the hospital 🏥)
Step 2 - Choose your primary caregiver (who will be your midwife or who will be your doctor) - if choosing a midwife, I recommend also having a doctor in place just in case you end up at the hospital.
Step 3 - Find a local doula 🙋🏼♀️ and meet with them. Doulas offer free consultations so that you can get to know each other, ask questions, and decide if she’s a right fit for you.
Try to have your medical team in place by around 10 weeks gestation. The sooner you have it set up, the sooner you will have the support you need. Keep in mind that although there isn’t a way to avoid all the cons that doesn’t mean you can’t have an incredible, supported birth experience.
If you’d like to book a free consultation with me, CLICK HERE. We can talk about how I can support you and I can help direct you toward a great medical team to support you during your pregnancy and birth. You deserve the best – don’t settle for less. ♥️